WOOT

[Alex Burke]

Cool the blm site is often way behind so if you do want to file a claim eventually check the county recorders office first so you don't accidentally over file an existing claim. It's interesting the monument is still there and it may be fairly recent because I would think weather in the mountains would maybe knock the pile over in time. Buried in the monument you may find the discovery paperwork on the claim so look under the rocks if you didn't already and just put them back how they were after

Also check Mindat and local mining journals for that mountain you were on for info and you may find out what they were mining there careful not to go in the old tunnel as they can be widow makers, keep us posted good luck.

 

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[old digger]

My take on the cross is it's a natural fracture in the rock. The adit doesn't look to be excavated with any modern drill and blast methods and more like it was dug by picking and prying out the rock. Is this adit open on both ends? It looks like I see light on the other end? If so it may have been dug to divert water for irrigation? Not all the Spaniards were after mineral wealth in Southern Colorado, but developed the agricultural resources of the area also. Still those early Spanish farming settlers had to hide there gold and silver someplace in the early days. Sure wish I had more time to look around that area. Keep posting more pic's as I'm getting a sense of the elevation your at by the rock formations and vegetation I'm seeing

I have to agree with Tamrock, I just see a natural fracture in the rock face. But I hope you are able to find the treasure that you seek.

 

[Alex Burke]

That huge manmade tunnel earlier in the thread is a natural fracture?

 

[treasure_hunter_2004]

I have to agree with Tamrock, I just see a natural fracture in the rock face. But I hope you are able to find the treasure that you seek.

well to each their own honestly none of these caves weren't even what we were looking for haha. think we found like 6 caves altogether just in 1 canyon if you can believe that

 

[mxh5891]

That huge manmade tunnel earlier in the thread is a natural fracture?

Not what he was talking about. He was talking about the supposed cross found on the rock face in one of the pictures.

 

[tamrock]

View attachment 1288337

Core sample from cave

Not sure what your sample is, but it looks interesting. To clarify what a true "core sample" is, I'll post these pictures. The 1st pic is a pillar of rock know as a "core sample" The 2nd pic is a core bit used to get the core sample from deep in the rock. A geologist will catalog many meters of core samples in order to understand and map out the position, depth and grade of an ore body under the earth surface. I do think your in a good area to prospect and hunt for treasure. So much information on the old mines of the Rockies has been lost to history and one never knows what kind of things could be rediscovered by prospecting the old workings and areas. I've always thought the Sangre de Cristo's has got to be hiding at least a few treasure's.

 

[tamrock]

I disagree with your assessment. It's your opinion anyways

Thank you! and likewise to yours... Just seems to me if I wanted to mark something with an X or cross I could make a much better one then this one with much straighter lines. If it were me I'd be looking for any "fleur de lis" symbols.

 

[treasure_hunter_2004]

Not sure what your sample is, but it looks interesting. To clarify what a true "core sample" is, I'll post these pictures. The 1st pic is a pillar of rock know as a "core sample" The 2nd pic is a core bit used to get the core sample from deep in the rock. A geologist will catalog many meters of core samples in order to understand and map out the position, depth and grade of an ore body under the earth surface. I do think your in a good area to prospect and hunt for treasure. So much information on the old mines of the Rockies has been lost to history and one never knows what kind of things could be rediscovered by prospecting the old workings and areas. I've always thought the Sangre de Cristo's has got to be hiding at least a few treasure's.

We are having a geologist look at these. I'll update when I know more

 

[Davers]

Interesting Thread.
Hope all turns out well.

 

[Frankn]

Check out, Treasure of the Sangre de Cristos, by Author L. Campa,
Frank

 

[RGINN]

Pretty cool. Sangre de Christos stretch a long ways, but pretty good evidence of Spanish mining activity down there particularly around the San Luis Valley in Colorado. That Marble Cave is a pretty interesting place. Great place to look around, and since you have the time to do it make the most of it. By the way, tamrock pretty much is a geologist and grew up just north of the San Luis Valley, so I wouldn't dismiss his opinions out of hand. His opinions might not be right but they're better than most of us could offer without actually being in the field on site. Plus, if you decide to start mining, he can sell you the equipment you need.

 

[RGINN]

Oh, I forgot. Could you post pics of the gold nuggets. You took pics of everything else so you probably got pics of them. That would be cool. Also, I don't know a lot about mining, but isn't there some sort of field test you can use to differentiate pyrite from gold? Could save you some money on the assayer.

 

[Frankn]

Oh, I forgot. Could you post pics of the gold nuggets. You took pics of everything else so you probably got pics of them. That would be cool. Also, I don't know a lot about mining, but isn't there some sort of field test you can use to differentiate pyrite from gold? Could save you some money on the assayer.

Neither tarnishes, but Pyrite is hard and brittle. If you hit it with a hammer it will shatter. It will also burn . Gold is soft . If you hit it with a hammer, you can flatten it but it will not break. Gold melts when heat is applied, it does not burn. Frank

 

[treasure_hunter_2004]

All of the core samples we had tested were pyrite. Disappointed with the results but we will be going back, there is one cave in particular that has my full attention, area is so vast and rugged I can see why no one has found the treasure!

 

[civil_war22]

I did actually look up the BLM mining claims in the area, and I didn't see a valid claim so I'm guessing it's open to free prospecting. We did see the occasional hiker here or there but nothing that made us paranoid. However I was armed just in case someone or something wanted to duke it out lmao

My whole issue here is with the hikers. I've chased a many legends and symbols through the woods of the Ozarks thinking I might be the only one to ever discover some of these places and come to find out in those places so far out in the middle of no where I was surprised to see that there had been activity there not just thousands of years ago but sometimes even a few years ago people were way off in the middle of no where doing the same thing I was doing. I'm not trying to discourage you in any way because honestly people do miss things and not everything is always found but if you saw the occasional hiker just that one time and more than likely they saw you how many hikers say in the last 60 years have seen the same cave and explored for a lost treasure as well. I know this sounds crazy but where I dig and where I explore I can tell you for certain I've been miles off any beaten path believe no one has ever been there only to find out some university or some other group has been there and I would have never in a million years have thought this. This is all on private property not government owned land so that is what makes it even more astonishing. Look at it this way. Most caves any explorer is going to do what? Dig the inside out to look for the treasure. Go outside the cave and look for anything out of the ordinary. I would say 90% of all my good finds have been just past the drip line outside a cave because most if not a majority of the time people focus on the drip line on in and not past that going out. Just think about that and test that theory out next time you go out there.