The "lost mine" is a popular form of lost treasure legend. Although there are countless examples around the world, several common themes can be traced throughout the various legends. Usually the mines are said to contain valuable elements or minerals such as gold, silver or diamonds. Often there is a map or other document allegedly detailing the history or location of the mine. Common to all the lost mine legends is the idea of a valuable and mysterious resource being lost to history. Some lost mine legends have a historical basis, and some have none. Regardless, the lure of these legends is attested by the many books on the subject, and the popularity of publications such as Lost Treasure magazine.[1][2]

List of lost mine legends

This list is inexhaustive, but provides some well known examples from around the world.

Africa

Australia

Brazil

Canada

Colombia

Mexico

Russia

  • In the 19th century, gold fever was prevalent in the Ural region near Yekaterinburg. There are many legends of the lost mines, for example in Dmitry Mamin-Sibiryak's stories.
  • There are many modern stories of lost diamond mines in the Sakha region of north and northeast Russia

United States

Arizona

California

Colorado

Idaho

Kentucky

Missouri

Nevada

New Mexico

Oregon

Texas

Utah

Washington

References

  1. Dobie, J. Frank; Shaw, Charles (1994). Coronado's children: tales of lost mines and buried treasures of the Southwest. Barker Texas History Center series (8. paperback pr ed.). Austin: Univ. of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-71052-8.
  2. Jameson, W. C. (1993). Buried treasures of the Rocky Mountain West: legends of lost mines, train robbery gold, caves of forgotten riches, and Indians' buried silver (1st ed.). Little Rock: August House. ISBN 978-0-87483-272-3.
  3. "Brazil: Manuscript 512 and the Lost City". The Diplomat in Spain. 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  4. I. A. Mumme (1982) The Emerald, Port Hacking, New South Wales: Mumme Publications, pp. 21–22.
  5. Schmetzer, Karl; Martayan, Gérard; Blake, Andrea R. (2020). "History of the Chivor Emerald Mine, Part II (1924–1970): Between Insolvency and Viability". Gems & Geology. 56 (2): 230–257. doi:10.5741/GEMS.56.2.230. S2CID 229069710.
  6. "Pegleg Smith Monument". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2022-09-28.
  7. Powers, Evea Harrington (1 January 2001). Lost Sheepherder Mine. Writer's Press. ISBN 9781931041362.
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