Angels Camp, CA…Join Us Sunday, March 3rd, 2024, 2:00-3:00 pm at Angels Camp Museum Carriage House. Our Speaker: Rich Lundin, Twain-Harte resident and Geologist. What the Miners Left Behind And it wasn’t just shovels and bottles!

About Rich: Rich Lundin is Twain-Harte resident and Geologist with a mining and mineral exploration background. He’s worked in far flung places such as Australia and Saudia Arabia and is also a Remote Sensing Specialist in Airbourne and Archaeogeophysics. He has managed and investigated mineral exploration and deposits for private parties, corporations, federal, state, and municipal owners in several states; and has done environmental studies, environmental assessments, surveys and testing on cultural and mineral resources. As a Historical Archaeologist, Rich conducted archaeological investigations and research implementing the use of Archaeogeophysics and Archaeogeochemistry. You can also find Rich on YouTube!

What the Miner’s Left Behind

Join us for an intriguing exploration into the California Gold Rush with our esteemed speaker. Delve into the fascinating topic of “What the Miners Left Behind” and uncover the hidden treasures and overlooked artifacts that tell a different aspect of this historic era.

Our speaker will guide us through the discoveries made by the Calaveras Gem & Minerals Society, shedding light on the overlooked treasures found amidst the mine waste accumulations from dredge tailings. Learn how a group of dedicated individuals unearthed a series of cobbles laden with visible gold, offering a glimpse into the miners’ pursuits and practices.

When the miners were living at say Moccasin creek, or any of the 26 various prospecting locations, they lived there and left their junk behind. Rich will also be bringing artifacts they found such as old bottles and shovels and he will have a portion of a gold boulder that a member found that has 5-10 oz of gold left in it! In addition to the tailings and the cobbles the miners left behind a lot of Mariposite because they couldn’t see the gold it could have revealed – they were looking for coarse gold that they could easily get out of the rock. He’ll talk about the significance of fine gold concealed within the slurry and dirt discarded by the miners (fine gold is only visible with hand lenses not available until 1922) and then available only to professional geologists.)

Join us to learn how modern analysis techniques and technologies have unveiled the hidden value within these overlooked materials, from precious metals to rare earth elements.

Ready for Adventure?
Four times a year, Rich gets adults, children, any interested adventurers out in the field for an unforgettable experience of gold panning and metal detecting that is exciting and helps expand our understanding of the California Gold Rush and the treasures it left behind. The last excursion was Oct 17, 2023.

The next outing is still being planned and will be near the first bridge of Moccasin Creek toward Mariposa and the other one will be farther up river, is more remote so will be more strenuous. There is a maximum number of participants and Rich will have more information available at the Lecture.

All are welcome. Arrive early for refreshments.
Got ideas for future lecture? Please let us know!

For more information about Museum Foundation projects, visit our website.

Join us in the
Carriage House at the Museum
1:30 pm • Refreshments
2:00 – 3:00 pm • Lecture

See You There!

Cost: $10/ person
No Cost for Current Museum Members