Imagining the famous California Gold Rush of the late 1800s usually conjures images of the Wild West and the eager ‘49ers panning for gold in the rivers.
What you may not know, is that Arizona’s mining industry was also a big draw for 19th century fortune seekers, and the lure and anticipation of striking it rich with gold continues today.
There’s Gold in These Rivers!
While that’s not quite the expression they used during the California Gold Rush, today Arizona still boasts six rivers where you can search for – and actually find! – gold. In fact, Arizona remains one of the best states in the U.S. to prospect for gold, ranking seventh in the country as a gold producer.
Arizona’s Rich Gold Mining History
Although silver and copper mining were the hottest commodities in pre-Civil War Arizona, each time these markets declined, the price of gold increased. From 1893 to 1900, experienced silver miners continued to find new gold deposits, and over the years, nearly every copper mine in Arizona has produced significant quantities of gold.
Present Day Panning for Gold
Today in Arizona, you can strike it rich with gold a couple different ways.
You can do it the old-fashioned way, panning for it, or more accurately, metal-detecting for it along the river beds of six of the richest rivers in Arizona. Miners have been finding gold in these rivers since the 1860s, and evidently, there’s much more that has yet to be discovered!
Or, you can leave the hard work to the miners, and guarantee a great find when you shop for the gold of your dreams in Scottsdale’s finest jewelry boutiques.
Along with the city’s abundant offering of artisan shops and high-end retailers, you’ll also find Scottsdale’s finest jewelry buyers. Southwest Jewelry Buyers has been buying gold (and silver, diamonds, and platinum) from our valued customers since 2000.
While we haven’t been around quite as long as the original gold miners, we have a reputation of paying the best prices for gold, with an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time for an upgrade, or you when want to revive your jewelry collection, bring your gold to Southwest Jewelry Buyers, and strike it rich – without sifting through the Arizona riverbeds.
We do encourage you to pan for gold for the fun of it! And, who knows? You just might hit the jackpot. When you do, we’ll be here so you can cash in on your fortune.