Latest news, updates and events in the rock, mineral and fossil world!
The Silver King Mine, east of the Superstitions, originates from during the Apache Wars. With an attempt to create an easier access route into the Pinal mountains, came a wondrous discovery. Sullivan, a local solider assigned to the construction of the road discovered a slew of heavy dark rocks known as “nugget silver”. Having never […]
Traveling on foot through some of the most rugged terrains in the world, Ted Cox with his dog Coy, desperately try to make it to the Quarter Circle U Ranch in the Superstition Mountains. Ted is seriously ill and his dog’s feet are blistered from the hot desert floor. Finally arriving at the ranch, he […]
One of the most exciting times in the Sonoran desert is Spring. This is the period where the desert’s most natural wonders, cacti, come into full bloom. And what a sight they are! What makes cacti so interesting is their ability to store water and bloom even in the driest years bringing the desert fully […]
My sons Josh and Jesse Feldman are Arizona cowboys, gold miners, prospectors and treasure hunters. The new Travel Channel Series “Lost Gold“, premiering on January 14th follows the boys as they seek out Arizona’s most fabled missing treasures through legends and clues across the vast American Frontier. So, is there gold in them thar hills? […]
The word “geode” is derived from a greek word that means “earth like”. And they are! Geodes are a secondary formation from sedimentary and volcanic rock. Hollow and circular, they often include secluded crystals, which thrill and fascinate kids and adults alike. How do these beautiful crystals form? The formation of a geode can form […]
The Apaches called it “squaw’s metal.” But the mountain men, drawn to the wilderness now called Arizona in a quest for exploration and discovery, called it gold. It was plentiful in the early 1800’s and one mine in particular – Lost Adams Diggin’s _ was one of the most notorious. There were other mines, including […]
One of the greatest parts about being a rock hound is the discovery of rare and unique specimens. It takes true appreciation of the brilliance of history, nature and the stories behind unique pieces in order to be the collector of such an item. It is for all the true rock hounds that these lovely […]
It is widely agreed by historians that Juan Cabrillo discovered San Diego Bay in 1542. Markey disagreed. According to him Francisco de Ulloa sailed to “upper California” in 1540. If Markey is right, this would mean that he beat Cabrillo by two years. Myth or reality? Markey swore he had proof. The first noteworthy information […]
When I arrived in Oceanside, I obviously decided to first research anything I could on Francisco de Ulloa being in Oceanside. I researched records, maps, and old newspapers. I found an enormous amount on the subject. Both the San Diego Historical Center and the Oceanside Historical Society offered clues to the mystery I was out […]
Around 1964, I was living in California. On television there was a show called Treasure With Bill Burrud. One of the episodes was on a Spanish explorer named Francisco De Ulloa. The episode went on to say in 1539, he was sent by Cortez during their recent plunder of the Aztecs up the coast in […]
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