The Cheyenne Chapter GPAA is a gold prospecting club located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. We are
a local chapter of the Gold Prospectors
Association of America. The GPAA is dedicated to providing a forum to exchange information, to giving recreational
and professional prospectors a voice in legislative matters, and to helping members in their pursuit for gold. As a
local chapter of the national organization, the Cheyenne Chapter GPAA is dedicated to achieving these
same goals. To that end, this website acts as a conduit for the exchange of information.
If you are interested in gold prospecting in Wyoming, the Cheyenne Chapter GPAA is your best
resource! Our members are very active...not only in gold prospecting but also in rockhounding, metal detecting and
other related activities. We also provide workshops and demonstrations for other clubs, groups, and organizations in
southeast Wyoming. Be sure to view the about us page for more information
on the club.
Pictures from the
2010 Kid's Day at Frontier Park. Rain drove the event indoors but didn't dampen the spirits of the kids OR the
Cheyenne GPAA members who were teaching them how to pan for gold! ~ AND ~ Don & Darryl make the trek to South Pass in
relentless pursuit of the mother lode - see it all in the Photo Gallery.
By popular demand, Lorrie's recipe for Frito Bean Salad/Dip has been posted here. Members are encouraged to submit recipes, and we'll start a new section on the
website just for those great recipes!
Photos of the July Outing needed! E-mail to Don or bring to the next meeting on a flash card or CD!
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOTE:
NEW MEETING LOCATION
September 6, 2010
Cheyenne Chapter GPAA August Meeting
7:00 pm at American Legion Post 6 - 2001 E. Lincolnway -
Cheyenne
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Gold Prospecting in Wyoming
Rock exposures ranging from early Precambrian (Archean) to Quaternary can be found in Wyoming. The wide variety of
sedimentary, volcanic, igneous intrusive, and metamorphic rock make the state an excellent place for geologists to
study the geologic past. It is also a paradise for rockhounds to explore and collect gemstones, minerals, and all
manner of interesting rocks.
For gold prospectors, the potential for finding gold is enormous. Gold has been found in every mountain range in the
state. Both lode and placer deposits occur in Wyoming, and there are over two dozen organized mining districts that have
been recognized. Geologic maps, books, reports, and other information are available from the
Wyoming State Geological Survey, located in
Laramie, Wyoming.
Historically, total gold production from Wyoming is unknown because no records were kept and few estimates were made
before about 1900. An estimate by Hausel (1989) suggests that as much as 334,000 ounces of gold were mined from the
South Pass-Atlantic City district alone, and the Centennial Mine (southwest of Laramie in the Medicine Bow Mountains)
produced an estimated 4,500 ounces.
Love, Antweiller, and Mosier (1978) described the paleoplacers in the historic South Pass-Atlantic City and
Lewiston districts as hosting as much as 28.5 million ounces of placer gold!
There is no evidence that any of the significant historical mines in Wyoming were ever "mined out". Mine operations
ceased due to various other factors, including declining metal prices, outbreak of war, financial problems within the
mining companies, etc. The Centennial mine shut down because the lode was lost in a fault, and was never found again. In
short, if you believe all the gold was found back in the 1800's and there's none left to be found today, you might want
to consider coming to one of our club meetings. There you will find friendly gold prospectors using modern methods and
equipment who are willing to share their knowledge.