Gold in Randolph County Alabama
Gold in Randolph County Alabama
The gold bearing deposits of Randolph County border along the boundary of Cleburne County. Along the far west side of Randolph County and the far east side of Clay County lies the Cragford district. Several mines operating here produced free-milling gold from veins in quartz. Properties situated along the tributaries of Crooked Creek,, near Cragford Alabama and 9.3 miles from Lineville Alabama, have both placer and lode gold deposits. The Town of (Crooked Creek) Lineville was built on what was at that time the dividing line between Talladega and Randolph Counties, hence the name, Lineville. Area streams and branches near Wedowee are most productive. Placer gold is found in the local watercourses, beach sands and gravels.
Near Omaha Alabama gold colors are reported in the streams.
In Wedowee, the area creek sands and gravels along the Tallapoosa River have good gold placers. A mine on Wedowee Creek is said to contain lode gold, but nearby stream gravels have placer gold.
Bordering Randolph County and nearby Wildcat Hollow Prospect, the banks of the Tallapoosa River will produce some fine placer gold. Numerous lode mines in this area have all produced lode gold. Other gold deposits can be found in Wesobulga Creek and White Oak Creeks just south of Cragford.
Randolph County, Alabama has the following records of mines listed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS):
Gold Mines in Randolph County Alabama
Benjamin Prospect
The Benjamin Gold Prospect is near Cragford, Alabama. Historically the site has been part of the Cragford Mining District. The Benjamin Gold Prospect is a underground mining operation. The ore mined is composed of gold. The ore body is linear in form and 0.60 meters (1.97 feet) thick. The host rock in this area is mica schist from the Upper Cretaceous epoch 100.50 to 66.00 million years ago. The Piedmont Upland of the Appalachian Highlands characterize the geomorphology of the surrounding area
Bradford Fraction Prospect
The Bradford Fraction Prospect is near Cragford, Alabama. Historically the site has been part of the Cragford Mining District. Preliminary development has taken place such as surface trenching, adits, shafts, drill holes, geophysics, geochemistry, or geological mapping. Enough data has been gathered to estimate grade and tonnage. The size of the deposit is estimated to be small. The ore mined is composed of gold with waste material consisting primarily of quartz. The ore body is linear in form of unknown dimensions. The host rock in this area is schist from the Lopingian epoch 259.80 to 252.17 million years ago. The Piedmont Upland of the Appalachian Highlands characterize the geomorphology of the surrounding area.
Browning Lode
The Browning Lode is near Malone, Alabama. The Browning Lode is a surface mining operation. The ore mined is composed of gold. The host rock in this area is schist from the Lopingian epoch 259.80 to 252.17 million years ago. The Piedmont Upland of the Appalachian Highlands characterize the geomorphology of the surrounding area.
Browning Prospect
Cockrell Lode Prospect
Gold Ridge Mine
Goldberg Mine
H S Bradley Prospect
John Turner Placer
Joshua Ballard Prospect
L.D. Walker Prospect
Lashley Prospect
Morris Mine
Pine Hill Mine
Pinetucky Gold Mine
The Pinetucky Gold Mine, discovered in 1845 and extensively worked consisted of quartz veins in garnet bearing mica schist and was the site of a 20 stamp mill The mine was among earliest discoveries of lode veins in Alabama and termed a “rich specimen mine”.
Teakle Mine
Teakle Mine (Orum Pit), Cragford Mining District
W D Mitchell Prospect
The W. D. Mitchell Prospect is near Cragford, Alabama. Historically the site has been part of the Cragford Mining District. Preliminary development has taken place such as surface trenching, adits, shafts, drill holes, geophysics, geochemistry, or geological mapping. Enough data has been gathered to estimate grade and tonnage. The Piedmont Upland of the Appalachian Highlands characterize the geomorphology of the surrounding area.
Weaver Mine
Wildcat Hollow Prospect
The Wildcat Hollow Prospect is near Cragford, Alabama. Historically the site has been part of the Cragford Mining District. Preliminary development has taken place such as surface trenching, adits, shafts, drill holes, geophysics, geochemistry, or geological mapping. Enough data has been gathered to estimate grade and tonnage. The size of the deposit is estimated to be small. The ore mined is composed of gold with waste material consisting primarily of quartz. The ore body is linear in form of unknown dimensions. The host rock in this area is schist from the Lopingian epoch 259.80 to 252.17 million years ago. The Piedmont Upland of the Appalachian Highlands characterize the geomorphology of the surrounding area.
Worthy – Walker Prospect
H. S. Bradley Prospect Near Wedowee, Alabama
The H. S. Bradley Prospect is near Wedowee, Alabama. The ore mined is composed of pyrite and gold. The host rock in this area is schist from the Lopingian epoch 259.80 to 252.17 million years ago. The Piedmont Upland of the Appalachian Highlands characterize the geomorphology of the surrounding area.
Joshua Ballard Prospect Near Woodland, Alabama
SECTION 32, T19S, R13E-NORTHWEST EDGE OF A BELT ALONG THE LITTLE TALLAPOOSA RIVER.
The Joshua Ballard Prospect is near Woodland, Alabama. The ore mined is composed of pyrite and gold. The host rock in this area is schist from the Lopingian epoch 259.80 to 252.17 million years ago. The Piedmont Upland of the Appalachian Highlands characterize the geomorphology of the surrounding area.
Gold Ridge Mine Near Ranburne Alabama
The Gold Ridge Mine is near Ranburne, Alabama. Historically the site has been part of the Arbacooche Mining District. The Gold Ridge Mine was closed at the time of data entry with no known plans to re-open. Production size when active was considered to be small. The ore mined is composed of gold with waste material consisting primarily of quartz. The ore body is linear in form and 3 meters (10 feet) thick. The host rock in this area is schist from the Lopingian epoch 259.80 to 252.17 million years ago. The Piedmont Upland of the Appalachian Highlands characterize the geomorphology of the surrounding area.
Louina Alabama Gold and Silver
According to tradition and folklore, the Louina area coughed up gold and silver.
The Lost Treasure of Louina
When Louina, the wealthy Indian woman, was forced to leave on the Trail of Tears, it was said she put all her silver in sacks but they were so heavy, the ponies could not carry the load. Legend has it that Louina buried some silver but, despite years of digging, none has been found. During the Indian Relocation Act, it is said, Louina was among the Native Americans forced to leave. The tale goes on to say that she buried silver and gold in Louina before she left, but not before putting a curse on the town, swearing that it would cease to exist. Over time, the very prosperous town began a downward spiral until it vanished along with most of its history.
It is said, by many locals, that the town that once had 2,500 residents and was the largest town in Randolph County. The area has only 17 wells filled, which means many old wells may still be open, making the area potentially dangerous. People are warned not to go hunting, or digging for the silver alone.
Wedowee Alabama
Located in east-central Alabama, is part of the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and the county seat of Randolph County.
Archaeological evidence indicates that Native Americans lived near Wedowee Creek as early as 6,000 BC. Wedowee takes its name from a Creek Indian chief whose town was located adjacent to the small stream that also bears his name.
Early writers on the town reported on the purity of the area’s streams and rivers, its fertile soils, and significant deposits of gold, copper, iron and mica.