Gold fever is sweeping Arizona.

[flashl]

Mines are being reopened as gold fever sweeps state

Mining companies are scouring the earth, looking for new deposits and working to reopen venerable mines, some with histories that date to territorial days.

With the yellow metal selling for just under $900 per ounce, more weekend gold diggers are heading for the hills with pans, picks and metal detectors.

Prospecting outfitter Promack Treasure Hunting in Apache Junction has seen its business triple in the past year, and membership in the Superstition Mountain Treasure Hunters gold-panning club has grown to 400 from 70 in the same period.

Club leaders say members can return from a weekend of prospecting with $1,000 or more in gold.

"I wouldn't recommend quitting your day job, but you can make some real money out there," "Minnesota" Ray Ose said.

The Arizona Republic

If I can't quit my day job, what is real money?

[Possumpoint]

1. Gold Is

real money as is Silver. Unlike the worthless paper used in this country.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

7. only because people assign arbitrary value to it...

so...no, gold isn't real money any more than paper is.

sP

[WinkyDink]

8. No such thing as "real money". If we wanted, we could assign gold-like value to slate. We don't want

to.

[Sequoia]

2. Well that Superstition Mountain Gold is cursed

This is a pretty good little story.

[Horse with no Name]

4. Many years ago there was an amusement park in the Phoenix area

It was called Legend City and one of the rides was "The Lost Dutchman's Mine"...I remember it being way cool.:)

With that being said...the story of the Lost Dutchman is awesome.

http://www.superstitionmountainmuseum.org/LostDutchmanExhibit.htm

[Sequoia]

13. Thanks!

And don't forget to stop by Apache Junction near by. What a cool name for a town though.

[L. Coyote]

18. Don't bother, unless you need to find foos or a Wal-Mart!

"AJ" as the locals say, is one of the last places I recommend stopping in. For that matter, the Superstitions are as trampled by gold prospectors as any portion of the West. If you want to find gold, go to someplace more remote from the crowds of tourists and the Metro's millions.

[Sequoia]

19. I was kidding and when I was there it was just a dusty stop

with a little store and now there's a Wal-Mart?!!!! Holy Toledo!

[blondeatlast]

14. Legend City--I miss it so! Aaah, great times in the summer... nt

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. Time to put the saddlesoap on the old hiking boots.

Thar's gold in dem thar hills!!!

[flashl]

11. That was my thoughts until I got to the dont quit your job part. n/t

;-)

[ChazII]

5. Shhh.... we have enough folks

in the valley. The Superstition Mountain is beautiful and we don't need any more people messing up the environment. :D

[Chovexani]

15. Hopefully you'll have one less by next year

I can't wait to get out of this craphole. :P

[lonestarnot]

6. Good luck wit dat! LOL

:toast: watch out for open holes without bottoms.

[tyedyeto]

9. Weekend prospectors is where it's at for gold

The large scale operators know that copper is where it's at here in Arizona.

The demand for copper in China and other countries has re-opened many mines that were shut down 12-15 years ago. They see foreign markets for their product as a huge market.

Gold is a small blimp compared to copper prices and what they can bring in the world market.

[Neshanic]

10. Scottsdale dealership takes Hummers for Mules.

Mom takes the kids to soccer practice on Ol' Blue.

Kids love it.

[lonestarnot]

12. They ride the dog to soccer?

[Chovexani]

16. LMAO

:rofl:

Hi ho silverware, away!! (And god, wouldn't they, though?)

[madokie]

17. about thirty years or so ago I wouldn't been packing on the news of 900 buck gold

hell a long before that actually

[earth mom]

20. What about the California Gold Country? Anyone know if this is happening there? nt

[ThoughtCriminal]

21. Many years ago we used to go panning for gold in Arizona

Never found much - just a few particles at best, but it was a fun family outing. My favorite part was when tourists would stop to take pictures of us.

Lived at the foot of the superstitions for many years. IMO the Lost Dutchman Mine story was probably bogus, but it makes for colorful history.