The
Discovery of Gold in Arizona, and the
Rich Hill "Potato Patch."
By Terry Soloman * In April 1863, a mountain man and U.S. Army guide, Paulino Weaver,
led a small gold prospecting party northeast from Yuma, Arizona. They were looking for gold in what would become the "Weaver
Mountains." In late May, they camped for the night below the western face of a "small hill." * That night several horses broke away from camp during a violent windstorm. The next morning
Weaver and a couple of cowboys went to look for the animals, and spotted them at the top of the hill. They found the horses
in a bowl-shaped depression, and beneath the horse’s hooves they saw, “..hundred’s of gold nuggets the size
of potatoes," said one soldier’s diary, "graveling the top of the hill!" * Since that first discovery in the "Potato Patch," hundreds-of-millions of dollars in gold has been recovered on
and around Rich Hill! Large gold nuggets - more rare than a diamond, continue to be discovered regularly. That is why every
single piece of land on - and surrounding - Rich Hill, is under Private Claim and Off Limits to prospecting by the general
public! * Meet your Arizona Gold Adventures Gold Prospecting Guide, in the 1860's Ghost
town of Congress, Arizona - with Rich Hill and its famous gold fields just nine-miles across the open desert to the east!
You’ll find your heart IS beating a little quicker, but remember, your AGA gold prospecting adventure is just getting
started!
Gold nuggets, "the size of potatoes," found on Rich Hill, in
the Weaver Mountains of Arizona, started the Arizona gold rush of 1863.
(Two historical photos circa 1897) - Top: Looking downhill and south - at
the Octave gold mine, on Weaver Hill, and Bottom: Looking west, with the east face of Rich Hill, Arizona
in the background.
The southern-half of Rich Hill, Arizona and the surrounding
area.
Check out pictures of Rich Hill, Arizona, and the Gold we
find here!
Rich Hill, Arizona. Gold nuggets the size of
potatoes found here in 1863, started the Arizona Gold Rush!
More great shots of Rich Hill, in the Weaver Mountains of Arizona.
AGA gives you a PRIVATE
experience in Arizona gold- and meteorite strewn- fields! There are no “groups,” YOU are in charge.
You tell us what you want to do, when you want to go and how long you want to stay that day! Private, personalized instruction
and attention with the best placer gold mining equipment money can buy! That’s why Arizona Gold Adventures is the #1
provider of gold prospecting / meteorite hunting trips and vacations in Arizona!
The old "Weaverville"
Post Office, on the east side Rich Hill, AZ.
A gold nugget found in the Rich Hill alluvial fan. Use our specialized gold finding VLF and PI metal detectors
to realize your dream!
