# Can the Superstition Mountains hold a rich gold vein? · Lost Dutchman's gold mine > Four answers have been proposed. Gold exists on the range's margins (Goldfield's epithermal veins) and a legend placed inside the range could… leads… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/lost-dutchman-mine/questions/QST0D0G0B9M1S49/can-the-superstition-mountains-hold-a-rich-gold-vein Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:58+00:00 --- **0** # Can the Superstition Mountains hold a rich gold vein? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the range is mid-Miocene ash-flow tuff and lava of a caldera complex, without the hydrothermal systems that…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. Gold exists on the range's margins (Goldfield's epithermal veins) and a legend placed inside the range could… leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters If the rocks cannot host the deposit the legend describes, searching is futile whatever Waltz said⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0G028J5VV6/stratigraphic-nomenclature-of-the-miocene-superstition)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0G02GC3F80/geology-of-the-superstition-wilderness-area). ## Answers 4 [**Gold exists on the range's margins (Goldfield's epithermal veins) and a legend placed inside the range could…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/lost-dutchman-mine/answers/ANS0D0G0GDP25DP/gold-exists-on-the-ranges-margins-goldfields-epithermal) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**The range is mid-Miocene ash-flow tuff and lava of a caldera complex, without the hydrothermal systems that…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/lost-dutchman-mine/answers/ANS0D0G0FP84VA0/the-range-is-mid-miocene-ash-flow-tuff-and-lava-of-a-caldera) Supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**A mineralised pre-volcanic basement or a cache (not a vein) lies inside the range.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/lost-dutchman-mine/answers/ANS0D0G0GXA5QSN/a-mineralised-pre-volcanic-basement-or-a-cache-not-a-vein) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/lost-dutchman-mine/answers/ANS0D0G0HCY0T63/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1997[Kollenborn puts forward: gold exists on the range's margins (Goldfield's epithermal veins) and a legend placed inside the range could…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0G02GC3F80/geology-of-the-superstition-wilderness-area) 1. 1997[Kollenborn: the wilderness has never proved mineralised near the surface; 1970s drilling near Woodbury found nothing;…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0G02GC3F80/geology-of-the-superstition-wilderness-area)For: The range is mid-Miocene ash-flow tuff and lava of a caldera complex, without the hydrothermal systems that… 1. 1997[Kollenborn: precambrian granites occur in a few isolated areas of the wilderness.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0G02GC3F80/geology-of-the-superstition-wilderness-area)For: A mineralised pre-volcanic basement or a cache (not a vein) lies inside the range. 1. 2001[Ferguson & Trapp puts forward: the range is mid-Miocene ash-flow tuff and lava of a caldera complex, without the hydrothermal systems that…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0G028J5VV6/stratigraphic-nomenclature-of-the-miocene-superstition) 1. 2001[Ferguson & Trapp: the state survey maps one regional ash-flow sheet (Apache Leap Tuff, 18.58 Ma) from a single Superstition…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D0G028J5VV6/stratigraphic-nomenclature-of-the-miocene-superstition)For: The range is mid-Miocene ash-flow tuff and lava of a caldera complex, without the hydrothermal systems that… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/lost-dutchman-mine/questions/QST0D0G0B9M1S49/can-the-superstition-mountains-hold-a-rich-gold-vein%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/lost-dutchman-mine/questions/QST0D0G0B9M1S49/can-the-superstition-mountains-hold-a-rich-gold-vein%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/lost-dutchman-mine/questions/QST0D0G0B9M1S49/can-the-superstition-mountains-hold-a-rich-gold-vein%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/lost-dutchman-mine/questions/QST0D0G0B9M1S49/can-the-superstition-mountains-hold-a-rich-gold-vein%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/lost-dutchman-mine/questions/QST0D0G0B9M1S49/can-the-superstition-mountains-hold-a-rich-gold-vein%23add-source) Where it fits Lost Dutchman's gold mine **Can the Superstition Mountains hold a rich gold vein?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]