A true story nearly four centuries in the making — from Spanish gold and Apache secrets to a family’s covert century-long dig.
The Lost Gold of Geronimo
The Lost Gold of Geronimo
A true story nearly four centuries in the making — from Spanish gold and Apache secrets to a family’s covert century-long dig.
An overview of the story, the people, the events, and why this discovery matters.
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The mine’s 360-year history, from the Spanish and Apaches to modern excavation.
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Accounts, books, records, artifacts, and other clues that converge on the same hidden site.
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The mine’s layout, buried chambers, and other features revealed through excavation.
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Rock samples, analyses, and a geologist's report reveal the site’s unusual geology.
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The complete story, spanning 360 years of legends, history, discovery, and excavation.
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"After over six decades of searching, I was standing at the entrance of the source of the Lost Gold of Geronimo."
W.C. JAMESON #1 Treasure Author in America
"Potentially among the most significant geological discoveries of recent times."
MARK ABRAMS Veteran Gold Geologist & Member of Successful Gold Discovery Teams
"This book is sure to leave you intrigued if not spellbound."
PATRICK DEAREN Texas Literary Hall of Fame Inductee
In 1886, deep in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico, the Apache Indians buried one of the richest gold deposits ever known. Decades later, its location was revealed to a single family, who guarded the secret for four generations while quietly excavating the site. As they dug, they followed a trail of clues that led into one of the most enduring and complex treasure mysteries in American history.
What they uncovered—and long-guarded secrets of Guadalupe gold—are presented here for the first time. Sealed chambers, cavities plunging hundreds of feet, human remains, and buried artifacts trace a four-century saga of Spanish conquest, Apache resistance, and the ambitions of frontier prospectors. Every strand of the legend is brought together into one continuous narrative, still unfolding today.
The mine’s history follows a cycle of rediscovery, exploitation, and burial. The timeline below shows when each group knew of its existence. As indicated, the Apache seldom allowed outsiders to retain that knowledge—except for one family from Ysleta, Texas, who kept the secret within their bloodline.
ⓘ Hover over each bar to learn more.
Hover over the board to explore the key people, sources, artifacts, and physical clues tied to the mystery.
This is what lies beneath the surface. Hover to explore key geology and excavation features. Select a time period to see how the site changed.
Explore the evidence behind the site’s unique geology.
Milestones and field updates.
| July | 18 | Comparative analysis of all 42 U.S. Geological Survey rock-analysis sites in the Guadalupe Mountains completed. |
|---|---|---|
| May | 24 | Book featured on TexasLostMines.com. |
| 14 | Rock samples collected by geologist Mark Abrams and analyzed by an independent laboratory establish new highs for seven different metals. | |
| 02 | Book signing at the Llano Gold & Treasure Fest | |
| April | 05 | Book Launch |
