No gold deposits in Kansas, only in the western part of the historical territory of Kansas (present day Colorado); read about these and other facts and figures about gold mining in KS.
Contents
Is there Gold in Kansas?
No, there is no gold in Kansas, and there never was a gold mining industry anymore:
- In present day Kansas there has never been commercial gold mining.
- However, in the western part of the Territory of Kansas that existed from 1854 till 1861, there was the Pike’s Peak gold rush from 1859 on, ten years after the start of the California gold rush. This part of the Territory of Kansas is now part of the state of Colorado.
- The US Geological Survey currently lists 11 gold producing states that count towards the US gold production (with Nevada and Alaska at the top). In the past, many more states were gold producers. Kansas was never among them.
- The US Geological Survey does not list any current or historical gold sites in Kansas.
Key Takeaways:
| Fact | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Remember | No gold deposits in the state of Kansas; however, gold find and rush in the western part of the territory of Kansas (today part of Colorado) |
| Gold Deposits | No |
| Discovery Year | None |
| Discoverer | None |
| Mining Industry | Not active |
| Panning Locations | Small amount of placer gold might be found in the far west in the rivers of Smoky Hill and Arkansas that carry placer gold from the mountains in Colorado |
Where is Gold in Kansas?
Small amount of placer gold might be panned in the far west in the Smoky Hill river and the Arkansas river, that carry placer gold from the mountains in Colorado.
However, bigger gold flakes and nuggets are not carried very far in rivers. Therefore, gold in Kansas rivers will be very small grains. See map below.
What is the History of Gold Mining in Kansas?
In the 19th century there were reports of unsubstantiated gold finds in Kansas.
Is There Gold in Other US States?
Check out gold production in neighboring states of Kansas: Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGC), there are 11 states that mine gold and contribute towards the gold mining statistic: Nevada is responsible for the majority of gold output, around 72%, followed by Alaska (13%). 9 other contribute in sum to the remaining 15% of gold production: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah.