In Maryland gold was reported in 1830; commercial gold mining started only in 1967 and lasted until 1951; read about these and other facts and figures about gold mining in MD.
Contents
- Is there Gold in Maryland?
- Where is Gold in Maryland?
- What is the History of Gold Mining in Maryland?
- How much Gold has been Mined Maryland?
- What is the Current State of Gold Mining in Maryland?
- How many Gold Reserves are in Maryland?
- What Companies Mine Gold in Maryland?
- Where are New Gold Mines Explored or Developed in Maryland?
- Where Can I Pan for Gold in Maryland?
- Is There Gold in Other US States?
Is there Gold in Maryland?
Yes, there is gold in Maryland, but no active gold mining industry anymore:
- Gold discovery in 1830; year of maximum production was 1937 with 1,040 ounces (32.3 kg). Gold production ended in 1951.
- The Maryland Gold Rush began in 1864, which was a subdued affair compared to the California Gold Rush of 1849.
- 1950 and 1951 were the last years for which gold production numbers were published. Production was recorded at 20 ounces (0.6 kg) for 1950 and only one ounce for 1951. In the previous decade, there was no recorded gold mining.
- Till the 1950s total gold output was 6,122 ounces (190.4 kg) which made it the 3rd lowest gold producer east of the Mississippi (before Vermont with 889 ounces and Indiana with a lower, not published, output). The biggest producer is North Carolina with gold mine that is still active.
- Gold mines and reported placers were foremost in the counties of Montgomery and Frederick, and in neighboring counties to the northeast.
- Around 30 historic gold sites in Maryland are listed by the US geological Survey, all of them in Montgomery and Frederick, this includes Maryland mine, the Bethesda mine and the Harrison mine. Most of the sites are already closed.
Key Takeaways:
| Fact | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Remember | First gold discovery in 1830, production until 1951 |
| Gold Deposits | Yes |
| Discovery Year | 1830 |
| Discoverer | Not recorded |
| Mining Industry | Not active |
| Last Gold Mine | The last gold mines where closed in the 1950s |
| Panning Locations | Around the Great Fall area on the Potomac river |
Check out the video the biggest gold mine in the state, the Maryland gold mine:
Where is Gold in Maryland?
Gold in Maryland was mined primarily in Montgomery and Frederick, in the Great Falls area. See the following map from the Maryland Geological Survey that shows the in red gold mines, placers and other gold occurrences in the state:
Figure 2: Map of Maryland Gold Mines, Placers or Reported Gold Occurrences (Maryland Geological Survey).
The location of the Maryland mine, the biggest gold mine of the state is in Montgomery, marked as or on the map above.
Sources: Maryland Geological Survey, USGS
What is the History of Gold Mining in Maryland?
- Compared to other gold producing states, gold mining was on a very small in Maryland.
- Mining started only after the civil war and lasted until the end of the 1930s (with small production also in 1950 and 1951).
Who discovered gold in Maryland?
- Gold was first mentioned in Maryland in 1830 without any specifics.
- Another report was from 1849, when gold was discovered at a farm of Samuel Ellicott near Sandy Springs. The discoverer was also not reported.
When was the gold rush in Maryland?
- In 1864 there was a small gold rush in Maryland. It was much smaller than the famous one in California. Prospectors from California and Oregon camped at Cropley and prospected for gold in the stream.
What was the nature of gold mining in Maryland?
- Commercial gold mining started only in 1867, when the first mine were opened in the area of the Great Falls.
- These mines were active until 1951.
- In 1867, the Maryland Mining Company was founded by John Clear, a participant of the gold rush. He developed an underground gold mine. However, soon the gold deposits were depleted and the mine abandoned. It reopened two more times – but to no avail.
- Maryland mine: the gold mine with the biggest output and longest life in the Great Falls area. It opened in 1867, soon abandoned and reopened in 1903. It produced gold until the 1930s.
- Other mines were: Rock Run, Montgomery mine, Ford mine, Harrison mine, Irma mine, Bogley and Eagle mine, Potomac mine, Sawyer mine and the Bethesda mine.
When did gold mining end in Maryland?
- Gold production lasted until the end of the 1930s. In the 1940s, the mines were closed.
- The last production, at a very low level, was in 1950 and 1951.
- No gold more production was recorded after 1951. In the years before that, gold output was at a minimum; see below.
Sources: Maryland Geological Survey, USGS
How much Gold has been Mined Maryland?
- The official gold statistic for the state, published by the US Geological Survey, shows that Maryland produced 6,122 ounces (190.4 kg) of this precious material in its entire gold mining history.
- This is a cube with a side length of around 45cm. Meaning, all gold ever produced in Maryland would fit into a big backpack.
- The year with the highest gold production was in 1937. The output was 1,040 ounces (32.3 kg) of gold.
See below an overview of the annual gold production in USD in the Howard and Montgomery counties of Maryland form 1867 till 1951.
Gold prices for one ounce were in the years of gold production in Maryland:
| Year | Gold Price per Ounce |
| 1867 – 1878 | Between $20.69 and $27.87 |
| 1879 – 1932 | $20.67 |
| 1933 | $35.00 |
| 1934 – 1939 | $35.00 |
| 1940 – 1951 | Between $35.50 and $35.25 |
Sources: USGS
What is the Current State of Gold Mining in Maryland?
The last years of gold production in Maryland were 1950 and 1951; no production in the 1940s.
In the 1950s gold production was as follows:
| Year | Ounce | Kg |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 20 | 0.6 |
| 1951 | 1 | 0.0 |
How many Gold Reserves are in Maryland?
There is no estimate about the gold reserves in Maryland.
What Companies Mine Gold in Maryland?
There are currently no active commercial gold mines in Maryland. Current gold mining activities in Maryland are amateur and hobby prospecting, primarily consisting of individual or small-scale placer operations.
Where are New Gold Mines Explored or Developed in Maryland?
There is no record about gold projects in Maryland.
Is it Legal to Mine Gold in Maryland?
Yes, it is legal to mine gold in Maryland, subject to certain regulations and guidelines.
- On Maryland state parkland, permission from the Maryland Forest and Park Service is required before engaging in any panning activities.
- it is essential to obtain permission from the Superintendent of the Parks before gold panning on nationally owned parkland.
- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) can provide information on which federal public lands are open to mineral panning
Sources: Maryland Geological Survey
Where Can I Pan for Gold in Maryland?
Check out a video about prospecting in Maryland:
The Maryland Geological Survey recommends prospecting downstream from vein quartz: particularly near the Great Falls area in the northern and central parts of Maryland, primarily northwest of Chesapeake Bay.
You can also get in touch with the Maryland Chapter of the Gold Prospector Association of America.
Source: Maryland Geological Survey
Is There Gold in Other US States?
Check out gold production in neighboring states of Maryland: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Virginia and West Virginia.
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.