Most gold mining in Virginia was concentrated in the Virginia Gold-Pyrite belt in a line that runs northeast to southwest through the counties of Fairfax, Prince William, Stafford, Fauquier, Culpeper, Spotsylvania, Orange, Louisa, Fluvanna, Goochland, Cumberland, and Buckingham. Some gold was also mined in Halifax, Floyd, and Patrick counties.
History of Virginia gold mining
The earliest recording of gold mining activity in Virginia began about 1804 as placer mining, followed quickly by lode mining. Mining continued unabated until the onset of the California Gold Rush, at which point most serious speculators moved west. Production continued at a low level until the Civil War, when it virtually ground to a halt.
Near the end of the war, Union troops began a systematic campaign to destroy the economic base of the South. Many gold mines were subsequently damaged beyond repair. Most were, by this time, marginal producers, their ores of such low concentrate as to stretch the limits of the mercury amalgam (chemistry) recovery technology of the day. Many of these mines never reopened.
Other mines did, however, and gold production in Virginia continued until World War II, when, on October 8, 1942, the War Production Board issued Limitation Order L-208, which branded gold production as a non-essential and directed all but the smallest of gold mines to shut down so their labor force could be used elsewhere to support the war effort.
Economic conditions following the war were such that few miners returned to mining, so only a handful of mines reopened. For all practical purposes, commercial gold production in Virginia ceased after 1948.
At its peak, Virginia was the third largest gold producing state, and the heart of the gold production area was at the junction of Spotsylvania, Culpeper, Greene near Wood Dr., and Orange counties near Wilderness.
Modern era
More than 300 prospects and mines are known to have existed in Virginia, yet very few, if any at all, are commercially active at this time. Amateur and hobby prospecting continues to this day, primarily consisting of individual or small scale placer operations. Many hobbyists simply use a gold pan or a sluice box.
Museums and displays about gold mining
Lake Anna State Park contains the remnants of the Goodwin mine and some historical displays. Gold panning is permitted on the park grounds. Monroe Park in Goldvein has a museum about gold mining operations in the area, with some reconstructed buildings and historical artifacts.
List of gold mines, claims, and prospects
Since most commercial gold activity ceased in the late 1940s, records are scant. This list is not complete. quadrangles are USGS 7.5 minute quads and the coordinates are UTM.
Mines in Buckingham County
Anaconda mine Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 7 Quadrangle: Dillwyn Location: N 4,165,950 E 729,000 (Zone 17) Anderson mine Quadrangle: Andersonville Location:N 4,149,050 E 715,050 (Zone 17) Apperson mine Quadrangle: Dillwyn Location: N 4,160,830 E 724,830 (Zone 17) Bondurant mine Quadrangle: Andersonville Location:N 4,147,630 E 713,180 (Zone 17) Buckingham (Wiseman) mine Quadrangle: Dillwyn Location: N 4,158,740 E 723,820 (Zone 17) Burnett (Staples) mine Quadrangle: Dillwyn Location: N 4,160,010 E 724,400 (Zone 17) Copal (Kopall) mine Quadrangle: Andersonville Location: N 4,147,580 E 715,500 (Zone 17) Duncan mine Quadrangle: Dillwyn Location: N 4,163,050 E 726,150 (Zone 17) Flood (James Anderson's) mine Quadrangle: Andersonville Location: N 4,146.340 E 712.190 (Zone 17) Ford mine Quadrangle: Diana Mills Location: N 4,174,840 E 730,820 (Zone 17) Gilliam mine Quadrangle: Andersonville Location: N 4,145,400 E 711,420 (Zone 17) Greelsy (Ayers) mine Quadrangle: Dillwyn Location: N 4,162,120 E 730,510 (Zone 17) Hudgins mine Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 8 Quadrangle: Arvonia Location: N 4,173,530 E 737,360 (Zone 17) Lightfoot (Cowan) mine Quadrangle: Diana Mills Location: N 4,175,860 E 731,370 (Zone 17) London and Virginia mine Quadrangle: Dillwyn Location: N 4,418,860 E 723,980 (Zone 17) Morrow (Booker, Garnett, Moseley) mine Quadrangle: Willis Mountain Location: N 4,152,590 E 721,570 (Zone 17) Morton (Hobson) mine Quadrangle: Dillwyn Location: N 4,166,920 E 728,800 (Zone 17) Philadelphia (Allen)mine Quadrangle: Dillwyn Location: Near the London and Virginia mine. Rough and Ready mine Quadrangle: Dillwyn Location:N 4,166,270 E 728,470 (Zone 17) Seay mine Quadrangle: Willis Mountain Location:N 4,152,770 E 721,350 (Zone 17) Williams mine Quadrangle: Dillwyn Location:N 4,158,070 E 723,130 (Zone 17) Willis Creek mine Quadrangle: Andersonville Location:N 4,146,230 E 710,500 (Zone 17) Mines with insufficient data Piedmont mine Walker mine
Mines in Carroll County
Woodlawn mine Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 9 Quadrangle: Woodlawn Location: N 4,063,540 E 515,020 (Zone 17)
Mines in Culpeper County
Childsburg (Childsbury) mine Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 11 Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,255,260 E 263,870 (Zone 18) Cromarty mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,253,500 E 264,790 (Zone 18) Culpeper (Hempstead) mine Quadrangle: Chancellorsville Location: N 4,250,700 E 262,790 (Zone 18) Dry Bottom mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,251,940 E 265,010 (Zone 18) Eagle mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,251,530 E 263,720 (Zone 18) Ellis (Eley) mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,254,840 E 264,930 (Zone 18) Embrey (Embry, Embry and Brooks) mine Quadrangle: Chancellorsville Location: N 4,250,230 E 263,120 (Zone 18) Field's mine Quadrangle: Germanna Bridge Location: N 4,255,760 E 259,790 (Zone 18) Greeley Horace mine Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 12 Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,251,330 E 263,520 (Zone 18) Hill mine Quadrangle: Castleton Location: N 4,265,890 E 760,320 (Zone 17) Love mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,251,560 E 263,060 (Zone 18) Milbank (Millbank) mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: East-northeast of Richardsville, south of the Rappahannock River. Morganna (Morgana) mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,255,490 E 266,300 (Zone 18) Ricardsville mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: Near Richardsville Rossin's (Rossin's Mountain) mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,252,260 E 262,600 (Zone 18) Smith mine Quadrangle: Chancellorsville Location: N 4,250,490 E 264,450 (Zone 18) Urquhart mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,254,490 E 264,450 (Zone 18) Mines that had insufficient data Enterprise Everlasting Pennsylvania
Mines in Cumberland County
Dickey, C. S. mine Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 13 Quadrangle: Lakeside Village Location: N 4,175,660 E 751,780 (Zone 17)
Mines in Fairfax County Bull Neck (Kirk) mine Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 14 Quadrangle: Falls Church Location: N 4,315,060 E 307,990 (Zone 18)
Mines in Fauquier County Fauquier County's Gold Mining Museum at Monroe Park Bancroft (Bancroff) mine (2 mines) Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 16 Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,262,340 E 262,680 / N 4,261,490 E 263,260 (Zone 18) Cool Spring (Stringfellow) mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,260,180 E 266,920 (Zone 18) Embrey mine Quadrangle: Midland Location: N 4,264,900 E 264,190 (Zone 18) Emigold mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: Near Goldvein, Va Franklin (Deep Run) mine Quadrangle: Midland Location: 4,264,710 E 267,970 (Zone 18) First mine in the county, opened in 1825. Gamewood mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,261,890 (Zone 18) Johnston mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,256,800 E 268,140 (Zone 18) Kelly (Kelley)mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,260,340 E 260,100 (Zone 18) Kidwell mine Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 17 Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,258,130 E 260,830 (Zone 18) Kirk mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,264,060 E 267,680 (Zone 18) Liberty mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,259,310 E 266,380 (Zone 18) Liepold (Leopold, Stone) mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,263,940 E 263,970 (Zone 18) Little Elliot mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,260,450 E 266,450 (Zone 18) Pine View mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,259,640 E 265,380 (Zone 18) Pollard (Polland) mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,261,520 E 261,360 (Zone 18) Randolph (Sugar) mine Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 18 Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,260,940 E 266,210 (Zone 18) Union mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,258,030 E 265,730 (Zone 18) Waterman mine Quadrangle: Midland Location: N 4,264,470 E 267,570 (Zone 18) Wykoff (Wycoff, Quartz) mine Quadrangle: Richardsville Location: N 4,263,020 E 266,640 (Zone 18)
Mines in Floyd County Black Run mine Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 20 Quadrangle: Floyd Location: About northwest of Floyd, in the stream bed of Black run (unable to locate), which empties into Little River, off the northwest side of State Highway 8. Brush Creek mine Quadrangle: Pilot Location: N 4,100,810 E 561,200 (Zone 17) Laurel Creek mine Quadrangle: Pilot Location: N 4,097,270 E 560,250 (Zone 17) McAlexander, Lester (Luster) mine Quadrangle: Alum Ridge Location: About northeast of Alum Ridge, just off the west side of State Road 617 approximately by road north of its intersection with State Highway 8.
Mines in Fluvanna County
Bartlett mine Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 22 Quadrangle: Columbia Location: About north of Columbia on Bartlett Branch, a tributary off the east side of Byrd Creek, approximately northwest of the intersection of Byrd Creek (at old Bowles bridge) with State Road 605. Bowles mine Quadrangle: Caledonia Location: N 4,194,540 E 755,890 (Zone 17) Cassell's mine Quadrangle: Columbia Location: N 4,191,490 E 751,390 (Zone 17) Cocke mine Quadrangle: Columbia Location: N 4,188,600 E 751,060 (Zone 17) Fountain mine Quadrangle: Columbia Location: N 4,189,630 E 751,990 (Zone 17) Hughes mine Quadrangle: Palmyra Location: N 4,185,510 E 738,510 (Zone 17) Jennings mine Quadrangle: Caledonia Location: N 4,191,320 E 753,710 (Zone 17) Marks, Lemuel mine Quadrangle: Columbia Location: N 4,190,560 E 752,960 (Zone 17) McGloam mine Quadrangle: Caledonia Location: N 4,193,320 E 754,840 (Zone 17) Mosby mine Quadrangle: Columbia Location: N 4,190,110 E 752,590 (Zone 17) Page mine Quadrangle: Columbia Location: N 4,192,390 E 743,960 (Zone 17) Previous User contribution:(Believe this should be the "Long Island Mine", named after the Long Island Creek in Fluvanna where it was located. It was established by George Pace in the 1830s, and thus is also commonly called "the Pace Mine".) Prospect A Sweet, Palmer C., Gold in Virginia, Virginia Division of Mineral Resources Publication 19, pg. 23 Quadrangle: Caledonia Location: N 4,190,920 E 753,780 (Zone 17) Prospect B Quadrangle: Caledonia Location: N 4,190,420 E 753,680 (Zone 17) Scotia (Hodges vein) mine Quadrangle: Caledonia Location: N 4,190,740 E 754,090 (Zone 17) Scotia (Perkins, Telluruim Vein) mine Quadrangle: Caledonia Location: N 4,191,920 E 754,410 (Zone 17) Shaw (2 mines) mine Quadrangle: Caledonia