Georgetown-silver Plume — Clear Creek County

Source: Colorado GOLD Prospecting (OoCities archive) — Prospecting Sites in Colorado. Compiled by Shawn Page; additional notes by Tom Ashworth and prospector reports (Tom Peden, Greg Ferris). Part of the 250-mile Colorado Mineral Belt — historically among the richest placer districts in the Rocky Mountains. Coordinates approximate the named town or district center — not a specific claim. Verify land status (BLM, state, private, fee digs) before prospecting. Georgetown / Silver Plume is on U.S. 6 and 40-42 miles west of Denver. The steep grades in this area are treacherous. Georgetown / Silver Plume is in west part of county. This district consisted of 25 square miles and had a total production of around 145,000 gold ounces. Area mines produced a by-product of gold. Southwest of Georgetown / Silver Plume 6 miles is the Argentine or west Argentine district. Just east of the Continental Divide, this district had a total production of 25,400 gold ounces. Along Leavenworth Creek, and on the southeast side of Leavenworth Mountain on the southeast slopes of McClellan Mountain, at head of Leavenworth Creek, 6 mi. farther southwest, many area mines produced lode and by-product gold. On Kelso Mountain, area mines produced lode gold. The Belmont Silver Lode and the Baker Mine were the largest district producers of lode gold.