Pegleg Smith's Black Gold

Sun shading (lidar)

Adjust simulated sun direction on the lidar hillshade. Azimuth = compass bearing of the light (0° north, 90° east). Altitude = height above the horizon (low = long shadows).

Historical map overlays

USGS scanned historical topographic maps. Enable an overlay and adjust its opacity. Works in 2D and 3D.

Sun azimuth: 315°   Sun altitude: 45°   Z factor: 1   Lidar opacity: 1
center: —   mouse: —   zoom: —

Pegleg Smith's Black Gold

Lost Treasure AZ • Yuma / Imperial (border) County
Description
Legend of Thomas "Pegleg" Smith finding black-coated gold nuggets atop a butte in the Colorado Desert (often linked to three buttes near the AZ–CA border) in the 1830s. One of the most searched lost-gold legends in the Southwest.
Historical Notes
Pegleg Smith (Thomas Smith) lost a leg to an Apache arrow in 1827. While crossing the desert toward Los Angeles with furs, he gathered black pebbles from atop a butte — later discovered to be gold coated with desert varnish. After being run out of Los Angeles, he organized failed search parties in the 1850s. Versions place the buttes in Anza-Borrego, the Chocolate Mountains, or the Colorado Desert between Yuma and Warner's Ranch. Apache and Yaqui tales of black nuggets support the legend. Some researchers link scattered nuggets to ore from the ill-fated Peralta expedition. Coordinates mark the Arizona side of the lower Colorado Desert search area.
Status / Verification legend — Legendary or approximate

Take Add Data / Take Notes

Log in or create an account to save private field notes for this location. Your notes are only visible to you.

Forgot password?
or

Enter your email and we'll send you a link to reset your password.

Back to log in
or