No. 195 - Lost Dutchman Mine

I heard on the radio this morning that three men remain missing after reportedly hiking in Arizona to search for the Lost Dutchman Mine.

I learned that the Lost Dutchman Mine is reportedly a very rich gold mine hidden in the Superstition Mountains, east of Phoenix, Arizona. The mine has a long history of men dying in search for gold, dating back to the gold rush days of the 1800s. It is perhaps the most famous lost mine in American history.

The Dutchman himself was Jacob Waltz, who lived in Phoenix. Some stories say Waltz died with gold under his bed and left behind 19 clues where to find the supply in the Superstition Mountains. Some think the gold is left over from Mexican or Spanish explorers. According to many versions of the tale, the mine is either cursed, or protected by mysterious guardians who wish to keep the mine's location a secret.

While learning about the Lost Dutchman Mine, it reminded me of the novel Earthcore by Scott Sigler, one of my favorite science fiction authors. In Earthcore, a platinum mining expedition in Utah goes horribly awry when the mining party bumps into an ancient race of violent creatures that live in an immense underground network of caves three miles below the surface of the earth.

I hope these three Arizona hikers didn't stumble upon Sigler's platinum mine by mistake. It would not be a happy ending for them :(