Gold rush 2.0: Colorado still a gold-producing state in 2024, survey says

DENVER ( KDVR ) — It turns out the pioneers might have been right about the gold rush in the West. While California was the focal point of the frenzy, Colorado found itself as a hidden gem during that time.

According to a survey conducted by SD Bullion , Colorado remains the seventh-highest gold-producing state in the United States even in 2024.

Data gathered by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Mineral Resources Data System analyzed the areas in the United States where gold ore was found or produced. After gathering this data, researchers compared the differences in gold occurrences, prospects and producer totals for each state. That number was put up against the size of the state to produce a total number of gold locations per 1,000 square miles.

The old pioneers and prospectors would be proud of themselves as they were pretty dead on with the locations in the West that they suspected produced gold. The top 10 locations were all located in the Wild West, the locations included:

1. California – 66.59 locations per 1,000 square miles
2. Washington – 34.17 locations per 1,000 square miles
3. Oregon – 31.41 locations per 1,000 square miles
4. Nevada – 30.91 locations per 1,000 square miles
5. Idaho – 28.44 locations per 1,000 square miles
6. Arizona – 17.40 locations per 1,000 square miles
7. Colorado – 14.89 locations per 1,000 square miles
8. Montana – 13.21 locations per 1,000 square miles
9. Alaska – 9.22 locations per 1,000 square miles
10. Utah – 7.46 locations per 1,000 square miles

The Rocky Mountains have been a staple in gold production since the 1800s. Colorado has 1,543 locations that have gold found in them. Colorado makes up 103,642 square miles of land area. When put against each other, those numbers produced the 14.89 locations per 1,000 square miles.

“The findings reveal promising areas in the United States where the likelihood of finding gold is notably higher. These regions, known for their favorable geological conditions and historical mining success, stand out as prime locations for gold exploration. The data offers valuable insights into the distribution of gold deposits, highlighting key areas for amateur prospectors and professionals,” said Chase Turner, CEO of SD Bullion.

Out of the 50 states that make up the United States only 32 were found to have gold in them. The lowest of the gold-producing states was Oklahoma with only 0.01 locations per 1,000 square miles.

The U.S. is the fourth largest global producer of gold and produces approximately 3,200 metric tons of gold. According to the survey, investment in the U.S. gold mining sector is increasing and Colorado will play a big part in the continuation of gold production.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.