Buckeye #1

Buckeye Creek is located northeast of Weaverville and west of Trinity Lake in the Trinity Mountains. It is situated on the northeast side of Buckeye Ridge and just outside the Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreational Area on National Forest Service managed lands. The ±20-acre Buckeye #1 placer mining claim is located along a reach of Buckeye Creek that is right along Trinity Dam Blvd, making access to and from the claim very easy. Although the elevation is relatively low (~900 feet), Buckeye Ridge receives snow from time to time making 4x4 necessary on Trinity Dam Blvd during those colder days. It is heavily wooded which provides cool conditions during the warm summer months.

Buckeye Ridge is composed of auriferous Tertiary gravel deposits and is the primary source for gold in Buckeye Creek. There are a few prospects and digs for lode gold veins, including the nearby Little Anna Mine. Its main drift tunnel has collapsed and the extensive underground workings are inaccessible. There are remnants of a concrete ore bins and stamp mill footings. Other nearby significant gold mines include the Buckeye and Little Elsie Mines. These lode deposits likely contributed gold to the creek.

Buckeye Creek runs most of the year but reduces down to a trickle during the late summer months. Best time to mine the creek is during spring runoff but productive mining can be done for most of the summer months. Access is good from pullouts along Trinity Dan Blvd. Pick an access trail down to the creek wisely as the last few feet tend to be steep. Follow the animal trails – they know the best routes to water. One could probably tent camp along the creek; probably best to camp at the nearby National Recreational Area public campgrounds.

Tectonic uplift of the Trinity Mountains is legendary and is responsible for the steep and rugged topography with deep and incised valleys. Creeks and rivers in the Trinity Mountains contain nested bench gravel terraces from uplifted erosional surfaces. Buckeye Creek also has remnant bench gravel deposits, which have been hit hard by the historic miners. Tailings piles, rock walls, water diversion ditches are common on the benches but as we all know, they did not get it all. Native gravels on bedrock can be seen all along the Buckeye #1 claim. Some of the old creek meanders (swales on the benches) are evident, some of which have not been mined.

The slope of the drainage is steep enough that the creek channel runs mostly on bedrock. There are gravel bars that have created in the more level reaches and downed trees have both dammed the flow creating gravel bars as well as diverting it and creating the meander benches.

The Buckeye #1 claim is a good placer claim for the weekend warrior or for someone who just needs a small project he or she can work on their own. There is a lot of opportunity here and it is perfect for a small operation with a highbanker or small suction dredge. Even a sluice box and pan will provide for many years of prospecting fun! A long-term goal would be to permit a mini excavator and dig up some of the old meanders and gravel bars.

Some of the amenities are: