Volcanoville Chinese Gold Cache
During the mid-19th century, Volcanoville was a bustling mining community in El Dorado County that was home to a wealthy Chinese store owner who quietly amassed a massive fortune in gold. Before planning a return trip to China, the merchant buried his accumulated wealth in a secure, marked cache near his store. However, a devastating fire soon swept through the settlement, completely destroying the wooden structures and erasing the key topographical landmarks he had used to map the cache. Despite returning to Volcanoville multiple times in the late 1800s to excavate the area, the merchant was never able to relocate his lost gold, which is believed to still lie beneath the ruins.
Field Research Notes
The Volcanoville area is a high fire hazard zone with mixed public USFS land and private residences. It is critical to consult county parcel maps to avoid trespassing on private properties, and focus search efforts near old stone foundations using pulse induction metal detectors.
Recommended Gear
Pulse Induction Metal Detector, Heavy Shovel, Sieve, Soil Core Sampler
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