Rattlesnake Hills believed to have gold potential

Speculation is growing that a large-tonnage, low-grade gold deposit exists in the Granite Mountains of central Wyoming.

The detection of significant gold anomalies in Rattlesnake Hills dates to the early 1980s, when the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) and American Copper & Nickel Co. began exploring the region. Additional exploration, including geological and geochemical studies, has determined that the Hills are geologically similar to the South Pass Gold mining region in western Wyoming, the state’s principal gold mining district.

Situated 55 miles west of Casper in Natrona Cty., Rattlesnake Hills represent a fragment of an Archean greenstone belt that exhibits similarities to gold-bearing terranes in Canada, Africa and Australia. The area was disrupted by Tertiary volcanic activity, which resulted in additional gold mineralization. The gold exists in Tertiary volcanic rocks, Archean exhalites, veins, breccias and stockworks.

To obtain a report on the region, contact W.D. Hausel at WSGS by phoning (307) 766-2286. Fax: (307) 766-2605.