Lost mines are a popular form of lost treasure legend. The mine involved is usually of a high-value commodity such as gold, silver or diamonds. Often there is a map (sometimes called a "waybill") purportedly showing the location of the mine. Common reasons given for the mines being lost include:
- The mine is discovered and worked by a recluse who refuses to divulge the location, and dies without revealing the location.
- The mine is worked by native peoples who refuse to divulge the location to others.
- The mineral deposit is discovered in a remote location, and upon returning to the area the discoverer cannot find it again.
- The discoverer dies of hunger, thirst, or exposure shortly after discovering the deposit, and his body is found with rich ore specimens in his possession.
- The discoverers are killed by hostile natives. Sometimes the natives cover up the entrance to the mine.
- In Spanish colonies in the New World, many lost mines were supposedly worked under the direction of Jesuit priests before their sudden expulsion in 1767.
Some lost mine legends have a historical basis; some have none. But the lure of lost mine legends is attested by the many books on the subject, and the popularity of publications such as Lost Treasure magazine.
Famous quotes containing the words lost and/or mines:
“The United States never lost a war or won a conference.”
—Will Rogers (1879–1935)
“The humblest observer who goes to the mines sees and says that gold-digging is of the character of a lottery; the gold thus obtained is not the same thing with the wages of honest toil. But, practically, he forgets what he has seen, for he has seen only the fact, not the principle, and goes into trade there, that is, buys a ticket in what commonly proves another lottery, where the fact is not so obvious.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)