# Lost Rhoades Mine

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lost_Rhoades_Mine
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lost_Rhoades_Mine.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Rhoades_Mine
> Source revision: 1335448188
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

The **Lost Rhoads Mine** (also spelled **Rhoades**) is a legendary gold mine believed to be located in the [Uinta Mountains](/source/Uinta_Mountains) of Utah. The accounts are a central element of [Mormon folklore](/source/Mormon_folklore), involving 19th-century pioneers, leaders of [the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](/source/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints) (LDS Church), and the [Ute people](/source/Ute_people). While the specific location remains unverified, historical records confirm that the Rhoads family provided substantial quantities of gold to the LDS Church during the mid-19th century.[1]

## Historical background

The legend centers on Thomas Rhoads (1794–1869), a Kentucky convert to the LDS Church who worked at [Sutter's Mill](/source/Sutter's_Mill) during the [California Gold Rush](/source/California_Gold_Rush) before returning to the [Salt Lake Valley](/source/Salt_Lake_Valley) in 1849.[2] On July 13, 1852, records from the [Deseret Mint](/source/Deseret_Mint) document that Rhoads deposited gold dust valued at $3,414, equivalent to 165.17 ounces, or approximately $445,959 in 2026 gold value.[3] While some historians argue this gold was accumulated in California, contemporary accounts by associates suggested Rhoads was making frequent, short trips into the nearby mountains to retrieve ore.[4]

## The Caleb Rhoades era

Following Thomas Rhoads's death in 1869, his son Caleb Rhoades (1836–1905) reportedly continued the expeditions. According to oral tradition, the mine was the subject of a secret treaty between [Brigham Young](/source/Brigham_Young) and Ute leaders, including [Chief Walkara](/source/Chief_Walkara) or Chief Tabby-To-Kwanah. This agreement allegedly permitted the family to mine gold on tribal lands provided it was used for the church's benefit.[5] Caleb Rhoades became a well-known figure in the [Uintah Basin](/source/Uintah_Basin), filing numerous mining claims in the 1870s and 1880s, though none officially reported gold yields. He took the location of the family's "sacred" source to his grave in 1905.[6]

## Geography and geology

Treasure hunters have historically focused on the Rock Creek, Blind Stream, and Rhoades Canyon areas of the Uinta Mountains.[7] However, the [Utah Geological Survey](/source/Utah_Geological_Survey) notes that the Uinta range is primarily composed of Precambrian [quartzite](/source/Quartzite) and [sedimentary rock](/source/Sedimentary_rock), which typically lack the [igneous rock](/source/Igneous_rock) activity necessary for significant gold-bearing quartz veins.[8]

## See also

- [Lost mines](/source/Lost_mines)
- [Ute people](/source/Ute_people)
- [Dream Mine](/source/Dream_Mine)
- [Lost Josephine Mine](/source/Lost_Josephine_Mine)

## References

1. Arrington, Leonard J. (1958). *Great Basin Kingdom: An Economic History of the Latter-day Saints*. Harvard University Press. pp. 72–73.

1. Davies, J. Kenneth (1984). *Mormons and Indians: A History*. University Press of America. ISBN 9780819137258.

1. ["The Lost Rhoads Mine"](https://kamasvalleyhistory.org/2020/05/11/the-lost-rhoads-mine/). *Kamas Valley History Group*. Retrieved 18 January 2026.

1. Boren, Kerry Ross (2002). *The Gold of Rama*. Treasure Chest Publications. ISBN 9780971714311.

1. Thompson, George A. (1971). "The Lost Rhoades Mine". *Utah Historical Quarterly*. **39** (2): 101–115.

1. Bascom, Dale R. (2007). *Following the Legends*. CFI. pp. 45–52. ISBN 9781599550435.

1. Markosian, Richard (August 9, 2013). ["Buried Treasure in Utah"](https://utahstories.com/2013/08/buried-treasure-in-utah-how-to-find-it/). *Utah Stories*. Retrieved 18 January 2026.

1. Utah Geological Survey (1999). *Gold Occurrences in Utah*. Circular 101.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lost Rhoades Mine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Rhoades_Mine) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Rhoades_Mine?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.