Is there gold in Wisconsin? Yes, and the state’s gold story has two distinct chapters. The Flambeau Mine in Rusk County produced 334,000 ounces of gold (along with 181,000 tons of copper and 3.3 million ounces of silver) during just four years of operation from 1993 to 1997. This is the only known commercial gold production in Wisconsin.
The second chapter is glacial gold. During the Pleistocene, ice sheets moving south from Canada carried gold bearing gravels from as far away as Alberta and deposited them across Wisconsin. This glacial action ground the gold into extremely fine “flour” particles. As the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey notes, “gold in small amounts can probably be found in placers in any county.” However, the particles are so tiny that true nuggets are exceedingly rare.
Northern Wisconsin is geologically part of the Canadian Shield, with ancient Precambrian volcanic rocks (greenstone belts) that are known gold hosts worldwide. The Bend deposit in Taylor County and the Flambeau deposit both sit within these rocks, suggesting significant untapped potential. The Bend deposit alone has estimated reserves of 119,000 ounces.
TL;DR
- Gold Present: Yes. Flambeau Mine: 334,000 oz (1993 to 1997, only commercial production). Glacial flour gold in virtually every county. Bend deposit: 119,000 oz estimated reserves. Plum Creek (Pierce County) produced ~60 oz from placer in 1887 to 1890. Plus a dozen tiny diamonds found!
- Best Region: Pierce County (Plum Creek, Rock Elm Creek) for documented placer gold. St. Croix River at the Dalles for glacial placer. Northern Wisconsin (Ashland, Taylor Counties) for greenstone belt geology. Lake Superior shores for wave concentrated gold.
- Gold Type: Overwhelmingly flour gold from glacial deposits. Extremely fine particles, sometimes requiring tweezers. Occasional small flakes. The Flambeau and Bend deposits are volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits with gold in pyrite and chalcopyrite.
- Top Spot: Plum Creek and Rock Elm Creek in Pierce County (best documented placer). St. Croix River near the Dalles. Chequamegon National Forest streams. Wisconsin River. Black Earth Creek (Dane County).
- Legal Note: Recreational gold panning is allowed without permits in Wisconsin. Do not damage stream banks or release large amounts of silt. The property owner holds mineral rights. Always get permission on private land.
- Verdict: Wisconsin offers recreational panning as a fun outdoor activity, but expect flour gold and very small finds. The Flambeau Mine proved significant gold exists in the state’s greenstone belt, but environmental concerns severely limit new mining. For serious prospecting, neighboring Michigan offers more documented placer gold.
Flambeau Mine
The only commercial gold production in Wisconsin. Operated 1993 to 1997 on the Flambeau River in Rusk County. Produced 334,000 oz gold, 181,000 tons copper, 3.3 million oz silver from 1.9 million tons of ore. Now reclaimed, though water contamination issues persist.
Glacial Gold
Ice sheets from Canada deposited gold across Wisconsin. Glaciers ground gold into flour sized particles. Gold can theoretically be found in any county. Most streams are reworking some glacial sediment. The gold was transported from gold bearing regions of Alberta and Ontario. See also Iowa and Illinois for similar glacial gold.
Plum Creek Rush
The most significant placer gold find. In 1887 to 1890, prospectors panned and sluiced along Rock Elm Creek, Plum Creek, and tributaries in Pierce County. Recovered flour gold and some slightly larger grains. Over a dozen tiny diamonds were also found. A 1985 exploration confirmed significant placer gold but could not locate the bedrock source.
Greenstone Belt
Northern Wisconsin is part of the Canadian Shield with Precambrian volcanic rocks 1.6 to 1.8 billion years old. These are the same greenstone belt formations that host major gold deposits worldwide. The Bend deposit (Taylor County) has estimated reserves of 119,000 oz. The Flambeau deposit proved gold exists in commercial quantities.
St. Croix Dalles
Placer gold produced from gravels in the St. Croix River above and below the Dalles, yielding about 60 ounces historically. The river gorge acted as a natural sluice box, concentrating heavy minerals. Some exposures were later covered by water after construction of a power dam.
Environmental Limits
Wisconsin passed strict mining laws in 1974 after environmental problems. The Flambeau Mine’s water contamination (copper at 10x standards) led to Clean Water Act litigation. The “mining moratorium” law (since repealed) effectively blocked new mines for years. Environmental opposition remains strong.
Where Is There Gold in Wisconsin?
Is there gold in Wisconsin that recreational prospectors can find? Yes, in very small amounts. Glacial flour gold is distributed across the state, and a few specific locations have documented placer gold. The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey maintains detailed records of gold occurrences by county.
Pierce County (Western Wisconsin)
The Plum Creek and Rock Elm Creek area has the best documented placer gold in the state. The 1887 to 1890 operations recovered flour gold by panning and sluicing. A 1985 exploration by Superior Oil Company confirmed significant placer gold but could not locate the bedrock source.
St. Croix River (Polk/St. Croix Counties)
The Dalles of the St. Croix produced about 60 ounces of placer gold historically. Flakes and nuggets were found in glacial drift and in crevices in basalt bedrock. The river gorge concentrated heavy minerals naturally.
Northern Wisconsin (Ashland, Taylor, Rusk Counties)
The Canadian Shield greenstone belt hosts both the Flambeau and Bend deposits. Streams draining these ancient volcanic rocks may carry gold. The Chequamegon National Forest provides public access.
Best Places to Look for Gold in Wisconsin
- Plum Creek and Rock Elm Creek (Pierce County): Best documented placer gold. Historic 1887 to 1890 operations. Confirmed by 1985 exploration. Diamonds also found here.
- St. Croix River at the Dalles (Polk County): Historic placer production of ~60 oz. Look where streams cut through glacial gravels to bedrock. Some exposures submerged by dam.
- Chequamegon National Forest streams (Taylor/Ashland Counties): Greenstone belt geology. The Bend deposit area. Ancient volcanic rocks host gold.
- Wisconsin River: Popular recreational panning location. Glacial gold in gravels. Fine particles throughout.
- Black Earth Creek (Dane County): Glacial deposits with gold. Class I trout stream with coarse substrates forming riffle pool sequences ideal for gold concentration.
- Lake Superior shores (Ashland/Bayfield Counties): Wave action concentrates heavy minerals including gold from glacial deposits. Beach gravels may contain flour gold.
History and Geology of Gold in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is divided geologically into two nearly equal halves. The northern half is part of the Canadian Shield, with exposed Precambrian volcanic and metamorphic rocks billions of years old. These greenstone belts are known gold hosts worldwide. The southern half has these basement rocks buried under deep Paleozoic sedimentary cover.
The Flambeau deposit was discovered in the 1960s and mined from 1993 to 1997. It was a volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit on the Flambeau River, containing gold with copper and silver in sulfide minerals. The Bend deposit in Taylor County, 19 miles north northwest of Medford, contains gold as rare tellurides (calaverite, petzite, krennerite) in ancient metamorphosed volcanic rocks.
Glacial ice sheets repeatedly covered Wisconsin, carrying gold bearing gravels from Canadian sources. The most recent Wisconsin glaciation (named for the state) deposited gold across the terrain. Glacial action ground gold into flour sized particles, which were distributed widely but thinly. The St. Croix Dalles area was an exception, where the river gorge acted as a natural sluice box to concentrate gold from these glacial deposits.
Tips for Gold Prospecting in Wisconsin
- Target glacial gravel exposures. Look where streams cut through glacial sediments to bedrock. Gold settles in the upper six inches of gravel. Sample carefully as you dig down rather than digging deep.
- Follow the black sand. Magnetite, hematite, and garnets are indicator minerals that travel with glacial gold. When black sand appears in your gold pan, you are near gold bearing material.
- Pan very slowly. Wisconsin flour gold is so fine it can wash out with fast technique. A sluice box with very fine matting catches what panning may miss.
- No permits needed for hand panning. Recreational gold panning with hand tools is allowed in Wisconsin without permits. Do not damage stream banks or release silt. Motorized equipment requires additional permitting.
- Try Pierce County. The Plum Creek area has the best documented placer gold in the state. It also produced diamonds, making it doubly interesting for mineral collectors.
- Consider neighboring Michigan. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has more documented placer gold and the Ropes Gold Mine produced nuggets. Combine a Wisconsin trip with UP prospecting.
Resources
- Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey: Gold for the definitive county by county guide to gold occurrences, including specific locations and historical reports.
- Rare Gold Nuggets: Wisconsin Gold Mining and Prospecting for practical prospecting advice and description of the Plum Creek area.
- Wikipedia: Flambeau Mine for the history of Wisconsin’s only commercial gold producing operation and its environmental legacy.
Conclusion
Is there gold in Wisconsin? Yes. The Flambeau Mine’s 334,000 ounces proved that commercial gold exists in the state’s greenstone belt, and glacial flour gold is scattered across virtually every county. The Bend deposit’s 119,000 ounce reserves suggest more may be found. For recreational prospectors, Pierce County’s Plum Creek and the St. Croix Dalles offer the best documented placer gold, though all finds will be extremely fine.
For more gold in the region, see Is There Gold in Michigan? and Is There Gold in Minnesota?. Browse the full state directory to find gold near you.
FAQ
Where is the best place to find gold in Wisconsin?
Plum Creek and Rock Elm Creek in Pierce County have the best documented placer gold. The St. Croix River at the Dalles. Chequamegon National Forest streams in northern Wisconsin. Lake Superior shores.
How much gold has Wisconsin produced?
The Flambeau Mine produced 334,000 ounces (1993 to 1997) as a byproduct of copper mining. Small placer operations at the St. Croix Dalles and Plum Creek produced minor amounts. The Bend deposit has 119,000 oz in estimated reserves.
Do you need a permit to pan for gold in Wisconsin?
No. Recreational hand panning is allowed without permits. Do not damage stream banks or release silt. Get permission on private land. Motorized equipment requires additional permitting.
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Ryan Conlon is the founder of Pan for Treasure.
A lifelong gold panning enthusiast, he created this site to help beginners learn the ropes and share practical tips from his own time on the creek. [email protected]