In this episode of Solomon's Vegas Adventures, Solomon ventured out into the Eldorado Mountains to go rockhounding. Solomon spent almost the entirety of his Field Geology I course at UNLV in the Eldorado's, and his studies came in handy. Solomon found specimens of Aegirine, Diopside, Spinel, Quartz, Copper, Gold, and Silver out in the wilderness. The locality in which Solomon went rockhounding is known as Bridge Spring Canyon and the Bridge Spring Arch.

Solomon also dives deeply into the Geologic History of the locality. The area is composed of a litany of Miocene aged Volcanic rocks that have been extensively titled, faulted, and torn asunder by the Earth during the formation of the Eldorado Mountains Metamorphic Core Complex, due to that ever pertinent Basin & Range Rifting. Solomon dives deeper into this geology in the video.

Gold, Silver, and other precious metals have been mined in the Eldorado Mountains since the 1850's. The town of Nelson can attest to this. The specific part of the Eldorado's that Solomon explored today has not been opened for mining, but several studies assert that the area yields significant Gold, Silver, Copper, and other metals, and would be a quite prosperous place to mine.

The trailhead is located at a saddle off of NV165 about 10 miles from US95. To get to the area from town, take US95/I11 south until you reach Exit 14 for US95. Take the exit, and head south on US95 for 10 miles. Turn left on NV165 and continue for 10 miles until you reach the pass.

All photos copyright of their respective owners, no copyright infringement intended.

For more information, consult these studies that I did:

https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1991/0323/re...

https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1994/0246/re...

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