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Arizona Oddities

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Home›Natural Surroundings›Weaver’s Needle and the Deadly Gold of the Superstitions

Weaver’s Needle and the Deadly Gold of the Superstitions

By Sam Lowe
August 27, 2010
6353
5

Since 1870, when stories about the Lost Dutchman Mine in the Superstition Mountains became a standard item in Arizona folklore, some 40 people have either disappeared or been found dead in and around the suspected location of the mine. The stories about the fabulously wealthy cache of gold supposedly hidden in the mountains are many and varied, but there’s always once constant — Weavers Needle.

Weaver's Needle, Superstition MountainsThose who go in search of the lost gold always use Weavers Needle as a focal point. In reality, it is a towering lava plug. Don Peralta, the alleged first owner of the lost mine, called it Sombrero Peak. Others referred to it as the Finger of God. The current name is attributed to Paulino Weaver, an early Arizona explorer and adventurer, who carved his name into the rocky surface. Subsequent treasure hunters saw the name an applied it to the peak.

Today, the only ones getting rich in the search for the gold are the people who print maps that allegedly show the exact location.

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Related Posts:

  1. History, Theories Surrounding the Lost Dutchman Mine
  2. Does Tumacacori Hold Buried Treasure?
  3. Seven Cities of Gold: The Story Behind Arizona’s Earliest Yarnspinners
  4. Two Stashes of Gold Loot Remain a Mystery Near Flagstaff
  5. Arizona in the Civil War? Deadly Skirmish at Picacho
Tagslandmarksmountainsrock formationsstorytelling

5 comments

  1. Wandering Justin 29 September, 2010 at 11:42 Reply

    The volcanic plug theory for Weaver’s Needle is outdated. It’s the wrong type of rock – volcanic tuff. So pretty much fused ash, which isn’t what you’ll find in a plug.

  2. Mtn Mike 12 July, 2011 at 10:24 Reply

    Read the Killer mountains by Curt Gentry.

  3. Weavers Needle and the Peralta Trail | Geo Savvy Tours 2 September, 2013 at 09:25 Reply

    […] For more information on Weaver’s Needle and folklore of the Lost Dutchman Mines check out this blurb from Arizona Oddities. […]

  4. Harold Cohn 10 December, 2018 at 14:15 Reply

    In regards to the relationship of Weavers Needle to the Lost Dutchman Min , it is within five miles of the mine. However, Jacob Waltz could not see Wavers Needle:; he could see Miner’s Needle. I researched and wrote the book titled: “THE LOST DUTCHMAN MINE and PEG LEG PETE MINE” that contains the forgoing. CRAZY OLD MAN

    • Kenny 25 May, 2019 at 22:46 Reply

      Hi, any chance I could get you to show me some of this? I’m from apache junction and love to learn all I can about the history. Please contact me at Kjkubitz@gmail.com

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