Goldfish For Real 2.0

A population of goldfish flourish in the runoff water of an old mine.

The story is that this mine was so long and deep that it was no longer feasible to pump it dry for mining, and it was abandoned.  The mine filled with water and the constant overflow now runs out the mouth and forms a small year around pond.

At some time after the closure goldfish were dumped in the little pond and they have survived and reproduced ever since.

It is highly unusual to find goldfish in "the wild".

There is a GPS - gpx track file at the bottom of the page.

Goldfish

St. Cloud Mining has an active zeolite mine along the road leading to the goldfish.  Zeolites are microporous, aluminosilicate minerals commonly used as commercial adsorbents and catalysts.

Graded road

Overburden for present mine

Pass by a crushing and screen facility built in 2015.

This sign may make you wonder if the road is open.  I checked at the plant office and was assured it was OK to access USFS land through this gate.

Crushing and screening facility

Sign

Goldfish live in a small pond formed from overflow from the mine.  There do not appear to be any fish inside the mine.

Goldfish pond

Water inside mine

There is a functioning windmill along the trail.  The water benefits both cattle and wildlife, including robins.

Windmill

Robins at water tank

Page updated 2018.

---

---

goldfish_for_real_2.0.gpx
File Size:	141 kb
File Type:	gpx

Download File

---