Out of the Dust: Utah's Lost Mines and Treasures [Paperback]

Stephen B. Shaffer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 2006

Written for the adventurer in all of us, Out of the Dust: Utah's Lost Mines and Treasures is a unique guide that surpasses all other books of its kind.

Author Steve Shaffer brings to light stories of lost gold and silver mines carved out of the earth by Spaniards and Mexicans. Other stories tell of modern miners and their quest for hidden wealth in the hundreds of mountains and valleys of the West. While some treasure seekers have been rewarded with fabulous wealth, others have known only grief and disappointment.

Explore the vast Uinta Mountains and their rich mining heritage. Learn of long-lost mines that few treasure hunters have even heard of. Discover the secret of the Lost Rhoades Mine and the real story of the Lost Josephine Mine. Find out where to look for treasure and buried mines in UtahÂ’s desert country.

Utah's Lost Mines and Treasures features many photos and sketches—published here for the first time and reveals long-forgotten cryptic and decoded treasure signs. This book, a treasure trove itself, is an essential asset for every adventurer and treasure hunter.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen B. Shaffer was born in Salt Lake City in 1947. At age sixteen, he left home, looking for adventure. Eventually, he became friends with several members of the Ute Tribe in the Roosevelt, Utah, area. Stephen learned a great deal from his new friends and grew to love and appreciate their knowledge and wisdom.

When Stephen turned eighteen, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving as a Ranger in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. As an adult, Stephen's love for the Uinta Mountains grew, and he often hiked the mountains in search of Spanish mines and treasures. His relentless pursuits have paid off, and he has been rewarded with some exceptional finds.

Stephen graduated from the North American School of Conservation and from the first Division of Wildlife Resources Hunter Education Instructors Academy in 1981. He received his associate's degree in applied science in the pipe trades and his bachelor's degree in archaeology from Kennedy International University.

Stephen has written several books about ancient civilizations in the West and about Spanish miners in early Utah, including La Mina del Yutas, Of Men and Gold, Nachi, and Treasures of the Ancients. Stephen can be seen in the documentaries Tops of the Mountains and The Golden Rhoades.

Stephen and his wife, Bonnie, live in Lake Shore, Utah. They have ten children, twenty-nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Cedar Fort; First Edition edition (January 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555178936
• ISBN-13: 978-1555178932
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #795,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Precious Metals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Mysteries Continue..., March 9, 2006

By 

N. Allred "hamerdude" (the Heart of Adventure, Utah!) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Out of the Dust: Utah's Lost Mines and Treasures (Paperback)

Stephen B. Shaffer is an amazing man on an amazing quest for knowledge. If you've read his previous works, and have an open mind, then you know what I'm talking about. I really enjoyed this book. Many tales of adventure and treasure, both lost and found. This book, though definately entertaining enough, does not shed a whole lot of new light on old gold. For the casual treasure hunter, it does offer some direction, but for the technical fanatic, you will find that Stephen stops short of disclosing the details.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not worth it., August 25, 2008

By 

Seronac Rich "Seronac" (Orem, UT USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Out of the Dust: Utah's Lost Mines and Treasures (Paperback)

This book is well-written, and gives a bit more information about some of the great legends of Utah treasure history, but it doesn't go into enough detail. This would be fine for the casual, armchair treasure hunter, but for someone who wants to hit the trail and find these places, it is seriously lacking. It makes me wonder if the real way to make money from lost treasure in Utah is by writing books about it.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Inane and Pointless, March 31, 2009

By 

Antonio Cavallo (Ogden, Utah) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Out of the Dust: Utah's Lost Mines and Treasures (Paperback)

This book is not worth your time or money. I wanted to return it within minutes of receiving it. The author is not a critical thinker, and some of his stories are dubious at best. His archaeology "degree" is from an online diploma mill, and much of what he says is nonsense. I'm concerned that he may even be encouraging "pot hunting" and the destruction of possible historic sites.