Few other geologists in history have been as successful at finding gold and other mineral deposits as the authors. The senior author discovered hundreds of gold anomalies and was on the discovery team of one of the largest gold deposits in North America in the Kuskokwim Mountains of Alaska and made the initial discovery of an entire gold district in the Rattlesnake Hills of Wyoming, which is being touted as another Cripple Creek. Although the book focuses on Wyoming; gold is described in other western States in this first volume of two on gold in the West. The authors provide the reader with information on where to find gold, how to find gold and give four decades of combined experience to help the reader understand what to look for and how to read the geology and rock outcrops.

One geologist spent 30 years exploring Wyoming while noting the variety of minerals, rocks and gemstones scattered statewide. During these investigations, Wyoming, which once was considered to be relatively poor in gemstones, soon became known as having the most diversified assemblage of gemstones of any state in the United States. The author discovered dozens of new mineral, gemstone and rock localities, more than a hundred gold anomalies and mapped the largest diamondiferous kimberlite fields in the US and the largest field of lamproites in North America. During these investigations, the author, W. Dan Hausel, discovered some of the largest gemstones and deposits on earth. Now he shares these localities with his readers.