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California gulch
California Gulch is a valley between Mount Sherman and southern Leadville in Lake County, Colorado.
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Mining
In April 1860, one of the richest discoveries of Colorado placer gold was discovered at California Gulch, the site of Oro City. Another rich discovery was made at McNulty Gulch along the headwaters of Tenmile Creek. By 1872, California Gulch placer mining yielded more than US$2,500,000 (equivalent to $49,979,167 in 2016). In 1877, lead was found in California Gulch, which led to construction of a smelter that year, and soon after the founding of the town named Leadville.
Superfund site
It was classified a Superfund site in Colorado due to soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater contamination by lead, arsenic other metals and acidic mine drainage, and liquid and solid waste and sludge from mining, milling and smelting.