This mystercache can be solved in two ways: at home with an internet search, or, while exploring the "Gems and Minerals" exhibit at the posted coords! Finding the answers at the posted coordinates is available 9-5 every day except Christmas. There are free days throughout the year but they can be very crowded, entry is also free the last 30 minutes each day, except for Fridays. The cache container and logbook are within a short walk.
Below is the option to solve the questions on-site, at the posted coords.
It may help to save the questions offline in case you loose data.
Scroll down if you are planning to solve from home instead.
Cache is at: N 39° 44.ABC W 104° 56.DEF
A: Find the "Gems and Minerals" exhibit. Go through the hallway approaching the cave. After the first turn, you will see the Alma King, a large red rhodochrosite, which is the Colorado state mineral. This is the largest rhodochrosite crystal in the world! Watch and listen for the clue: In what month was the Alma King found? January=1, February=2, etc (Don't use the phone, but the other media nearby. If it's not active then you may have to google).
B: Follow the path for several more turns until you see an impressively large purple amethyst geode. It's a dark display with lights shining in on the purple crystal cavity. The next one over will be called "Crystalline Quartz." Find the largest dark crystal, labeled QUARTZ var. Smoky. This was found near Devils Head in Douglas County, Colorado, only 34 miles from here! The bottom of the plaque has an item reference number starting with DMNH. The second digit in the refernce number is B.
C: Go through the next room, and turn right after you go through the doorway. Along the wall, find the informative display titled, "Colorado's Economic Minerals." Under 1890's, "Gold Rush to Cripple Creek," ___ .2 million dollars worth of gold was removed from one small cavity in the Cresson mine. Fill in the blank.
D: Look for the gold room. Find a piece of gold labeled "Colorado's largest known nugget," found in 1937 (the one you're looking for is NOT Tom's Baby). How many ounces does it weigh? Divide that by 2 to get D.
E: Continue past the "Amazonite Crystal Cavity" diorama and enter Colorado's Mining Heritage. There is a small case at the start featuring the Colorado state gemstone, aquamarine. Colorado's state rock is white yule marble, and remember the state mineral from the first question? This makes Colorado's state mineral, rock, and gemstone: red, white, and blue! To find E, how many pieces of large, uncut aquamarine are sitting on the white cloth?
F: Around the corner, find the "signals" sign for a mine elevator. It is NOT the Surface Tram Signals poster, keep looking! Under "Level Signals," 4-5 will bring you to what floor? Use only the second digit, after 1.
Below is the option to solve the questions from home.
Cache is at: N 39° 44.ABC W 104° 56.DEF
A: The Alma King is a rhodochrosite, which is the Colorado state mineral. It is the largest rhodochrosite crystal in the world! Using google, in what month was the Alma King found? (January=1, February=2, etc)
B: Large specimens of smoky quartz crystals have been found at Devils Head in Douglas County, Colorado, only 34 miles from the posted coords of this cache! Looking down from the top of the crystal, how many sides does a well-formed piece of quartz have? Divide that by 2 to get B.
C: In 1914, over a 30 day period, the Cresson Mine in Cripple Creek produced ore worth ___ .2 million dollars. Fill in the blank using google.
D: Colorado's largest known gold nugget was found in 1937. How many troy ounces does it weigh? Divide your answer by 2 to get D.
E: The Colorado state gemstone is aquamarine, a light blue-green gem variety of beryl. Colorado's state rock is white yule marble, and remember the state mineral from the first question? This makes Colorado's state mineral, rock, and gemstone: red, white, and blue! What year was it named the state gemstone? Multiply the last digit by 2 to get E.
F: Bells in mine elevators were used to signal events and directions such as hoist, stop, accident, and also what floor to bring the elevator to. In Colorado, signal 4-5 will bring you to what floor? Use only the second digit of the answer, after 1.
Making the find: Log only, BYOP. High muggle zone, try not to draw too much attention! Please re-hide exactly where you found it! The future of this cache is in your hands: again, replace it well hidden! Please drop a note if log needs more paper or waterproofing. Usually not snow-friendly. Check your answers here