LOOKING FOR GOLD IN THE HILLS

Reports that geologists may take a serious look for gold in the Ozarks is more than interesting. If the precious-metal sleuths are as successful as they were in Australia, there are some hillbilly millionaires waiting to be made.

The St. Francois Mountains, one of the oldest mountain ranges on the North American continent, appear to have characteristics similar to an area of Australia where iron ore is only part of the mother lode. Gold deposits in that particular formation are estimated to be worth $200 billion.

Iron and lead mining have been going on for decades in Southeast Missouri. If the gold exists, it is thousands of feet below the ground. That is because the St. Francois Mountains have been buried by millions of years of sediment and other deposits.

Don't expect anyone to start panning in the St. Francis River. But it will be interesting to follow future developments of the Missouri gold rush.