Texas Ranks Among America’s Top Treasure Hotspots

From gold in the West to shipwrecks off the Florida coast, America has no shortage of real-life treasure hiding in plain sight.

New research from social casino ACE.com has ranked all 50 states based on five treasure-related factors: shipwrecks, meteorite strikes, prehistoric fossils, rare-earth mineral occurrences, and gold deposits.

And when all five are counted, California takes the top spot, scoring 71.51 out of 100. Alaska follows in second with 50.22, while Florida rounds out the top three with 44.55.

America’s Top 20 Treasure Hotspots:

Rank	State	Shipwrecks	Gold Deposits	Meteorite Strikes	Prehistoric Fossils	Rare-earth mineral occurrences	Total (out of 100)
1	California	841	10,373	374	1,988	2	71.51
2	Alaska	454	5,264	4	109	37	50.22
3	Florida	1,850	0	7	895	8	44.55
4	Texas	974	23	317	497	3	43.46
5	New Mexico	0	520	230	935	12	40.07
6	Nevada	0	3,393	836	22	2	38.19
7	Wyoming	0	167	15	1,118	25	36.65
8	Idaho	0	2,350	8	72	32	33.88
9	North Carolina	654	194	29	151	8	33.16
10	Colorado	0	1,543	90	580	6	33.13
11	New York	1,762	0	11	2	7	31.15
12	Montana	0	1,923	7	940	3	29.89
13	Virginia	890	141	13	280	1	29.49
14	Arizona	0	1,977	203	224	1	28.59
15	New Jersey	969	0	3	140	1	24.27
16	Oregon	117	3,015	6	154	0	23.07
17	Georgia	165	206	28	55	4	22.35
18	Washington	350	2,271	6	28	0	22.13
19	Massachusetts	795	0	2	319	0	22.10
20	Utah	0	613	28	774	0	21.00

1. California is the nation’s treasure capital

The Golden State certainly earns its name, ranking as the nation’s treasure capital with a score of 71.51 out of 100.

California records 10,373 locations associated with gold, by far the highest number in the study and almost double Alaska’s 5,264.

It is not all gold, however. California also has 1,988 prehistoric fossil records, the most of any state, alongside 841 shipwrecks and 374 meteorite strikes.

With treasure waiting on land, underground and offshore, California finishes more than 21 points clear of its nearest rival.

 

2. Alaska is rich in more ways than one

Alaska takes second place with a score of 50.22 out of 100.

The state has 5,264 gold deposits, second only to California, plus 454 shipwrecks. It also leads the entire country for rare-earth mineral occurrences, with 37 recorded in the dataset.

That mix of gold, minerals, and maritime history gives the Last Frontier plenty to uncover.

 

3. Florida rules the waves

Florida lands in third place with a score of 44.55, and its biggest treasure is beneath the water.

The Sunshine State records 1,850 shipwrecks, more than anywhere else in America. It also has 895 prehistoric fossil records.

Even with no gold deposits recorded in the dataset, Florida’s nautical history is strong enough to help carry it into the national top three.

 

Where else does America’s treasure stand out?

Beyond the top three, several states make the ranking through very different kinds of treasure.

Texas comes in fourth despite ranking third in the country in two separate metrics, with 974 shipwrecks and 317 meteorite strikes. However, low gold deposits prevent the Lone Star State from placing higher overall.

New Mexico, in fifth, performs strongly despite recording no shipwrecks, with 935 prehistoric fossil records, 230 meteorite strikes, and 520 gold deposits. 

Nevada, which ranks sixth overall, is the standout for treasure from outer space, recording 836 meteorite strikes, the highest total in the study. It also has 3,393 gold deposits, the third-highest figure nationally.

Whether it is buried underground, lost at sea, or fallen from the sky, every corner of the country seems to have its own kind of treasure. And, for those who enjoy the thrill of uncovering something new, social casino ACE.com offers a wide range of games designed around entertainment, variety, and the excitement of the next spin.