Laura Leveque

Laura Leveque aka Jackass Jill gold mined in Alaska, Idaho, Washington, and New Mexico, and has treasure hunted in most western states. She also worked as an underground mine tour guide and donkey packer in Colorado and New Mexico.

She's written travel and adventure stories for publications such as: Peninsula Post, RV'n Magazine, Gold and Treasure Hunter magazine, Southwest On-line magazine, Harness Goat Society News, Sussex, England, Women and Guns magazine, and more. She also works as a freelance illustrator.

Laura wrote the "Donkey Prospector" column for Gold Prospectors magazine and The Brayer magazine from 1996 to 2011. In 2011 she began writing the "Treasure Tales and Trails" column for Gold Prospectors magazine. She retired from prospecting and treasure hunting and currently grows and collects culinary and medicinal herbs.

Laura's been a dowser since the 1970s and belongs to the American Society of Dowsers. She helps people clear out haunted buildings and mine sites and sometimes writes about it.

Leveque earned a BA from Washington State University and an MA from Central Washington State University.