This is a collection of two sites that are very close together in a remote corner of western Nevada. They are medium sized sites with a variety of Western Desert Archaic petroglyph designs. We have visited the site a few times over the years.
Oro Fino Mine, MNP
While heading out on a trip to Nevada, we rendezvoused for a quick exploration of the old Oro Fino Mine in the Old Dad Mountains of the Mojave Preserve. The mines are closed by iron bat-gates. The cabins, however, have been recently repaired by volunteers and are in good shape.
Boxcar Cabin
For about a decade now, some friends of mine have been maintaining the (Buckhorn) Boxcar Cabin out near Death Valley. Before its life in the “Adopt-a-Cabin” program, this simple two-room cabin was once a train boxcar used by miners. Mining prospects were first worked here in the 1930s. In 1958, a prospector named William Carpenter filed the Buckhorn claims. The cabin probably dates from that time. How it got out here though remains a mystery.
“Engagement” Mine
This fairly remote and old silver, lead and zinc (with some traces of gold and copper) mine is a pretty neat site. The old camp dates from the 1870s and was re-worked in the 1920s. The mine has four levels (not including the adit level) and a few thousand feet of workings. I recently revisited the site and it still looks to be in good shape.
“Alta Silver” and “Rock Eagle” Mines
Noonday Mine
We have been visiting this mine many times over the years. It is one of the earlier mines in the War Eagle mine group. It was successful enough that the owners built a tramway down the hillside and developed their own railroad to connect to the mainline Tidewater and Tonopah railroad. Now that’s a good mine!
Columbia #2 Mine
These are various photos from our trips over the years to the Columbia #2 mine out in the Mojave desert. Part of the War Eagle complex of mines, it is well-travelled. The main incline has caved and no longer useable.