Back in February of 2012, Dan and I did some exploring to see what was left of this old mine. We had known about it for years but finally got around to actually getting up there. The hike was actually farther than we expected but it was well worth the trip! It is not often you find such a nice, old mine camp.
The mine was a nice little producer in the 1910s but idle after that.
We left everything in place, as you should too.
"Apricot and Syrup" Mine
57 photos
Hiking across the desert, we come across an old road.
We find what looks like a temporary prospect's tent camp below the canyon.
Hiking up the canyon towards the mine, we start seeing debris, like these ore car wheels. Things are looking up!
Hiking in the canyon. The old road is long gone here.
Bent piece of rail.
We come to a small rock wall and tent pad. It is a miner's camp.
Poking around in the rocks, I discover this old wheel and railing. The wheel is small and Dan thinks it could be from an automobile, possibly from a Model T. Regardless, it is a neat find. You don't often find wooden spoked wheels in the desert!
We find traces of the old road.
Dan finds a gold pan!
It makes a great hat too. We left the pan where we found it for the next explorers to find.
We came to a small miner's camp in the canyon. Not much left at the site except a few tent pads, bed frames and misc debris.
The mine camp.
You can see the remains of what must have been an inclined tramway of some sort. There was not enough left for us to figure out how it worked.
An old car hood.
8 inch Buffalo Forge Co.
A car engine and frame are slowly being reclaimed by the desert.
We found this hand made ore bucket next to the ore bin. It looks like it was made from a barrel.
Another look at that inclined tramway before we hike up to the mine itself.
You can see rails going over to the shaft. The upper ore bin has a jaw crusher! Those are rare to see still in the backcountry.
Building remains.
Boot heel.
Iris Coffee, Haas, Baruch & Co.
We found pieces of this winch nearby.
Bedsprings in camp.
This screening can is pretty interesting. You can turn the handle to mix the contents.
Old rails.
This appears to have contained something. It had a lock on the outside and the inside was covered in canvas.
Jaw crusher and engine at the upper ore bin.
Looking down the inclined shaft. It doesn't look too bad.
Dan finds a kettle!
Down we go.
This old miner's pick was puzzling. Why is it so short?
I've seen a lot of Prince Albert tobacco tins in old mine camps but finding a whole canister is rare. And this one is in decent condition. I left it there.
The backside. I like the line: "Does not bite the tongue."
We find an old blasting cap tin.
The tin is for Giant Powder blasting caps.
Dan works an old windlass at a winze.
"Black & White canned Apricots in rich syrup". Well, at least the miners got some fruit.
An "Edgeworth Extra High Grade Ready Rubbed Smoking Tobacco" can. I don't see these very often.
Miner's Lamp, Union Carbide can.
A view of the hand windlass and blasting powder box.
Another short old mining pick.
A closer shot of the old Hercules Powder box.
This 6 cylinder engine was next to the jaw crusher.
The tag plate on the engine says: "Ansted Engineering, Connersville, Indiana. Series DX. Serial No. 11237" Ansted Engineering was only around for a few short years: 1918 to 1923.
An impressive jaw crusher still sits on top of the ore bin.
Look at all of that rock work in the background too.
On the side of the jaw crusher: "No 2, Dodge Rock Breaker, Harron Rickard & McCone, San Francisco."
Jaw crusher.
This ore bin has a nice geared gate on it.
This large 4 cylinder engine sits below the jaw crush and could have run a tram but we are not sure.
This is a big (65 horsepower) engine for this mine. The tag reads: "Aurora Engine Co. Stockton, Cal USA. No. 951, Type C, HP 65, RPM 500". Aurora Engine Company was the precursor to Caterpiller.
We take a look at the engine sitting on the hillside as we head down the hill.
One last look at the mine camp before we start hiking back.
Dan walks on the old road.
We say farewell for now.
Last Updated on August 4, 2020 by Guy Starbuck
