“Zinc Tram” Mine

Ed and I took a small trip over to Nevada to check out an interesting little mine I had passed up before. I have visited some of the other mines in the district but overlooked this one in a small side canyon.

The mine worked an ore body that intruded into Mississippian period limestone, metamorphizing it into marble. The mine produced 160,000 lbs of zinc and lead and 14,000 lbs of copper around 1915. I didn’t find a record of the mine being worked after that.

Reaching the mine is a little tricky. The old trail to the mine is completely washed out in the lower canyon and you have to do a bit of rock scrambling to find your way. Once you are close to the mine, a faint miner’s trail traces a tight zig-zag up the side of the mountain. The trail then traverses across a gulch to reach the mine. Perched high on a ridge, the mine has an outstanding view and is well worth the climb.

"Zinc Tram" Mine

62 photos

At the old millsite down in the bottom of the canyon. This is perhaps an older millsite. It is the starting point for our hike.

Looking up at an ore bin high above us. We are not visiting this mine today though.

We're hiking up this canyon instead.

Hiking up the canyon, you can barely spot wooden towers for electric power and tramway which lead to the mine beyond.

Ed climbs a small dry fall. It is one of a few we encounter.

Looking up at the electric lines. It must have been some feat to string these lines.

The bedrock is marble.

Tram tower high above as our climb steepens.

I spot a small adit across the way.

We come across what looks like a fly wheel from some small piece of equipment in the canyon bottom. My guess would be a jaw crusher.

Getting closer to our mine.

Old barrel and fuel can washed down from above.

Another fly wheel at the base of a cliff.

Flywheel.

Debris field below the mine.

Pulley wheel from the tram along the trail.

Ed points to the many switchbacks up the cliff face as we figure out what direction to go.

Hiking along the old miner's trail. The trail is blasted out of the side of the cliff in many spots.

Looking down at the tight switchbacks in the trail.

Taking a break.

You can just barely see a tram tower (next to a power line tower) on the ridge.

First view of the mine.

Looks like a ball mill.

This was the upper tram terminal. I think that ball mill was probably a classifier.

Upper mill site. Ore was milled before going down the tram.

The mill burned and all the motors were removed some time ago.

Mill and tram ruins.

The mine.

Looking down at the mill building ruin.

The ore bin, which fed the tram, burned long ago.

Off in the distance, we spy a copper mine that will have to wait for another day.

Rails to waste.

Old wheelbarrow.

In the corner sits a stove custom made from a barrel.

We enter an adit only to find it becomes a room.

Front door.

Looking out of the room.

We were surprised to find a skylight above us!

Outside the room, we find an old hobnail boot discarded by a miner.

Remains of a blacksmith workshop. Note the forge in the center.

A closer look at the forge.

And anvil stump.

Now for a peek into the mine.

The rails split up.

We find a small winze that drops into a stope room.

Around the corner, we come into a large stope room. It was quite a surprise.

It is hard to photograph and get a good scale of it.

Ahead, upper left, is a landing platform that once had a hoist on it.

Below the platform, is a inclined winze. It was used to bring rock up from the bottom of the stope.

Ed takes a look around on the platform.

Carbide graffiti.

Choices...

Before going down, we decide to finish checking out this level. We come across an ore chute.

Heading down.

Looking back up.

The lower level is pretty tight.

Looking up the stope.

Not much down here.

Ore track junction.

Once outside, Ed decided to climb higher to investigate some more workings.

Back down in the wash, we check out some of the debris that has come down from the mine camp. This stove has landed upside down.

We say farewell to the mine camp for now.