A long hike into the Death Valley region led us to this small mining operation. Judging from the artifacts found at the site, the mine was probably worked during the 1930s Depression and WWII eras. Inside the mine is an ore car, which is always an amazing find. And seeing a working ore car in a mine is a real treat but what makes this mine site unique is the strange engine at the mine; the MacClatchie Power Unit.
Continue readingStarbuck's Exploring
Hiking and exploring backcountry locations of the Western United States.
Tag: Mining (page 1 of 40)
Sprucemont (really called Spruce Mountain) was actually a few mining camps spread across Spruce Mountain. First mined for lead-silver ore in 1869, it was a long-lived and successful mining area. The mines here produced ore all the way into WWII; almost a hundred years worth.
The mines are now caved and only a few ruins stand today. It remains a very picturesque site.
This is a small mine out in the East Mojave. History is vague on this
Mines in this part of Idaho were first worked in the 1880s and 1890s but development didn’t start in a serious way until the 1920s when the first mill was built on this site. The mill was expanded in 1934 into a 50-ton (per day) mill. The lead and silver ores were so rich, the 50-ton mill was scrapped and a new 100-ton mill was built the following year. Prospects continued to look bright and, in 1937, the mill was expanded again. In 1941, floatation tanks were added for zinc recovery.
Continue reading
I visited a fairly modern arrastra in southern Nevada not too long ago. It is mostly intact with the drag stones still in place. That is a rare find!
Continue reading© 2019 Starbuck's Exploring
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑