This district is in west-central Inyo County on the west slope of the Inyo Mountains about nine miles southeast of Independence. The largest source of gold has been the Reward or Brown Monster group of mines. The veins were discovered in 1878 and worked steadily until 1914. The Reward mine was active again during the 1930s and 1940s, and there has been some work in the area since. The ore deposits are northwest-striking quartz veins up to 12 feet thick, and the ore contains free gold and often abundant sulfides. Moderate amounts of lead, silver, and copper also have been produced here. The district is underlain by schist, slate, and limestone with granitic rocks to the east.
Bibliography
Norman, L.A., Jr., and Stewart, R.M., 1951, Inyo County, Reward mine: California Jour. Mines and Geology, vol. 47, pp. 48-49.
Tucker, W. S., and Sampson, R. J., 1938, Inyo County, Reward· Brown Monster mines: California Div. Mines Rept. 34, pp. 386-388.
