The Black Oak Mine
The Black Oak Mine, located near Soulsbyville, California, was a gold producer that operated intermittently from 1878 through the 1920s. These exclusive photographs were provided by a descendant of the mine’s superintendent. Continue Reading
The Mines of Boulder County, Colorado: Photographs by Joseph Sturtevant
Joseph Sturtevant, also known as “Rocky Mountain Joe”, was a professional photographer based in Boulder, Colorado. During his time there, the mining industry in Boulder County was thriving, and he documented much of it in photographs throughout the 1890s and the first decade of the twentieth century. Continue Reading
Evaluating the top counties for their potential for gold discovery can be done by examining several important factors, including historical production, modern mining activity, availability of water, and whether land is open to prospecting. One effective way to consider all of these factors at once is to follow the footsteps of modern experts in the field, the miners and prospectors who are already finding gold. Continue Reading
The White Pine Silver Rush
Deep in what was a vast wilderness in eastern Nevada, the White Pine district experienced one of the most intense and short-lived mining excitements in the history of the American West. What began as a modest discovery in the mid-1860s escalated into a boom that drew thousands of miners, speculators, and investors to the heights of Treasure Hill. Continue Reading
The Lost Burro Mine is located in Inyo County California, within the boundaries of Death Valley National Park. The mine was discovered in 1907 and was worked intermittently by several owners until the 1970s. Continue Reading
The Belcher Mine: 1870s Mining Methods of the Comstock Lode
Using the fascinating ca. 1876 illustration of the Belcher mine workings by T. L. Dawes, this article examines some of the mining methods employed in the mines of Nevada’s Comstock Lode. Continue Reading
Historic Silver Ingots: 19th Century Treasures
The ingots produced by the mines of the West’s great silver districts are some of the only remaining artifacts from from a bygone era of Western mining. As some of the few surviving artifacts from these camps, they are now prized by collectors. This article takes a look at silver ingots that have sold at auction over the last couple decades. Continue Reading
Stagecoach travel in Colorado was particularly daring, as the narrow roads were often cut into mountainsides, with high passes, hastily built bridges spanning deep ravines, and steep drop-offs only a few feet away. Continue Reading
The Humphreys Mill
Located just north of Creede, Colorado, the remains of the Humphreys Mill mark the site of a significant industrial facility that operated from 1902 to 1918. Primarily processing silver, lead, and zinc ores, the mill played an important role in Creede’s mining economy during the early 20th century. Continue Reading
It is often overlooked that the events surrounding “Gunfight at the OK Corral” occurred during one of the most important silver mining excitements in United States history, and many of the region’s mining camps and towns played a part in the events that unfolded. Continue Reading