Mining in Nevada, Nevada mining history, nevada mines

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Read the Comstock story here.


Miner working inside the Comstock Mine
Virginia City, Nev.
Taken by O'Sullivan using the glare of burning magnesium
for a flash of light, 1867--68.
The working space was often claustrophobic.


Cars coming out of shaft, Comstock Mine
Virginia City, Nev.
By O'Sullivan, 1867-68.


Prospectors look over the possibilities of a lease at a mine in Fairview.


In the underground photo above visitors are inspecting a stope underground.
The man in the stripped shirt is leaning against the vein.


List of Mines by County
Numbers below each name indicate number of mines

Carson City
28		 Churchill
82		 Clark
238		 Douglas
48		 Elko
298		 Esmeralda
265		 Eureka
171		 Humboldt
163
Lander
723		 Lincoln
253		 Mineral
256		 Nye
413		 Pershing
304		 Storey
110		 Washoe
85		 White Pine
264


Mayday Mine -Awakening Peak
(Thanks to Dale Hartley for these Mayday Mine photos)

The Jumbo Mine - Awakening Peak
(Thanks to Dale Hartley for these Jumbo Mine photos)

Ore sample room Ore sample bag


 

The Famous Sutro Tunnel
 

For more information on MINING HISTORY AND EQUIPMENT
 

     WARNING!  
Abandoned Mines are no playground.

The sign says "DANGER - UNSAFE MINE"
Then it's probably a very good idea to keep out.
Even in the days when these mines were in operation, they were very
dangerous.  Over the years these dangers have increased, making the mines
far more unstable than they were originally.

Imagine what this mine was like when there weren't any electric lights.
Look at the ceiling in this very typical mine.  Doesn't look very safe, does it?
Mines attract the great explorer in us, but before anyone goes poking around
in one, there are a few facts that should be known:

Number one - The strong timbers that once held up the earth ceiling are now rotted support structures.
Number two - Open shafts are everywhere.  Some are clearly visible.  Others are not.
Number three - Deadly odorless gases & lack of oxygen. Doesn't need explaining.
Number four - Becoming lost & disoriented.  There are many twists and turns, and they all look alike.
Number five - Explosives & toxic chemicals have been left behind, and they don't mellow with age.

There are over 50,000 individual mine openings in Nevada.
As of March, only 8,118 of these have been individually investigated.
Of these, only 5,879 have been secured in one way or another.

The following are true reports about mine explorers:

"TEEN SPELUNKER FALLS INTO OLD SHAFT" (Salt Lake Tribune)
     The teen was 18 years old and fell into a shaft 600 - 1000 feet deep.  His body was never recovered.

"HIKER KILLED BY TOXIC GAS IN MINE" (Denver Post)
     Three youths were hiking when they found the entrance to an abandoned coal mine.  Two of them went in for a short distance.  Only one made it out alive.  The other youth wasn't able to help his friend as he was dizzy as he staggered out of the cave moments from death his self.

"TWO MEN FOUND DEAD IN MINE" (BLM Internal Advisory Board)
    Two men, 35, decided to visit a mine near Virginia City.   They were found within 75 feet of the entrance, asphyxiated.  They died of carbon dioxide poisoning.  They climbed a fence which posted signs warning of "bad air".

"MINER, TEEN HELPER KILLED IN COLLAPSE IN SIERRA COUNTY" (Sacramento Bee)
    A Jr. High student, 16, and his friend, 67, were both killed when the mine portal collapsed burying them under 10 feet of rubble.

For more information  visit the BLM's website:
Nevada's BLM