Search Results for “eureka” – Explore Real California Gold Mines!

Mother Lode (Northern) August 21, 2017

Plumas Eureka State Park

Plumas-Eureka - Ore carts and tram buckets

The Plumas-Eureka State Park consist of the Plumas-Eureka (Mohawk) Stamp Mill, the museum was built in the old miners barracks, the Eureka Tunnel, nearby Jamisin City and mine, and the town of Johnsville. Tours are offered but the state website does not mention if it includes tours of the stamp mill.

Mining in the area began in 1851 and 36 miners formed the Eureka Mining Co. This is supposedly where snow skiing began in North America. In the winter miners would ride the ore tram up to the higher tunnels and ski down. Several tunnels appear on USGS Topo in the hills above the mill.

The adit of the Eureka Tunnel and the stamp mill both appear to be sealed off to visitors.

Death Valley National Park November 24, 2014

Eureka Mine at Harrisburg

The Eureka Mine is located in Death Valley National Park only a short distance west of the Harrisburg, California. The mine was opened in 1905 by Shorty Harris and Pete Aguereberry. Pete continued to mine here for 40 years producing $170,000 in gold. His abandoned home and cars still exist at Aguereberry Camp the only remains of Harrisburg (slightly west of the pin). The oar car tracks that enter the mine can be seen in the photo above as well as from Google Earth.

The mine entrance is open to adventurous explorers in the summer but closed during the winter to prevent disturbing the Townsend Big Eared Bats that call the mine their winter home. To the right of the mine is Pete’s home and to the left is the Cashiers Stamp Mill. During our visit in 2014 the bat gate was locked closed.

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Mother Lode (Central) October 21, 2014

Central Eureka Mine

Central Eureka Mine Headframe and Ore Hopper

Central Eureka Mine Headframe once used as a cell tower

Its amazing that one of California’s most productive mines has faded into a barely visible steel structure among the trees and has even been used as a cell phone tower at one point.

depth of 4,500′

It began as the Summit Mine in 1855 until 1875. Purchased by Central Eureka Mining Co. in 1893. Shut down in 1942 by the federal government’s War Production Board Order L-208 the Central Eureka is one of very few mines that reopened after the war in 1946. It operated until 1956 to a depth of 4,500′ and produced nearly two million ounces of gold.

The abandoned site once consisted of the mine, head works, tailing trestles and flumes, a stamp mill, a cyanide plant and tailings with high levels of arsenic which led to the designation as a Superfund Site. Ground remediation, cleanup, the EPA and lawsuits have left very little behind.

In 2005 the property was leased by nearby Sutter Gold Mining Inc. A company that has been known to reopen and work old mines.

Vultures use the old head frame as a vantage point

We visited the mine in Oct 2014 to find only a fenced off head frame with hoist room ruins and fenced off surrounding ruins with no signs of modern mining. Vultures use the old head frame as a vantage point and only add to a feeling of ruin and days long gone.

Mother Lode (Northern) April 20, 2017

Jamison Mine (Jamison City)

A popular hiking destination located within Plumas-Eureka State Park. The Jamison was a top producer that once yielded a 52lb nugget. The mine site is also known as Jamison City. Within the valley are the Eureka Tunnel, the Mohawk Mill and the town of Johnsville once known as Johnstown.

Mining began at the Plumas-Eureka Lode in 1851…

Mining began at the Plumas-Eureka Lode in 1851 across the valley. Mining at the Jamison began in the 1880’s. The Jamison was sold to its Plumas-Eureka neighbors in 1922. The underground workings are extensive with a now flooded 3 compartment main vertical shaft that ran 265ft deep.

There are several adits and shafts on the site, none of which appear on USGS Historic Topo. A dozen structures can be seen spread out wide among the trees from Google Earth.

Death Valley National Park November 24, 2014

Harrisburg

We visited Harrisburg in 2014. Moderately preserved with moderate vandalism, sadly. Harrisburg is located in Death Valley National Park only a short distance west of the Eureka Mine. The town was started in 1905 by Shorty Harris and Pete Aguereberry. Aguereberry camp is the only remains of Harrisburg. Pete lived and mined there for 40 years.

opened in 1905 by Shorty Harris

Cashier Mill is located only a short distance east of Harrisburg, California. The Eureka Mine that fed the mill was opened in 1905 by Shorty Harris and Pete Aguereberry. Pete continued to mine here for 40 years producing $170,000 in gold. His abandoned home and cars still exist at Aguereberry Camp, the only remains of Harrisburg.

Pete later bought the mill

The mill was powered by gasoline engines. The mill site and surrounding mines were originally part of Shorty Harris’ claim which he sold to the Cashiers Mining Company. Pete later bought the mill adding to the seven claims he owned in death valley.

The mill’s wood structure still stands but all of the stamps, cams and other pieces have been removed. There is a sealed incline shaft on the hill above the mill.

The Eureka Mine is located only a short distance east of Harrisburg, California. The oar car tracks that enter the mine can be seen in the photo above as well as from Google Earth.

disturbing the Townsend Big Eared Bats

The mine entrance is open to adventurous explorers in the summer but closed during the winter to prevent disturbing the Townsend Big Eared Bats that call the mine their winter home. During our visit in 2014 the bat gate was locked closed.

Death Valley National Park November 24, 2014

Cashier Mill

Cashier Mill is located in Death Valley National Park only a short distance east of Harrisburg, California. The Eureka Mine that fed the mill was opened in 1905 by Shorty Harris and Pete Aguereberry. Pete continued to mine here for 40 years producing $170,000 in gold. His abandoned home and cars still exist at Aguereberry Camp, the only remains of Harrisburg.

The mill was powered by gasoline engines, the mill crushed the oar removed from the nearby mines into powder which was then chemically treated with cyanide and mercury to extract the gold. The mill site and surrounding mines were originally part of Shorty Harris’ claim which he sold to the Cashiers Mining Company. Pete later bought the mill adding to the seven claims he owned in death valley.

The mill’s wood structure still stands but all of the stamps, cams and other pieces have been removed. There is a sealed incline shaft on the hill above the mill.