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Location DB >
United States >
California >
Death Valley >
Keane Wonder Mine and Tramway
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Keane Wonder Mine and Tramway
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created by rapcw
on 4/13/2006 4:51 PM
last modified by rapcw
on 3/7/2007 3:50 AM
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Publically Viewable |
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This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
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A huge mill where gold and silver from the mines was produced. An arial tramway delivered the ore to the mill.
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Type: Outdoors
Status: Abandoned
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: check it out if you're nearby
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rust
unsafe flooring
Falling off a cliff, mine hazards.
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The huge mill and the extensive tramway and associated terminal.
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flashlight
gloves
long pants / sleeves
towelettes
Water, something to eat at the top.
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In the Spring of 1904 two prospectors, Jack Keane and Domingo Etcharren, discovered a large gold strike after searching the area for months for a small outcrop of silver. They named the discovery the Keane Wonder, and staked 18 claims in the best spots. After some sour deals, the mine was purchased in 1906 by Homer Wilson, a successful operator on California's Mother Lode, a practical mining man whose success rested on his personal management of his mines. He viewed the Wonder as a "nice little proposition that will clear good and dependable money every month of the year."
Before mining resumed in 1906 Wilson already had plans laid out for the two keystones of the mine: an 80-ton milling complex at the lower end, and a mile long arial tramway to connect the mine and the mill. Construction on the mill and its auxiliary structures began in early 1907, and was completed by the summer. The tramway was more difficult to lay out. Plans called for a complex upper terminal, 13 towers 18 to 30 ft. high strung down the steep mountain slope, and a lower terminal with connections to the mill. The tramway would require 75,000 board feet of lumber. Despite delays in lumber delivery and summer temperatures that restricted work to early morning and late afternoon, it took less than four months to complete the job, from July to October.
The first shipment of gold bullion was delivered to Rhyolite in mid-November for around $20,000. By December the mill was running around the clock, processing on a daily basis 70 to 75 tons averaging $18-20 per ton. In the fall of 1908, work began on a cyanide plant to treat the mine tailings for even more profits. By March the 100-ton plant and its 11 tanks were operational, and the figure for 1909's production increased 50% over the previous year thanks to it. By February 1910 the mill was producing $1,000 dollars worth of ore a day, and for 15 days in June of that year the Keane Wonder was producing $2,000 dollars a day. Thanks to this success, as other mining companies were foundering left and right, the Keane Wonder was maintaining a workforce of 75 miners and looking great.
But as Homer Wilson knew, the Keane Wonder was limited. By 1912 the end of the ore bodies was in sight. In January the tailings had run out, forcing the cyanide plant to close temporarily. New efforts were made to assess reserves of unexplored claims, and new ore bodies were discovered but nothing substantial was shown for the effort. In August miners began to use retreat mining techniques by mining the tunnel pillars for their ore, but that only gained $10,000 dollars. In late August it was declared that the Keane Wonder had worked out the last of its ore, and only a skeleton crew was left to process the remaining tailings. By the end of 1912 the site was vacant.
However the Wonder wasn't finished yet. Through 1913-1916 sporadic efforts to continue mining and milling met with limited success but these attempts were soon abandoned. Twenty years later the Coen Mining Company, which operated the nearby Big Bell Mine, was given right to the Wonder's ore, but they barely touch it. In 1937 the mill finally died when it was sold to a private party who scrapped it for cash. In 1940, under another ownership, the tramway and camp were revamped, and a new 150 ton mill was erected on the old mills foundations. In spite of the effort put into it, all activity ceased in March 1942, and the mill was dismantled. The total production of the Keane Wonder during its operation was $1,100,000, making it one of the most, if not the most profitable gold mine in all of Death Valley.
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The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.
This location has not yet been rated by a moderator.
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This location's validation is current. It was last validated by
Emperor Wang on 3/7/2007 4:06 AM.
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on Mar 7 07 at 4:06, Emperor Wang validated this location
on Mar 7 07 at 3:50, rapcw changed the following: Display Name
on Mar 6 07 at 19:19, Emperor Wang validated this location
on Mar 6 07 at 19:17, Emperor Wang updated gallery picture Near the End of Keane Tunnel
on Mar 6 07 at 18:42, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Cables for the Tram
on Mar 6 07 at 18:36, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Cyanide or Water Tank
on Mar 6 07 at 18:35, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Bottom Terminal
on Mar 6 07 at 18:34, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Near the Bottom
on Mar 6 07 at 18:33, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Towers in Distance
on Mar 6 07 at 18:32, tunnelbug updated gallery picture Looking up Towards the Trestle
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