Gold: The Saga of the Empire Mine 1850-1956

by F.W. McQuiston, Charles Steinfeld (Editor)

For centuries, the search for gold has driven humanity across all boundaries and cultures. When gold was first discovered in the United States in North Carolina in 1801, many methods of extraction were developed prior to the California Gold Rush of 1848. The Empire Mine opened in the 1850s in Grass Valley, California, and its preservation is a small but significant example of the development of mining techniques and equipment, hard rock and deep-shaft mining, stamp mills, and the furtherance of geological knowledge in the West. The early years of the Empire’s existence saw a number of ownership changes, yet produced 28,100 tons of gold-quartz ore in its first 9 years of operation. The Saga of the Empire Mine is a detailed historical pilgrimage back to the early days of mining and looks at the science of mining, for example, the chlorination of sulfides and the use of cyanide plants, and to its decisive turning point—new owners with sufficient financial backing to introduce the best mining equipment and the best available engineers to manage operations. The Empire vein of gold was remarkably persistent and has been followed down into the earth 7000 feet using vertical shafts, and along the strike for over 5000 feet. The yearly financial reports were carefully preserved and attest to the mine’s growing wealth over the century in which it operated. Endorsements “This book is a must for any researcher or explorer’s library and gives valuable insights into the real ‘work’ of mining the earth’s most precious mineral—gold.”

Genres: History

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Liam Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly written and intelligently composed book, not to mention the most comprehensive on Grass Valley mining history. Despite its diminutive length of only about 100 pages, this is no light reading. Those with an academic interest in mining history, technology, chemistry, and California's geology will find this book more than worthwhile—all others beware, this is not written with the novel-like ambition of other 49er Gold Rush literary works.