Black Rock Mine - Yavapai County

 

Where:  Yavapai County

 

Travel Conditions:  Travel down Constellation road is passible by 2WD and the side road to the Black Rock Mine is 4WD.

 

Operation Dates:  Discovered in 1902 and operated from 1940 to 1941

 

Description:  Sam Powell discovered the Black Rock ore vein in 1902 and the mine began operation in 1906. Operations continued until 1941 when the federal government shut down many mines due to the onset of World War II. During its thirty-five years of operation, the Black Rock Mine produced gold, silver and a lesser amount of copper ore. Gold values from the pay streak vein yielded more than $16,000 per ton based upon 2005 prices, so this would have been an exciting time for the mine operators. You can still walk this area and find rocks containing chrysacolla lying on the surface, as well as an abundance of beautiful white and rose quartz. Unfortunately, the scant historical records indicate that the mine was not very well managed from the outset of operation until at least the middle 1930’s.

 

What you will see today:  There is a mine shaft that has concrete down a portion of the deep shaft opening.  Nearby is a building that has one wall collapsed and leans to that side.  Other toppled wooden structures can be found in the area.

 

Comments:  

 

Minerals Mined:  Copper - Cu, Gold - Au, Lead - Pb, Silver - Ag

 

Acknowledgement:  Above Description Posted by Allan Hall in Things to Do, Desert Trekking  (http://www.wickenburg-az.com/?p=855)