Pilgrim Mine - Mohave County

 

Where: Mohave County near Grasshopper Junction.  Located 21 miles northwest of Kingman, Arizona.

 

Travel Conditions: Dirt road in good condition and passable by most vehicles.  Hot climate during the summer months.

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Operation Dates:  Discovered in March of 1904 and worked intermittently until 1934.  In 1934 a cyanide mill was constructed and operation continued until 1942 when production ceased due to World War II.  (World Investment News January 1988)

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Mining District:  Pilgrim Mining District

 

Description:  Two gentleman, M. C. Dempsey and William O’Dea, are credited for finding the mine in 1904.  I came across a story that talked about the discovery of the mine.  Some cattle stampeded from the McConnico railroad station and scattered Northward through the Sacramento Valley into the black mountains.  A gentleman that went by the name of “Pretty Jim” Smith was in the area of the pilgrim mine and found several pieces of ore containing gold.  Jim passed along the news of his findings at Dempsey who went to the area and found gold in an outcrop the later became the Pilgrim mine.  Dempsey contacted his friend O’Dea and they began to work the site.

 

It was worked intermittently until worked ceased in 1942 due to world war II.  The mine has an inclined shaft that tends at a 30° angle and contains two levels with drifts to a depth of 360 feet.

 

In 1986 and 1987 Gexa (previous name of Galli Exploration) out of Reno Nevada performed some sample drilling in the area.  On December 29th 1987 it was reported by Gexa the drilling program had been completed with not too favorable results.  At the 700’ level the mineralization area was too thin with more favorable results at the 300’ level.  The 300’ level had been previously mined therefore not favorable for further mining.

 

Owners over the years of operation consisted of The Pilgrim Mines Inc., Treasure Vault Mining Co., and Pioneer Gold Mining Co.

 

What you will see today:  During my visit it did not look like anything was going on in the area for some time.  The mine shaft is present and covered with a locked gate.  The shaft slopes down at about a 30° incline.  Many concrete footers from the old buildings are present.

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Comment:  There are some interesting concrete structures from the old mill but so far I have not found any photos from the operation dates.  Further investigation of this area in cooler weather is needed.

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Minerals Mined: Primary: Gold and silver

                       Secondary:  Lead, Iron, Copper

 

People: M. C. Dempsey, William O’Dea

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Acknowledgement: Minedat.org, Western Mining History, Mohave County Spotlight January 1983