Jupiter Mine - Mohave County

 

Where: Located in the Cerbat Mountains near Chloride

 

Travel Conditions: Unmaintained dirt road but passable by 2 wheel drive.

 

Operation Dates:  Unknown

 

Mining District: Wallapai Mining District

 

Description: There is little information found on the internet about this location.  Further investigation is required to gain more specific details.

 

A former Zinc, Silver, Lead, Copper, and Gold mine located SE of Chloride.

 

There is a video on youtube from Frank at: Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ at this location.  The link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WUm5lJOeJI

 

What you will see today: There are two sections of this mine location.  One is an area below the larger mine tailings down the canyon.  There are three tunnels close to each other which have been blocked off with iron bars.  The central tunnel has an iron door gate which is accesible and not locked.  This tunnel does not go back very far and is only a prospect.

 

The main mining activity took place further up the canyon which was a little bit of a hike to get there.  There is an old road going to the main mine site but it has been washed out and overgrown with bushes.  At the main site there is a large tailings pile and a collapsed ore bin structure.  It is best to make the hike in cooler weather and go prepared with some water.  At the top of the tailings pile is the mine portal which is collapsed with a wooden entrance which has collapsed over time and given up the fight to hold up the heavy rocks.  A short distance away is a very small wooden shack about ready to fall over as well.  There is not a lot to explore at the mine site other than a couple small structures giving way to time.  I sat for a bit looking around wondering what it was like to work there and who discovered the minerals in this canyon.

 

Comments: There is an upper and lower section to this mine.  The lower area is easily accesible by a high clearance vehicle.  This lower section has a couple tunnels that are caged off and look to be a smaller production area or a prospect to determine if this area was worth working.  The upper and main workings of the mine require a short hike up a canyon.  The old road to the main workings is no longer accessible to the mine.

 

Minerals Mined: Zinc, Silver, Lead, Gold, Copper

 

Acknowledgement: mindat.org and Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ