| So many places that you need to visited while you are here in the Las Vegas area. Potosi Mine N00 00.000, W000 00.000 |
| Great Places To Find in the Las Vegas area |
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| Potosi Mine , historically, lead ore deposits were found high upon a cliff in Potosi by prospecting Mormons living at the mission at Las Vegas in 1856. Early smelting developments were futile, for the lead proved to be uncooperative. In 1861-1863, the Colorado Mining Company set up a larger smelter at Potosi Spring, and silver mining operations were commenced. Potosi townsite was platted 700 feet below the mine by Capt. J.E. Stevens, which was then in northwestern New Mexico Tertitory -- 100 miners made Potosi their home. The mine was found to contain a high zinc content and for 14 years zinc mining was conducted on a regular basis. A tramway was built to make the trip from mine to smelter easier. Activitiy slowed after 1920, although between 1925 and 1928 produced over $4,500,000 in lead, silver and zinc. |
| Normally I don't make it a habit to venture into mines. The Potosi mine has numerous verticle ventilation shaft which keep the air flowing. The majority of the tunnels have been blasted out from solid rock. Although a section of support beam exisit deep within the mine. I cared not to venture into this sections of the mine. Most of the rails that ran through the mine to support the ore cars have been removed. A few of the sections of rails protrude from the rubble near one of the ore chutes from an upper tunnel system. |
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| Warming: Mines are dangerous. This page is not intended to suggest that it is ok to venture into mines. |