Young America Mine
GPS: 39.611495°, -120.636095°
Young America Mine Mill - Photo Courtesy of the California State Library
The Young America mine was one of the largest quartz mines of Sierra County located on a northerly slope above Upper Sardine Lake in the Sierra Buttes lakes basin area. The mine was located by A.C. Busch and G.H.O. Slunderhaus in 1883. In elevation it was two thousand feet above the town of Sierra City and two and a half miles as the crow flies or seven miles by wagon. The Young America lode was a quartz vein averaging six feet in width.
A ten stamp mill was built above lower Sardine Lake and just down from the main mine tunnel. An additional 20 stamps were added later. Ore was conveyed from the mine to the mill by way of a Hallidie elevated wire tramway. The mill was water powered and had enough volume to run sixty stamps or more.
On September 7, 1885, after a seventeen day run, the mill cleaned up $16,000 in gold for about $70 per ton. By the end of 1885 over $500,000 had been recovered. Mining and milling costs ran only about $4 per ton.
A ten stamp mill was built above lower Sardine Lake and just down from the main mine tunnel. An additional 20 stamps were added later. Ore was conveyed from the mine to the mill by way of a Hallidie elevated wire tramway. The mill was water powered and had enough volume to run sixty stamps or more.
On September 7, 1885, after a seventeen day run, the mill cleaned up $16,000 in gold for about $70 per ton. By the end of 1885 over $500,000 had been recovered. Mining and milling costs ran only about $4 per ton.
Young America Mine Mill looking toward Lower Sardine Lake
- Photo Courtesy of the California State Library
Young America Mine above Upper Sardine Lake- Photo Courtesy of the California State Library
Young America Mine wire rope tram - Photo Courtesy of the California State Library
Young America Mine Mill - Photo Courtesy of the California State Library
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Young America Mine Bunk house - Photo Courtesy of the California State Library
Lower Sardine Lake - Photo Courtesy of the California State Library
Young America Mine Mill - Photo Courtesy of the California State Library
Young America Mine Mill - Photo Courtesy of the California State Library
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