Abandoned Gold and Copper Mines in California's El Paso Mountains

The history of mining in California's El Paso Mountains begins in 1893, when placer gold was discovered in Goler Canyon. Dozens of prospectors began searching the nearby dry gulches for placer gold, while others combed the hillsides looking for veins carrying precious metals. Small deposits of gold, copper, and even tungsten were found across the mountain range. While the placer gold deposits proved the be very rich, the many hardrock mines were hardly profitable. Mining in the El Paso's would revive in the 1920's, but again, most hardrock mines proved to be failures.

Dozens of abandoned mining sites now dot the range, many of them well hidden in steep canyons. In this video, you'll see the remains of several gold and copper mines of various sizes. The history about these individual mines are vague, but they showcase the amazing amount of effort put forth by the miners.

Видео Abandoned Gold and Copper Mines in California's El Paso Mountains канала Forgotten Mining History