Candelaria – Mineral County Nevada

This is one of the easiest Ghost Towns to visit in Nevada. It is located of Highway 95 south of Mina and has a well marked sign directing you to the west on a paved road. Modern 1980’s mining still has buildings and offices for staff supervising ongoing restoration. Nearby is the old graveyard and a bit further the road becomes graded dirt which was the Main Street of Candelaria with ruins on both sides. The Jeep group I was with explored the area extensively and continued on the dirt road for 10 miles where it connects to highway 360.

Candelaria was founded in 1864 when Mexican prospectors working the area discovered silver deposits on the northern slopes of the mountain. In 1873, the camp’s most profitable mine, the Northern Belle, went into production. The success of the mine attracted people and business to the area, and by 1875, the Candelaria district became the most productive in southwestern Nevada. As the population grew, there was not enough water available to support mining and the populated settlement.

“The stamp mill in Candelaria had to operate as a dry mill, which spread toxic dust throughout the area. Unlike other camps where a wet milling process was used, Candelaria miners suffered from an extremely high incidence of “miners consumption” (respiratory disease). Inhabitants of the area breathed in the fine particulate dust created by the dry stamping process, which brought about respiratory tract infections and diseases which often ended in death”.

Wikipedia

The Northern Belle produced and shipped approximately $15 million in silver. The town had two hotels, numerous stores, multiple saloons, doctors and lawyers and other businesses. The post office was named Candalara from August 1876 until November 1882 and then named Candelaria from November 1882. In 1882, the completion of the Carson and Colorado Railroad to Candelaria helped to alleviate the water shortage. With available water, the town continued to thrive for ten years.

In 1893 an economic depression in the U.S. halted investment in the mines and many of the mines closed. After that, the town was declined with the post office closing in January 1935. More recent mining activity opened a large open pit behind the historic town without disturbing the ruins. However, Pickhandle Gulch a mile to the south was obliterated. The open pit project within the Candelaria Mining District, historically the richest silver mining district in Nevada. Estimated production from the late 1880’s to 1954 was 22 million ounces of silver. From 1874 to 1883, the Northern Belle Deposit alone produced high grade lodes averaging 1,700 – 2,000 g/t (50 – 60 oz/t) silver. Open pit mining between 1980 and 1999 resulted in the production of 47 million ounces of silver, with Kinross Gold producing approximately 13 million ounces of that between 1994 and 1999.

A huge 6.5 earthquake 12 miles away on May 15, 2020 toppled the magnificent Esmeralda Bank building except for the iron shuttered doors and completely tumbled the ornate white rock frontage and walls of the Tapet Store across Main Street. Most all other remaining rock buildings suffered further damage.

Credit: Wikipedia -Silverone Mining

Stephen Knight VanishingNevada.com

September 20, 2021

Copyright, all rights reserved

Thank you for looking