Kevin Dellinger's video: The Bonanza King Mine

Another adventure in the Mojave National Preserve, this time in the Providence Mountains. Even with high wind and dust storm warnings we visit the Ghost Town of Providence which was a company town for the nearby Bonanza King Mine. Also, we visit the nearby Silver King Mine. Below is a brief history and information on the area visited. As always enjoy, Like and Subscribe. Working 150 men, the two rapidly opened up the Bonanza King and put up a 20-stamp mill. A post office was established in mid-1882. Since Providence was basically a company camp, its business district remained limited to 2 general stores and 3 saloons. By then, the mine had produced $1.5 million in bullion. The Bonanza King mine was producing silver and lead by 1883. Development consisted of approximately 20,000 ft of underground workings to a depth of 800 ft (Wright and others, 1953, p. 72-73), and it is by far the largest underground mine in the Providence Mountains. DeGroot (1890, p. 532) reported that production yielded $60,000/month from ore averaging $100/ton for a total production in the 1880?s of $1.8 million (The Mining World, 1906, p. 225). Production ended when the original 10-stamp mill burned to the ground in July 1885. After closure of the Bonanza King mine, exploration and mining in the 1890's spread southward to the mountains south of Foshay Pass. Exploration was renewed in the northern Providence Mountains about 1900 and resulted in the discovery of several gold and silver deposits and of iron deposits in Foshay Pass and the southwestern part of the study area. The Bonanza King mine reopened for a short time in 1901 and intermittently thereafter. Workings consist of one large multilevel development, one tunnel, seven adits, (three caved), six trenches, and seven pits. Three larger adits total 560 ft of drifts and crosscuts. Large working consists of an 800- ft-deep shaft (500 ft vertical and 300 ft inclined) that serviced eight levels; an intermediate level and five main levels are accessible and total more than 7,400 ft. Overall main working is developed by about 20,000 ft of drifts, crosscuts, stopes, and manways (Wright and others, 1953). Production from 1883-1887 was valued at $1.8 million, primarily from silver (Mining World, Feb. 6, 1906, p. 225-226), and more than 5,302 tons produced from 1901-1960 contained 56.57 oz gold, 82,272 oz silver, 913 Ib copper, 69,275 Ib lead, and 2,312 Ib zinc (USBM statistical files) (patented claims). The Silver King mine (Perseverance mine) Workings consist of 4 shafts, 7 adits, 11 trenches, and 14 pits. Adits are 10 to 30 ft long; one shaft is 50 ft deep with a 25-ft drift, and one is 162 ft deep with 1,350 ft of drifts and crosscuts. From 1918-1920, mine production (USBM statistical files) was 20 tons containing 6.98 oz gold, 1,489 oz silver, 11 Ib copper, and 232 Ib lead. Tucker (1920) estimated $250,000 production in 1880's.” Providence and the Bonanza King http://mojavedesert.net/desert-fever/providence.html *** For Entertainment, Educational and Informational purposes only. The information provided in my videos is solely for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and is by no means an endorsement to engage in potentially life-threatening activities shown. These activities include but are not limited to dangerous roads, topography, abandoned structures and open mine shafts. DO NOT ATTEMPT to engage in these activities without proper knowledge, preparation and equipment. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! ***