Groom Mine

Groom Mine
United States Geological Survey map depicting the location of Groom Mine
Location
Lincoln County, Nevada[1]
Coordinates37°20′46″N 115°46′09″W / 37.3462°N 115.7692°W / 37.3462; -115.7692
Production
ProductsSilver[2]
TypeOpen-pit & underground[3]
Greatest depth210 feet (64 m)[4]
History
Opened1866 (1866)[5]
Active1872[6]–1954[7]
Closed2015 (2015)[8]
Owner
CompanyUnited States Government[8]
Year of acquisition2015[8]

Groom Mine, located in Lincoln County, Nevada, first opened in the 1870s.[7] Most mining in the area, mostly of silver chloride ores, had finished by 1874.[6] Groom Mine continued to operate, finally ceasing operations in 1954.[7] By 1956, official recordings of products of the Groom Mining District, which includes Groom Mine, shows that lead was the bulk of minerals harvested, which also included 145,000 troy ounces (4,500 kg) of silver and about 45 troy ounces (1.4 kg) of gold.[9] During World War II, Groom Mine became surrounded by military activity, which continued into the 21st century.[10] In the 1950s, the mine was exposed to fallout from nuclear testing that was being carried out at the Nevada Test Site.[10] During the late 20th century, military activities, including the destruction of a mill and the restriction of access to the mine, continued to affect work there.[11] The United States Government seized the mine under eminent domain from its previous owners in 2015.[8] Just compensation was set at $1.204 million by the United States District Court, District of Nevada (Las Vegas), Judge Miranda Du presiding.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Issue31 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Carpenter, Jay A. (1904). "The Mineral Resources of Southern Nevada". Bulletin of Nevada State Bureau of Mines. Geology and Mining Series, Issues 1-16. University of Nevada: 161. OCLC 1432631.
  3. ^ Donald Zona (October 1985). Draft Environmental Impact Statement Groom Mountain Range (PDF) (Report). United States Air Force. pp. 3–24. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference BoM1977 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Pippen, Lonnie C.; Reno, Ronald L.; Durand, Stephen R. (August 1986). Archaeological Reconnaissance: An Archaeological Reconnaissance of the Groom Range Lincoln County, Nevada (Report). Desert Research Institute. p. 62. Retrieved 9 February 2019. A crude smelter may have been on the Groom Mine property in 1866 (Averett 1963:49).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference District1989-162 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference December2016Fox was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c d Meek, Glen (16 September 2015). "Government takes family's land near Area 51". KLAS-TV. Las Vegas. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  9. ^ OF1998-01: Mineral and energy resource assessment of the Nellis Air Force Range. NV Bureau of Mines & Geology. 1998. p. 136. GGKEY:0JR4J3LY7P1.
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference FA2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Savage2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).