A Guide to Treasure in Nevada

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Seekers of lost mines, treasures and relics in Nevada should remember that large sections of the state are reserved for United States bombing, gunnery and nuclear testing. Restricted areas contain some of the lost mine and treasure sites listed here. Though no trespassing is permitted on such government preserves, those sites have been included in order to make this volume as complete as possible. Clark County--The first Spanish mining in Nevada was probably south of Las Vegas, particularly in Eldorado Canyon. This operation doubtless predated Escalante's expedition of 1776. The first mining by Americans is believed to have been at Potosi Mountain in the Spring Mountains southwest of Las Vegas. Mormons founded the mining camp of Mountain Springs. By 1855, they were taking out ore which they assumed to be pure lead. They sold it for making bullets in the settlements as far north as Utah. Indian troubles ended their mining activities. Their holdings were eventually acquired and operated by the Colorado Mining Company. In 1897, two unnamed brothers accompanied by a mule skinner drove a wagon from Utah with supplies for the Mormons remaining in the area. They also brought two chests containing $20,000 in minted silver to invest in the Colorado Mining Company. At Mountain Springs* the three men were attacked by Indians. One brother was killed, and the other two men, both wounded, were left for dead. Some days later, the two survivors were found near death from loss of blood and exposure. Taken to the Colorado Mining Company camp, they were placed in the care of the cook, a Paiute Indian woman. The brother told the woman that just before the attack, he and the mule skinner had taken the two chests of silver coins from the wagon and hidden them behind a large rock. After the attack, when they had regained sufficient strength, they had dug a shallow hole and buried the chests.