37.73836992426678, -117.81708912875801

The Argentite Mining District (now referred to as the Red Mountain District, I believe) was discovered some time prior to the 1920's. There were two main mines here- the Sanger [aka Francis], named after one of its first developers, William A. Sanger, and the Mohawk.

Some overviews:

Earliest recorded discoveries in the area were in the Red Mountain part of the district in 1863, and discoveries made in the Mineral Ridge area the following year. In the 1920's activity around the Francis (Sanger) mine immediately north of the old Red Mountain area, resulted in the name Argentite district being applied to that area. This name, however, did not survive.
-Silver Peak District Summary Report, Tingley, 1983


Mohawk Mine The Mohawk mine, originally known as the Argentite mine, was discovered prior to 1920. In 1921 a Canadian company sank the inclined shaft on the vein to the present 500 Level. Production records are unavailable for this period. From 1954 to 1961 the mine produced approximately 40, 000 tons by various operators having an average grade of 25.2 ounces of silver per ton. Present reserves above the 500 Level are estimated at 37, 000 tons having an aver-age grade of 21 ounces of silver per ton. The diamond drilling program to explore the known ore shoots below the 500 Level, if successful, is anticipated to block out an additional 127, 000 tons of ore estimated to average 20 ounces of silver per ton. Holes are designed to explore the vein first at depths of 200 feet and then at 400 feet below the 500 Level. If this program is successful in extending the ore shoots to the above depth, it would then be feasible to drive the 7, 500-foot crosscut tunnel under the mountain range to develop this ore. It is evident from promising looking surface exposures that the proposed cross-cut tunnel would cut additional vein structures between the Sixteen-to-One mine and the Mohawk mine.
The diamond drilling contract has been awarded to the Sprague & Henwood Drilling Company, and the necessary hanging wall cross-cuts and drill stations will be completed by Mid-Continent in early November.
-Mid-Continent Uranium Corp, Special Report to Stockholders, November 1, 1964

It's nice to have a hole full of gold and silver and such, but you have to get it to the mill somehow. A halfway decent road was required.

The county commissioners have appointed F. H. Taylor to superintend without charge the expenditure of $1,000 [$16,219 in 2022 dollars] of county money in the construction of a road between Cow Camp and the new mining camp of Argentite in Esmeralda county, says the Goldfield Tribune.
-Reno Evening Gazette, August 11, 1921

Still, the mine was quite isolated.

The Nivloc mine reportedly worked ore with silver content down to 8 ounces per ton, while the Mohawk mine supposedly took no ore to the mill under 15 ounces per ton. The reason for the Mohawk mine not taking ore below 15 ounces per ton grade was due to its geographic location, having a touch 24 and a half mile haul to the mill and the nearest water to the mine site being approximately 10 miles away, necessitating the hauling of all water used at the mine site.
-Survey & Summary, Sixteen-to-One Property, David Chase, April 29, 1968

Despite its isolation, there was ore to be dug. During the summer of 1921, Sanger tried to sell the mine, but he was asking too much.

Sanger and Taylor have definitely stated their terms as follows: $10,000 down, $40,000 more in six months, then $50,000 each six months until $250,000 has been paid. All net on shipments to go to purchase price. All improvements to be left on ground if work abandoned. Mr. Sanger was informed that these terms in view of the showing were excessive and would not be entertained. It is our opinion that the property is about worth development on the basis of no cash down and a year in which to ascertain whether it warrants a payment at the end of that time.
-Report on Sanger and Taylor Group, W. H. Blackburn, June 14, 1921

Work continued at the mine, however.

ARGENTITE- Eleven men are installing machinery at the Sanger mine.
-Daily Appeal, January 31, 1922

Argentite, the new silver camp in the Silver Peak range of mountains which has been snowbound for the last several weeks, promises to forge steadily to the front. Development has been in progress during the winter months on the Frances and Eckland properties, and both are about ready to enter the list of steady shippers.
-Tonopah Daily Bonanza, March 1, 1922

Of course, operating a mine is not without its problems.

MINING MAN WINS SUIT FOR $7500 DAMAGES
John Shirley, pioneer mining man of Esmeralda county, was awarded a judgment of $7500 in the federal court Saturday against W. A. Sanger and Frank A. Taylor, owners of the Francis mine in the Argentite district of Nye county. From this amount the sum of $1200 is to be deducted by reason of advances made by the defendants, which leaves a balance of $6300. Shirley was injured while at work in the Francis shaft on June 21, 1921, suffering a dislocated neck and fractured skull as a result of bucket dropping. He sued for $40,000, alleging permanent injuries.
-Nevada State Journal, December 11, 1923

Looks like the Brits took an interest.

FRANCIS MINE AT ARGENTINE TO BE WORKED
British Interests Said to Have Taken Option on Property
A new mine operation of no little significance is reported as about to start on a substantial scale in the Argentite district, 10 miles airline west of Silver Peak in Esmeralda county, where the Francis mine, located in 1920 by Sanger and Taylor. has been acquired by Willard Hales for principals said to represent the Goldfields American Development Co. This corporation, the American operating subsidiary of the Cons. Gold Fields of South Africa, some time ago acquired the rich Silver Queen mine, six miles south of Mojave Calif, and is operating or prospecting other properties in southern California. Hales was quoted as saying that the purchasers would equip the property with modern machinery and proceed with extensive development. Following the Sanger-Taylor discovery a small production of high-grade silver ore was made, and subsequently the property was bonded to the Natural Soda Products Co. of Bishop, of which the late W. W. Watterson, Bishop banker, was president. This company carried on development work for some time and opened the mine to a depth of 300 ft, but made no appreciable production. A late report stated that the Inman group, adjoining the Francis on the north, had been sold, but it was not known if Hales' principals were the purchasers.
-Nevada State Journal, August 19, 1935

Silver prices bottomed out in 1933 at twenty-six cents an ounce but by 1939 they were up to forty-three cents.

William Sanger is shipping from the Argentite mine at Argentite camp. The six-mile road from Cave Springs through the canyon to the camp was completed last month, and the ore, which is silver, is trucked to Coaldale and loaded there for the smelter. This mine was operated several years ago by Taylor & Sanger, but was forced to close down owing to the low price of silver.
-Reno Evening Gazette, August 5, 1939

Mining continued.

Argentite Mine Idle in Winter
Work for the winter months at the Sanger property at Argentite, 26 miles west of Silver Peak by road and 8 miles by airline, has been closed, V. McConnell, operator, stated to the Times in Tonopah. Some $25.000 has been expended on the property to date and the completed project is expected to total nearly half a million dollars, McConnell stated. This will include extensive mine development and mill construction later. Two shafts on the property have been retimbered—one to a depth of 225 feet and the other to 100 feet. The mine workings have been cleaned up and development is expected to be resumed early next spring. Only some engineering work will be done this winter. It is said there is an excellent showing of ore in the property and McConnell believes it has the making of a mine. Shaft elevation is 8300 feet above sea level and as a rule there is considerable snow to contend with in winter.
-Reno Evening Gazette, November 29, 1947

The nearby Mohawk mine is "re-discovered" and work there begins again.

Promising New Silver Find In the Argentite District Excites Esmeralda County
A remarkable strike of silver ore has been made at the Mohawk Mine in the Argentite District, about 24 miles west of Silver Peak, in Esmeralda county, according to information coming out of there during the last week The strike is reportedly so big that the mining folks of Tonopah and Goldfield are considerably aroused over its present extent and its future possibilities According to one-report, miners on the property have been drifting on ore for nearly 200 feet in length and carrying the drift about 8 feet wide, with no walls in sight yet In some places the tunnel has been bellied to a distance of 12 feet and the ore still persists clear across the face The more optimistic of those learning of the strike say it could be the biggest thing in that neck of the woods since Tonopah While these reports seem over-enthusiastic, nevertheless there are substantiated reports that the Goldfield Consolidated Corporation has had representatives on the ground for more than a week making examinations and sampling. Other reports indicate, although they have not yet been verified that the Goldfield Con had offered a million and a half to the owners for their property. Owner of the mine is E. R. Hines a former Midwest resident who came to Nevada several years ago and entered the Tonopah field where he has had several ventures in mining. Hines is said to be associated with a Mr Brundidge, who is reported to be wealthy in Chicago real estate holdings The average of the ore mined so far is better than $40 per ton. The miners are still drifting on the ore with no indications that it has reached its limit. The Argentite district is listed in Francis Church Lincoln's work of 1923 as being a silver producing area located 10 miles by air and 24 miles by road west of Silver Peak, in the Silver Peak Range of mountains The district lies at an elevation of between 7,500 land 8,000 feet Initially discovered in 1920 by Sanger and Taylor, who located the Francis Mine, the Argentite district has a record of small production of silver which was made from that mine in 1922.
-Nevada State Journal, December 12, 1951

Work at the Mohawk continued all through the 1950's, when, in 1959, the property came under the control of the U.S. Mining and Milling Co., which shut down the mine in June of 1961.

Fairly decent road through some mighty pretty country. In some places sandy and some rocky but otherwise OK. There are many ruins here. The Mohawk mine site is situated on the side of a hill with several of what appear to be boarding houses on three or four levels. Plenty to explore.