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What began as the the Tonopah Bombing Range during World War Two has morphed into a roughly 5,900 square mile government military playground. But before the war, this area of Nevada was open for prospecting and mining just like everywhere else. There were several populated places and mines here before folks were chased out by war planes, aliens, and atomic clouds. We'll briefly cover some of them here. Most of the recorded activity here took place during the 1906-ish boom time and in the late 1910's, but activity really came to a crawl once the area came under the control of the military. Here is a brief synopsis of some of the now-off-llimit areas.

Antelope Springs
The nearby Antelope View mine was located in 1906-1907. Mine development apparently occurred shortly after location. Kral stated that about $80,000 is purported to have been produced; the U.S.B.M. has no record of production. Gold was discovered here in 1903 by the Bailey brothers of Cactus Spring. In 1906 the Jordan brothers made locations and have done considerable development. Since then, several isolated prospects have been held, but the discovery of high-grade ore caused the formation of the present camp in 1911. Soon after that more than 150 men in the district were prospecting and locating. When Mr. F. C. Schrader and the U.S.G.S. visited, two townsites were being developed, supplies and machinery coming in and some ore was being hauled out. Equipment on site in 1920 consisted of a three rom cabin, blacksmith shop, hoist house, 15 hp Fairbanks-Morse hoist, two head frames, rails, skip, cable mine car, and some hand mining tools.

Cactus Spring
Activity in the Cactus Spring Mining District began in 1914; these mines were probably active at that time. One mine was dug 5-1/2 feet wide and 6 feet high and with a rail track. The mine was not explored, although a shelf, a cabinet', and clothing hanging from nails along an interior wall were observed. A water pipe reaches about 150 feet into the mine. Extending from the mine is a narrow-gauge (18-inch) rail track about 140 feet long with small rail spikes driven into the ties. A 4-foot wide and 5-foot—high prospect was dug 12 feet into the slope. It still holds a bench and a 12" x 12-foot-long log used as a table. These, along with a wash basin and plates indicate that this is where the miners had their meals. A bed frame lies near a collapsed wooden structure that has only part of a wall remaining intact. Other historic debris was observed nearby.
Downhill from the railroad track is a dugout, about 7 feet wide and 9 feet deep, with walls constructed partially of rock. Angular rock chinked with mud forms the lower 3-1/2 feet of the front wall. The wood-framed upper portion is topped by a low-rise gabled roof with a wood covering, to which corrugated metal appears to have been attached. The rubble walls lean precariously forward, causing the structure to be weak.

Carrs Camp
The Yellow Gold, or Carr's Mine, is on the west side of a low north-south ridge west of Clarkdale. The property is owned by C. J. Carr of Goldfield, Earl Mayfield of Tonopah, and others. Discovery was apparently made in the thirties at the time of the Clarkdale activity and there has been intermittent activity, particularly following World War II. No know production has been made.

Clarkdale
The camp of Clarkdale is about 5 miles east of the Beatty-Tonopah Highway and just north of Tolicha Wash. Very little information is obtainable about the area except that it had a period of excitement in about 1933 and as per the USGS Bulletin No. 871 (1936) a $1,000 shipment was made at that time. Only one of the shafts has a headframe, but this is in fair condition.

Gold Crater
During the spring and summer of 1904, gold was discovered at Gold Crater, Wellington, Wilson, Sulphide, and Trappman's Camp, all in the southern extension of the Cactus Range. At Gold Crater (the most promising site) an official town site was laid out, and 200 lots were sold in three days. A 150-foot mine shaft was sunk, and plans were made to lay a pipeline southeastward from Stonewall Mountain, to provide the camp with water. However, interest in the mine dwindled during the winter months, and by 1905 the only mining carried out was that of the lessors. Activity revived in the area with new discoveries in 1908, when the Jamestown camp was established, and again briefly in 1930. At the mine site are a 42-foot-high headframe on 4" X 12" and 4" x 6" diagonal and vertical supports; the tailing piles; and mining equipment and debris. Apparently the property was also operated after World War II. Mine run ore was apparently shipped to a small two-stamp and gravity mill at Stonewall Spring, 24 miles by road, west of the mine.

Groom
Mining activity in the began in the 1860s following the discovery of lead and silver deposits. The Groom Mining District was organized around 1870. The Sheahan family became associated with the Groom Mine in 1885, acquiring several claims. These claims were patented in 1872. They operated the mine for generations, extracting lead and silver ores. From 1915 to 1917, the mine was leased to Tom McCormick, who conducted operations during that time. In 1942, the Sheahan family constructed a gravity and flotation mill to enhance ore processing capabilities. In the 1950s, the U.S. government established an aircraft testing facility just south of the mine, now known as Area 51 . This development led to increased military activity in the region, including the closure of nearby roads and restricted access to the mine.The family's mill was mysteriously destroyed under controversial circumstances. The family reported that the U.S. Air Force bombed the mill, leading to the cessation of mining operations. In 2015, after years of disputes over access and rights, the U.S. government seized the Groom Mine property under eminent domain.


Jamestown
The Franz Hammel mine, located by Franz Hammmel and Anthony Carlone of Las Vegas, is situated on the road to
Stonewall Flat and Goldfield, at what is known as Jamestown. An east-west boundary of the Tonopah Bombing and Gunnery range passes through the claims just north of the principle workings and camp. It had a post office from June 13, 1908 to AUgust 31, 1910. Locations were made in the late 1920's and early 1930's. It was active in 1946 and 1947.

Kawich
Kawich is a mining camp and a post office in the Kawich Range. Population has fluctuated between 50 and 400 people. Originally called Gold Reed after O.K. (Orville Knighten) Reed and appearing on maps with that name. Post office from April 10, 1905 to June 15, 1908.

Mellan
Small gold camp owned by Jess Mellan of Tonopah. He operated the mine since about 1931 and completed the installation of a 20-ton Super Giant Straub mill in June of 1936. Located on Mellan Mountain.

Quartz Mountain
Discovery of the Tolicha District was made in 1905 at Quartz Mountain as per Lincoln. He states little was done until after another discovery was made in 1917. Since then, intermittent work has been doon in the Tolicha area. Recorded production from the district is nearly negligible. Post office from June 7, 1927 to January 15, 1929. Not to be confused with the other Quartz Mountain also in Nye county.

Trappman's Camp
A small mining camp that formed briefly from 1904-1905

Wahmonie
Already superbly detailed on this Forgotten Nevada page

Wellington
Established in 1904, up to twenty-five people lived here before the camp was abandoned in 1905, after construction of several buildings and a mill.

Wilson's Camp
Another small mining camp that came into being in 1904 and lasted until 1906. Only a small boarding house was ever built, and roads in and out were reported so poor that supplies and sacked ore had to be brought out by horse.

SOURCES:
University of Nevada Bulletin Vol. XLV January 1951 Mineral Resources of Nye County, Nevada by Victor E. Kral
Mines of Silver Peak Range, Kawich Range and Other Southern Districts S. H. Ball, 1907
Preserving The Glory Days: Ghost Towns And Mining Camps Of Nye County, Nevada, Shawn Hall, 1998
https://groommine.com/
PROPERTY REPORT; POTENTIAL NATIONAL REGISTER SITE, 1977
USBM PROPERTY REPORT; MINERAL RESOURCES IN THE VICINITY OF THE NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE AND NELLIS BOMBING AND GUNNERY RANGE; CLARK, LINCOLN, AND NYE COUNTIES, NEVADA, NORBERG, J.R., 1977
Mining and Scientific Press, August 1912
Report on Property of the Antelope Mines Company November 24, 1920 A. F. Carper
PROPERTY REPORT; Cactus Springs, 1977 POTENTIAL NATIONAL REGISTER SITE, personal communication with Cecil Lang