N 40.41° W116.80° Highland Peak, NV Quad

Go to Pioche, Nevada. You there yet? Outstanding!! Now head north on NV321 until it joins US 93 and continue for 1 mile; turn west on NV 320 and head generally south for 4 miles; head west on Comet / Pan American Rd for 14.5 miles, and start exploring.

Silver discoveries were made on the eastern side of the Highland Range in 1868 and a camp was built near Highland spring the next year (Paher, 1970) Ore was transported from the mines by wagon to a smelter at Bristol Well. Iron ore from the Manhattan Mine at Manhattan Gap and oxidized lead-silver ore from the Mendha Mine were used as fluxing ores at the smelter. A mill at Floral Spring, south of Highland Spring, was used to concentrate other silver ores from the district and these concentrates were also sent to the Bristol smelter. The major production years were from 1872 to 1932.
-HIGHLAND DISTRICT Author: TINGLEY, J.V. Date: 1984

Comet Mine

Last worked in 1954 Has worked intermittently since 1913 with peak lead and silver in the 1930's; all zinc production since 1943, coinciding with another peak in silver but only moderate production of lead. Reserves are low grade.
-Source Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology

The Comet mine is at the west base of the Highland Range, at an altitude of 6,450 feet, about 20 miles by road from Comet siding on the Pioche branch line of the Union Pacific system. It is owned by the Comet Mines Co. The property consists of nine claims and a mill site. The mine is opened by three shafts. The main shaft (No. 3), which is 480 feet east of No. 1, is a new vertical shaft, attaining a depth of 160 feet. From the level thus reached an incline extends down to the 480-foot or bottom level. Most of the development work and stoping has been done from the main shaft, between the 168-foot level and the surface. The power plant consists of a 60-horsepower distillate engine, which operated a compressor. The hoist is an old steam hoist which was run by compressed air. A mill
was built, which Avas run by an 80-horsepower gasoline engine. In addition to the usual machinery for making a lead concentrate the mill is equipped with an electromagnetic separator in order to make a tungsten concentrate. Some tungsten concentrate was made
during the World War, but it was not sold. During 1926 the mine was idle, having been shut since November, 1925
-GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE PIOCHE DISTRICT, NEVADA 1932

During the last war an unknown amount (a number of carloads) of tungsten concetrates were produced from the Comet Mine (Tungsten Comet Mining Co.). From 1924 to sometime in the 1930's the property was operated for Au, Ag, Pb. In 1930 David Gemmill bought the oustanding stock for $40,000 and leased it to Owen Walker. Walker shipped 80 tons of ore to the Minerva Mill-- which could not do much with the complex ore. From this 60 tons, 11 tons of concentrate containing, according to Walker, 14% Wo3, 15-20% of Pb, 15-20% of Zn, Mn, Mb, Sb, Bi, Ba, Au,Ag were shipped to Los Angeles. Walker's lease expired in March 1942. Since that time Gemmill has shipped 10 tons of concentrate containing 11% of WO3 to the Metals Reserve Co. in Salt Lake City. Mr. Gemmill is planning to start production in May 1943. He is remodeling the old mill and plans to mill 50 tons a day.
-Memorandum to T.B. Nolan, December 2, 1942

Pan American Mine

The Pan American mine, a lead-zinc mine, was reportedly discovered in 1929, with initial production starting in 1947 and ending in 1978. The ore was concentrated at the Caselton mill during its last period of operation.

According to Lincoln, 1923, discoveries were made in the Comet district in 1882, but no production was recorded until 1895. Silver-lead ore was shipped intermittently from the district between 1895 and 1898 and between 1913 and 1920, mainly from the Schodde mine. The Comet mine was reloacted in 1906 and silver, lead, zinc, gold, and tungsten were produced from this mine between 1925 and 1951. Ore from the Pan American mine was mined between 1947 and 1955. The Pan Americans was reactivated in 1964 and operated for several years after that date. Production of the district through 1952 is given as $764,100 but this figure does not include the last production of the Pan American mine.
-DISTRICT SUMMARY; GEOLOGY; NBMG OFR 84-1, TINGLEY, J.V 1984

There are two mine camps on the Comet Coalition property; one at the Forlorn Hope mine, and one at the Pan American mines. The Pan American camp includes two bunkhouses, a boarding house, a hoist and compressor house, a small change house, and a small shop. Additional buildings could be moved from the Forlorn camp should it be necessary, with with present day roads, it is probably that crews could be houses at Castelton or Pioche to advantage as compared with maintening a camp at the property. The Pan American shaft is equipped with a light electric driven shaft hoist, a compressor, pumps, water tanks, a light headframe and ore bin, and a 3 ton skip operating on 36" gauge, 30# rail track in the incline.
-report on Proposed Operations Comet Coaltion Property December 21, 1950

Mendha Mine

The Mendha mine is in the Highland Range 8 miles by road northwest of Pioche; it is at an altitude of 7,150 feet on the west flank of Arizona Peak. The mine has been worked intermittently since the seventies and is reported to have produced several thousand tons of ore. Recently a concentration plant of 50 tons daily capacity using gravity and flotation was erected at a cost of $30,000. The mine was operated by the Union Mines Co. for about nine months during 1925 but has since been idle. It is developed chiefly by an incline 900 feet long, which descends in the plane of the vein at an angle of 30° W. The hoist was operated by a Fairbanks-Morse single-cylinder 40-horsepower gasoline engine.
-GEOLOGY AND ORE DEPOSITS OF THE PIOCHE DISTRICT, NEVADA 1932

ARRIVAL OF MACHINERY
Several loads of machinery arrived yesterday afternoon, from Toano, for the new Mendha Mill at Highland.
-Pioche Daily Record, February 27, 1873

HIGHLAND- Work has been suspended on the Mendha Mill, Highland, from lack of material. The necessary material has long been on the road. To-day work will be commenced on the furnace, to be connected to the mill for the roasting of ores.
-Pioche Daily Record, March 11, 1873

I guess then everything arrived, and the local media got really excited about it.

OUR GREAT MINING ENTERPRISES.

THE ROAD TO HIGHLAND.
Highland is, as the crow flies, about four miles west of Pioche, but the distance by the wagon road, which winds around the foothills to the northeast and west of the city, is about 7 1/2 miles. The drive from Pioche to Highland is a pleasant one, the road being good all the way and the scenery interestingly varied. We accepted an invitation to visit Highland day before yesterday morning, and alighted at the office of Professor Mathey, Superintendent of the Mendha mill and mines, in just 40 minutes from the time of starting. The increasing interest which is being felt here in Highland District made us glad that the opportunity had thus been offered to ascertain its progress, prospects and resources from personal observation, and we at
once decided to avail ourself of it to the fullest extent.
THE CONTRACTOR OF THE MENDHA MILL.
We found Mr. J. B. White on the ground, who is erecting the new Mendha 20-stamp mill under contract-- being the
gentleman who erected the Magnet and American Flag mills, and the Raymond and Ely mills. Mr. White politely showed us every attention in taking notes on the construction of the Mendha mill.
EXCELLENCE OF MATERIALS.
All the material was on the ground, and much of it in place. It will probably be the strongest end most substantial mill in the State, as the Superintendent has refused to accept machinery and material of all kinds which was not first class, and all the latest improvements have been secured. A reference to our note-book of the timbers used gives an idea of the strength and substantiality of the framework. The foundation timbers of the mortar-beds are two feet square, full measure, and 14 feet long. They were sawed out 40 miles northeast of Pioche. We had thought such large Timbers could not be procured within
that distance. The main battery posts procured in the same locality, and are nearly as large- Some of them are 12x24 inches, and the others 20x24 inches, clean sawed, and they are all 24 feet long. The main boxes of the battery are 20x12 inches square and 26 feet long.
ENGINE AND BOILER ROOM.
The engine and boiler room will be 36x38 feet, and 16 feet between joists. The north side wall is constructed of gray limestone, three feet thick and 14 feet high, with a wall-angle between the boiler and battery rooms of the same
character, the masonry being of the strongest and most particular kind, strength and durability being controlling considerations in its execution. It was constructed thus powerfully to withstand any possible pressure of ore and heavy teams from above.
BATTERY ROOM
The battery-room is 40x42 feet in the clear. The battery pit is 26 feet long, 5 1/2 feet wide, and 9 feet deep. It will be filled in with carefully screened sand, which will be tamped in every part with hot irons, thus insuring greater firmness and solidity that could be attained by any style of rock and mortar masonry-- in face, a solid porphyry block could not be stronger. Over this 20 stamps will be put in operation, of 750 pounds each.
THE STEAM-WORKS
We will better able to give a detailed description of the steam-works of the Mendha mill after they get into operation. The engine cylinder is 16 inches in diameter, and has a thirty inch stroke. THe power is 95 horse. The boilers are 48 inches in diameter in the clear, and 16 feet long, with large steam and mud drums attached. Connected are all the latest improvements in the application of steam power to quartz mills. Every part of the machinery was made expressly to fill the order of the Mendha company, and a more compete and perfect bill was never shipped from San Francisco. The machinery was all manufactured in the Union Iron Works of that city.
STRENGTH OF C0NSTRUCTI0N.
The mill is durably and powerfully braced throughout on all sides and at all points. The pan and settler frames are undoubtedly the strongest in the State, the timbers used for the purpose being the largest that could be procured in the forests of Southeastern Nevada. The breast-wall back of the pans is three feet thick and eight feet high. Extending
up through the center of the wall are wrought anchor-bolts of one and a quarter inch iron. On the east side are belt-pit walls three feet thick, being four feet apart. Massive wrought-iron bolts extend up through the inside wall, to hold firmly the machinery above. A solid wall of grey limestone and porphyry extends along the entire north side of the building. The mortar was made of an excellent fire-clay, which is found in abundance three-quarters of a mile from the mill-site, and the best sand for the purpose, composed of disintegrated porphyry with the feldspar washed out, was found right at hand.
The mason work was all done under the supervision of Mr. Terry Maginnis, a mason of great experience and rare skill.
THE ROASTING FURNACE
To the west of main building is being erected a Stetefeldt furnace for roasting the ores. The interior of the furnace establishment will be 36x30 feet. The furnace will be 20 feet and five inches long, eight feet and two inches wide,
exterior measurement, of course and 28 feet high. The dust chamber attachment is of the most approved pattern. The drying surface is immense, embracing 414 square feet. The foundations are of fire-proof porphyry, which was quarried out a half a mile from the mill-site, with thick walls of porphyry and brick.
THE BLACKSMITH DEPARTMENT
Under the supervision of J. J. Paul, is very complete. Among its facilities are patent punching machines, full sets of
screw-plates, the best of forges, etc.
LOCATION AND WATER SUPPLY.
The Mendha mill is situated in a beautiful little glen, which is walled in on the south and west by picturesque, cedar-covered mountains. At the head of a canyon to the southeast, a little over a mile distant, are prolific and ever-flowing springs, which Professor Mathey has secured in the name of the company. By a system of pipe conductors this clear, pure spring water is all brought down and poured into a large reservoir at the west of the mill, There is at hand a large supply of hose, and, in case of an outbreak of fire, thousands of gallons can be instantaneously thrown over all the buildings of the company.
PROFESSOR MATHEY'S RESIDENCE AND OFFICE
All under the same roof, present a neat, but not imposing appearance. Within are all the modern conveniences of a
mining Superintendent's house and office, but utility and comfort seem to have been leading considerations in furnishing
and arranging the establishment. Extravagance seems to have been carefully avoided. The Professor's mineral
cabinet is probably the most extensive in Southeastern Nevada, and his mineral library the most complete.
-Pioche Daily Record,March 18, 1873

MENDHA MINE- A miner, who the other day visited the Mendha mine at Highland for the purpose of obtaining employment, says he was surprised at the body of ore he seen in the mine, as he had been led to believe to the contrary. The dump was filled with ore that would average $45 to $50. The mine is working at present about fifteen men, and as soon as more teams are put to work hauling ore, the force of workmen will likely be increased. It will now be seen that the Day Company can obtain from one of its own mines flux-ore for the furnace, and $45 flux-ore isn't bad for a furnace to swallow either.
-Pioche Weekly Record, June 17, 1882

Mountain Lion Mine

At the time of our examination (fall, 1983, summer, 1984) the only activity noted in the Highland District was in the vicinity of the Forlorn Hope- Mountain Lion mines on the western side of the district. Many areas here had been recently sampled, and new drill holes were seen south of the Mountain Lion mine.
-HIGHLAND DISTRICT Author: TINGLEY, J.V. Date: 1984

Chas. M. Taylor and Fred B. Church went to Pioche Tuesday to look over the Mountain Lion mine, owned by Chas. Smith, who is figuring to return to his old home in Maine.
-The Pioche Record, May 17, 1921

None

While some properties are marked no tresspassing, others are open and available to explore. Lots of cool ruins and some deep, DEEP inclined mines. Roads in this area are excellent and it's not until you get up near the Mendha Mine that some nitwit has blocked the road with a fence, like he owns it. Anyway, the Pan American is pretty seriously off limits, the Mendha a little bit, and the Comet and ountain Lion are wide open.