Directions: Hiway 50 to Dixie Valley Road (SR 121) turnoff, 27 miles until D.V. Rd. turns to dirt, continue on D.V. Rd. for another 27.9 miles, then left on local road for about 4 miles
From Fallon: 100 miles
What Was
At our second stop at the foot of the Mopung Hills, we will visit a site where limestone was mined about a hundred years ago for shipment to California as a soil amendment. The rock was calcined (cooked to drive off water and carbon dioxide) in a kiln that is still partially standing. The fossil-bearing limestone was deposited along the shoreline of a precursor to ancient Lake Lahontan in much the same way tufa is now being deposited around the shorelines of Pyramid Lake.
STOP 2: Mopung Hills. Freshwater limestone was mined here about 1900. The rock was calcined in a kiln just to the west, near the railroad grade, and shipped to California, primarily for agricultural use. The ruins of the old lime kiln are still standing (looks like a chimney). The limestone was deposited as tufa along the shore of an ancient precursor to Lake Lahontan that existed here more than a million years ago. It contains fossils of several species of mollusks. Look closely at the rocks on the ground for fossils. There is also a conglomerate of streamrounded pebbles cemented by calcium carbonate.
http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/esweek/trip2.pdf
Post Office: None
Newspaper: None
What is
Luis remarked that "It looks like the world exploded," as we started up the canyon. Indeed- the entrance to the canyon has a collection of rocks and dead trees like nothing you've ever seen. Throughout our journey, we were struck by the power of the water that must occasionally come from this canyon. We passed by several major canyons which empty into this one, and when the water drains out of all of them at once, it muse be quite the spectacle. The remains of a boiler which had slammed into a cottonwood gave mute testimoney to the power involved. That being said, the condition of the road- if you want to call it that- is dependant upon the whims of the creekbed through which we splashed fifty percent of the time.
As you arrive in the general area, you come upon the ruins of a couple of wooden structures and some stone foundations. Although the USGS map says Bolivia is further down the road, I believe this is probably where the main part of the town was. A little further up is the Nickel mine, three interconnected mine shafts. The bottom one was blowing up deliciously cool air. Some idiot- or group of idiots- has fashoned a home-made ladder out of wire and PVC pipe in an attempt to go into the mine. Their handiwork was laying at the bottom. If there is more stupid thing to do, I don't know what it would be.
The hills are pockmarked with prospects and mine shafts. Bolivia was, for me, one of the best sites. It's remote, and virtually untouched. There is plenty to see, it's situated in a beautiful canyon, and if you want to do a little sightseeing you can continue on the canyon and take Kitten Springs Road until you cross the Old Emigrant Trail and hit Lovelock.
