2
(Table 2). The first large shipment was sent to Golden,
Colo. in 1884 and the assay reportedly contained 18,563
lbs of silver ore worth $7,353.14 (NMBGMR file 920mf).
The Rose Silver Mining Co. was incorporated in 1884 and
the Bullard Peak Mining Co. was incorporated in 1884.
The vein deposits were difficult to find. The original
ore shoots cropped out at the surface and pinched out with
depth. The best exploration methods were by drifting and
open stoping once the miners encountered high-grade
veins. The width of the veins varied from inches to 3 ft.
The mines operated sporadically because of lack of
capital, water issues, difficulty in finding ore shoots, and
theft. The district is a favorite for mineral collectors and
even during early production in 1883–1893, theft of high-
grade silver samples was a problem. Guards had to be hired
to make sure some ore actually made it to the mill!
In 1881, silver wire specimens were collected and
described from the 25 ft level of the Alhambra mine. The
type occurrence of nickel skutterudite was described by
Waller and Moses (1892).
The town of Black Hawk was established and by 1883
had a population of 125 people. The Alhambra post office
was established in 1884, but closed in 1897. Frank A.
Wellington was post master in 1884 and William Miller
was post master in 1891. By the end of 1983, only a few
people remained. Nothing of the town remains today.
The Alhambra was mined under three different owners
until 1893 and produced at least $400,000. The mine was
at a depth of 400 ft and 2500 ft of drifting. The Boyle or
Car tunnel was driven 70 ft towards the Alhambra mine in
1890. In 1891 gold wires in quartz were found at Alhambra.
In 1883–1885, Solid Silver Mining Co. produced
$450,000. Poor management and theft resulted in the com-
pany defaulting on interest payments and closed the Black
Hawk mine. The case went to district court and in 1890,
Solid Silver Mining Co. dissolved. District court ruled the
parties involved had to make a deal between each other and
a new company was formed.
Most of the ore mined from the district in the late
1800s was sent to El Paso. In 1889, large shipment from
Figure 1. Location of the Black Hawk mining district, Grant County, New Mexico
(Table 2). The first large shipment was sent to Golden,
Colo. in 1884 and the assay reportedly contained 18,563
lbs of silver ore worth $7,353.14 (NMBGMR file 920mf).
The Rose Silver Mining Co. was incorporated in 1884 and
the Bullard Peak Mining Co. was incorporated in 1884.
The vein deposits were difficult to find. The original
ore shoots cropped out at the surface and pinched out with
depth. The best exploration methods were by drifting and
open stoping once the miners encountered high-grade
veins. The width of the veins varied from inches to 3 ft.
The mines operated sporadically because of lack of
capital, water issues, difficulty in finding ore shoots, and
theft. The district is a favorite for mineral collectors and
even during early production in 1883–1893, theft of high-
grade silver samples was a problem. Guards had to be hired
to make sure some ore actually made it to the mill!
In 1881, silver wire specimens were collected and
described from the 25 ft level of the Alhambra mine. The
type occurrence of nickel skutterudite was described by
Waller and Moses (1892).
The town of Black Hawk was established and by 1883
had a population of 125 people. The Alhambra post office
was established in 1884, but closed in 1897. Frank A.
Wellington was post master in 1884 and William Miller
was post master in 1891. By the end of 1983, only a few
people remained. Nothing of the town remains today.
The Alhambra was mined under three different owners
until 1893 and produced at least $400,000. The mine was
at a depth of 400 ft and 2500 ft of drifting. The Boyle or
Car tunnel was driven 70 ft towards the Alhambra mine in
1890. In 1891 gold wires in quartz were found at Alhambra.
In 1883–1885, Solid Silver Mining Co. produced
$450,000. Poor management and theft resulted in the com-
pany defaulting on interest payments and closed the Black
Hawk mine. The case went to district court and in 1890,
Solid Silver Mining Co. dissolved. District court ruled the
parties involved had to make a deal between each other and
a new company was formed.
Most of the ore mined from the district in the late
1800s was sent to El Paso. In 1889, large shipment from
Figure 1. Location of the Black Hawk mining district, Grant County, New Mexico