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Location: Approximately 27 miles north of Baker, California on Highway 127. This is a BLM controlled site with access and parking for cars at the Springs location. A closer parking area to the mine is maintained a little farther down Hwy. 127 on the right, just beyond the Historical trail marker at Saratoga Springs road. This road is very sandy as you approach the parking area. Not recommended for passenger cars.
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History: Indians knew of the Salt Springs as evidence of their presence can be found in the vicinity. There are rumors that Mexicans traveling the Santa Fe to Salt Lake trail found gold here before the coming of the Europeans. The first recorded visit by Anglos was made by group of Mormons led by Jefferson Hunt. They located gold veins near the springs and found some small nuggets the size of a pea in a canyon above the springs. Early maps named the mining area "Mormon Diggins" and even "Lost Mormon Diggins" although it was pointed out that these locations were never "lost" and have been mined for over 100 years.
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The Amargosa House ruins as they look today. |  |
The mine was being developed during the early 1850's. The Amargosa House, the earliest known "Anglo" House in the Mojave desert, was built here in 1850 and the walls still survive today. The mine foreman was Ben Sublette formerly a "mountaineer" and a member of the Mormon Battalion. The mine was abandoned in 1852 when 6 miners were killed by Indians. One miner had gone for help but the nearest Army camp was located at Marl Springs, near present-day Kelso. This was a 45 mile ride and upon returning, what they found were the bodies of the 6 miners. They were buried near the mine.
When the attacks by Indians ceased, the mine was again worked on and off by a variety of owners. One owner, J. B. Osborn of Daggett, worked the mine in the early 1900's and in 1902 Osborn struck an incredibly rich pocket of ore that netted him $60,000 in a single week. This at the price of approximately $16 per oz. would have come to some 3700+ ounces of gold or over 200 lbs. of gold. Wow! Although the ore was extremely rich, shipping it was very difficult due to its remote location. The mine was still being worked as late as the 1960's with 4 miners working new veins.
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One of the many mine entrances at the old works above Salt Springs. |
| Looking back out of the mine towards the north. |  |
Geology of the Mines: The geology of the Salt Springs area is composed of Mesozoic granite and Cambrian sedimentary rocks such as limestone. The gold veins were located in quartz and limestone veins in close contact with the granite host rock. This contact zone is a classic location to find rich gold deposits.
| The Springs: The springs have been a rest area to both Indians and Anglos traveling through this part of California. According to the BLM, even "Hippies" were living at the springs during the 1960's trying to "get back to the land". They were living in this old placer mining cabin which was built and originally occupied during the early 1900's. |  |
Located at the springs were 2 Blacksmith shops to serve the various travelers that used both the Santa Fe trail and the Mormon trail through the area. Today, the BLM is responsible for the springs and the associated habitat. An easy trail leads from the parking area down to the springs. The old placer mining shack is found by continuing along the trail to the left of the creek bridge. If you cross the bridge, there are several picnic tables placed under the large tree to the right of the trail. Continuing up the trail and across the plateau will lead you to the old mine workings. The easier trail to the mines is found by going beyond the Salt Springs turnoff and using the sandy road that enters the mining area from the north. The springs themselves are habitat to a number of birds and other "critters" of the desert. At the present, the BLM is busy burning the Salt Ceder that grows around the springs. This plant is not native to the area and has a tendency to push out the native plants and use all the water available. The destruction of the Salt Ceders by burning gives the area the look of a war zone.
References: The BLM signs at the springs. Books: Desert Fever by Larry M. Vredenburgh, Russell D. Hartill, and Gary L. Shumway, and Mines of Death Valley by L. Burr Beldon.
