There has been mining in the Eastern Sierra since the CA Gold Rush in 1849. Bodie State Historic Park, the ruins of the May Lundy Mine, Cerro Gordo, Old Log Cabin Mine, and the Pine Creek Tungsten Mine attest to that. However, mining in the 1800's and early 1900's was a lot different than mining today. Mining today means an open pit mine and cyanide leach fields; not underground tunnels and adits. Gold mining companies are extracting fine particles of gold sifting through tons of dirt. Mountains become pits. Go to the Briggs Mine in the Panamint Valley, the Hecla Mine at Aurora, NV, or to Soledad Mountain to see what modern mining looks like.
When the price of gold goes up, we see exploratory drilling projects in the Eastern Sierra.
Watch the recording of The Harms of Exploratory Drilling.
Exploratory Drilling at Hot Creek
In August 2020, KORE Mining submitted a Notice of Intent to the Inyo National Forest to do exploratory drilling for gold along Forest Service road 3S307 (aka Claypit Cutoff) off of Antelope Springs Road at the Hot Creek end. It was re-issued on April 7, 2021. This could lead to an open pit gold mine. Read on...
Never Ending Quest for Gold--Conglomerate Mesa
With the price of gold at historic highs, gold exploration companies are out looking for potential sites. Another recent exploration project targeted in the Eastern Sierra is at Conglomerate Mesa in the Inyo Mountains. Read on...
Radius Gold Exploratory Drilling Plans
In 2019 two Radius Gold exploratory drilling projects were started that were close to each other in the Bodie Hills; one on the California side of the border and one on the Nevada side. Both are called Bald Peak and both projects are exploring the same hydrothermally altered rock that was a hot spring millions of years ago (called a sinter). There is evidence of fine grained gold particles in the rocks at the surface. Radius Gold is looking for a gold vein deep down that would have been the source of the gold that they see on the surface. Exploration on the California side is on hold for three years, but the exploration project is moving ahead on the Nevada side. Read on...
Panamint Valley Lithium Exploration
Battery Mineral Resources started exploring the lithium potential of the Panamint Valley playa. They drilled 2 holes of the approved 4 holes in 2019. Lithium is used in batteries and is needed to electrify our transportation system to fight climate change. However, appropriate siting is also important. Lithium mining in Panamint Valley would like lithium mining at Clayton Valley, NV, the only lithium mine in the United States. They would pump the lithum-rich groundwater and spread it across the surface of the valley floor in evaporation ponds. This would convert the entire playa area into berms and ponds. Read on...
Exploratory Drilling by OceanaGold at Spring Peak
Exploratory drilling for gold started at Spring Peak in the Bodie Hills on the Nevada side in 2020, just behind Cedar Hill. OceanaGold cleared 5 drill pad sites and then sold their claims to Headwater Gold who have drilled at least 6 of the approved 23 sites. Other companies have drilled out there, but not to this extent. Concerning is that there are Bi-state sage grouse in the area. Read on...