Alvord's one-time partner, Joe Clews searched Alvord's "striped butte" for another eighteen years. Clews believed that the site was located at a spot called "Mule Spring", which, itself, is located in Mule Canyon. Mule Canyon, in turn, is located in the Alvord Mountains (as the range is known today.) The problem with most desert springs, is that they only run after heavy rain.
Consequently, Clews never found Alvord's "striped butte", and the site became yet another Lost Mine.
To be continued.
My love for California's Mojave Desert exposed!
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Saturday, November 11, 2017
The Alvord Mine...Part II.
Three times, Charles Alvord tried to find the spot where he'd found his gold streak. His remaining partner, Joe Clews (the only one who hadn't ridiculed Alvord) accompanied Alvord on Alvord's third and final attempt to locate the spot.
Telling Clews that the spot was in the vicinity of a "striped butte", near the group's campsite during the first expedition, the two men searched in vain.
After this, Charles Alvord appears to have been swallowed up by the mists of time. One legend has it that he was murdered. Whether this is true or not, his former partner, Joe Clews continued the search.
To be continued.
Telling Clews that the spot was in the vicinity of a "striped butte", near the group's campsite during the first expedition, the two men searched in vain.
After this, Charles Alvord appears to have been swallowed up by the mists of time. One legend has it that he was murdered. Whether this is true or not, his former partner, Joe Clews continued the search.
To be continued.
Friday, November 10, 2017
A Visit To The Alvord Mine Ruins...
It was a temperature inversion of sorts; over 100 degrees Fahrenheit at my home in the Rancho Cucamonga area, and only 90 degrees in the desert! Indeed, this was a great day to pay another visit to the Alvord Mine!
Like many old mines, the Alvord Mine was named for a person. In this case, one Charles Alvord, a prospector in the area, who, in 1860, came across manganese ore in which gold was embedded. His partners, laughing at him, ignored his discovery, because he was inexperienced (i.e. a "tenderfoot"), and because they were looking for the fabled "Lost Gunsight" silver mine, anyway.. Well, that's one version of events. Another version has him finding the gold by himself and then keeping the find from his partners. Either way, Alvord's sample was assayed, and it did, in fact contain gold. What's more, is that Alvord's sample was more valuable than any of the other samples obtained during the expedition.
From here, things get a little murky. For, as with many mine stories, the discoverer was unable to re- locate the site.
More to come...
Like many old mines, the Alvord Mine was named for a person. In this case, one Charles Alvord, a prospector in the area, who, in 1860, came across manganese ore in which gold was embedded. His partners, laughing at him, ignored his discovery, because he was inexperienced (i.e. a "tenderfoot"), and because they were looking for the fabled "Lost Gunsight" silver mine, anyway.. Well, that's one version of events. Another version has him finding the gold by himself and then keeping the find from his partners. Either way, Alvord's sample was assayed, and it did, in fact contain gold. What's more, is that Alvord's sample was more valuable than any of the other samples obtained during the expedition.
From here, things get a little murky. For, as with many mine stories, the discoverer was unable to re- locate the site.
More to come...
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
Sheep Spring...
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| Photograph by Scott Schwartz. All rights reserved. |
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Desert Sentinel...
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| Photograph by Scott Schwartz. All rights reserved. |
Geology Tour Road.
February, 2016.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Old mining cabin...
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| Photograph by Scott Schwartz. All rights reserved. |
El Paso Mountains, CA.
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