Sylvania

Esmeralda County

AKA: Green Mountain District.

Silver was first discovered by white miners in 1869, but the camp would not form until 1872. It is believed that Mexican miners worked the area much earlier than that. Originally formed as the Green Mountain District, the name was changed to Sylvania in 1873. A 30-ton smelter was built at Lost Springs in 1875. It operated for a few years before shutting down. In 1881, there were about ten men still working in the camp. In 1881, the biggest producing shaft (unknown name) in the district was owned by two men named Kinkaid and John Judd. That shaft was first discovered in 1870. Another prominent mine in the area was known as the Old Sylvania. This mine had many alternate names, such as: Great Western, 4 Aces, Clair, Inspiration, Omaha, Buser, Oneida, Ohio, Hazel Green, St. Patrick, etc. USGS states that the year of discovery of the Old Sylvania was 1860, with production starting in 1875. Silver and lead were listed as primary commodities. Tungsten, zinc, gold, iron and molybdenum were list as tertiary. According to the USGS, this is the mine that may have been worked by Mexican miners at the time of its discovery. These Mexican miners supposedly built two native adobe smelters at the location. The USGS description of the inner workings of this mine are very extensive. The Clair family purchased this mine in 1904. As of 1956-1957, mining was still being conducted here. A 30-ton concentration mill was also still operating in the area. Statistics for this mine in the USGS Report leave off after 1959. As of 1959, 15,000 to 20,000 tons of ore had been removed. As of 1959, the mine was still owned by Mr. and Mrs. Don Clair of the Booth Mining Company in Pittsburgh, California. Tungsten was mined profitably here by the Clair family.

Post Office: None

Last Trip/ Road Conditions: Spring 2013 and August 2018. Me and the guy who helps me with this site have each been there once. At separate times. I went in 2013. That year, a flood played terrible games with the road. It was bad. When he went in 2018, he remembers the road being relatively good. Never totally count on our assessment. Always do your own self-evaluation.