Existing
Operable Stamp Mills (update 9/2016)
NOTE: I have updated this Post with the following changes:
THe 5-Stamp
16th Operable stamp mill in the USA, as of September 23, 2016
I have put together a listing of operable stamp
mills that I have physically seen or viewed videos of each mill in operation at
various locations in the United States. There are some stamp mills that claim that
their stamp mill is operable and runs, but it seems that is a relative term.
They may only have one stamp engaged and manually pull the drive belt and the
stamp drops. I do not consider that an “Operable or Running” stamp mill.
I have set some guidelines to determine if the
stamp mill actually operates. The following are the requirements that I see that
separates the static non-operating mills from operable mills:
Driver The stamp mill must be
driven by some type of drive mechanism. There is not required speed, but it
must make the stamps drop and reset through the action of the cams. You may
only operate the mill at 10 rpm, but as long as the stamps move this is the
important result.
Mortar Box Feed The mill can be fed manually
or by some sort of mechanized feeder. Originally none of the stamp mills had automated
feeders.
Material Processing There needs to be a mechanism
to get the material out of the mortar box. This is generally water, but there
were some dry processes where the material is driven out of the mortar
box. This process should separate the concentrates through a sluice, shaker or mechanical panning.
Some mills that
I have observed partially demonstrate attributes, but they don’t make the
mark. Even though they do not make the mark it should be recognized that the owners of those mills spent a lot of time and
effort to get as far as they did with the restoration. There may be just a few
actions for these mills to get into the category of operable. I will continue to search for mills that show the above characteristics.
The following (16) stamp mills, I feel, make the mark with
operability:
ARIZONA STAMP MILLS
Castle Dome
3-Stamp Mill
The stamp
mill is located at the Castle Dome Mines Museum in Castle Dome, Arizona. The 3-mill
mill was recently restored back to operation. The mill came from the Yuma
area. Most
of the artifacts on display in Castle Dome Mines Museum were pulled from the surrounding
300 mine shafts that were gouged into the landscape. The mines were originally a silver
mines and during World War II they produced large amounts of lead for the war
effort.
Other
Equipment on Site Allen
and Stephanie Armstrong bought remnants of a town in the mid-1990s, moved it to a remote
spot northeast of the Yuma Proving Grounds, then restored/created replicas of 23
buildings and loaded them with artifacts from the region's mining days.
Dates of
Operation Call for hours
of operation and let them know you want to see the stamp mill run.
Contact
Information Phone
928-930-3062 Email castledomemuseum01@gmail.com, Website http://www.castledomemuseum.com
Location The town is
located on US Hwy 95, north
of Yuma, AZ. It is 32 mi. north of Yuma on US Hwy 95, milepost 55, then NE for
10 miles 2 paved/8 gravel.
Cossack Millsite 20-Stamp Mill
The stamp mill is located at the Superstition
Mountain Museum in Apache Junction.
The mill has an interesting history, in that, it has been moved from its
original location in Bland, New Mexico to Goldfield, Arizona and then to its
present location at the Superstition Mountain Museum. This was quite a job to
disassemble and move and reassemble the twenty stamps and four mortar boxes.
One of the four batteries are operational on this mill. The other three are
static displays. The stamp mill is fed by a jaw crusher that supplies a skip
that takes the ore and dumps it into the feeder that feeds it into the mortar
box.
Other Equipment on Site
that Runs
There are a number of displays to see at the museum including some original
movie set buildings with significant historical value and many other mining
artifacts.
Dates of Operation The stamp mill will be
run once a month for visitors at the museum. You can contact the museum at 480-983-4888 for the specific run times.
Location The museum is located
on 4087 N. Apache Trail, Highway 88, Apache Junction, Arizona 85119. You take
Route 88 North Apache Junction Trail about 4 miles north out of Apache Junction
to the white church Steeple on the right. You can see the 20-stamp mill in back
of the museum at the base of the Superstition Mountains.
Golden Reef Mine 10-Stamp Mill
The stamp
mill is located at
the Cave Creek Museum, Cave Creek, Arizona. The mill was restored back to
operation in November 2013 and continues to run. The mill is run by a 4
cylinder gasoline engine and has automatic feeders that delivers the material
to the mortar box. It has sluice tables to separate the gold from the
concentrates and a shaker table that further separates the gold from the
concentrates. This process uses gold bearing ores.
Other Equipment on Site
that Runs
There is a primary ore crusher that crushes the ore from the mine down to less
than 2” in diameter. We are also working on reconstructing a tramway that was
used to get ore from the mine to the mill in the early days.
Dates of Operation The mill runs the
second weekend of each month from October through May each year. You should
check first for the specific run days and run times by calling 480-488-2764, Email info@cavecreekmuseum.com or website www.cavecreekmuseum.org
Contact Information The museum is closed
during summer months (June through September). You can contact the museum by
phone 480-488-2764,
Location The museum is located
on 6140 E Skyline Drive. To get there you proceed north on Cave Creek Road for
about 2.2 Miles to Skyline drive. Proceed on Skyline Drive for 0.4 mile and
take a left on Basin Road and it is just on the left.
Swallow Mine 5-Stamp Mill
The stamp
mill is located at
the Arizona Mining & Mineral Museum, 1502 W. Washington, in Phoenix, Arizona.
This mill demonstrates all of the attributes of an operable stamp mill. This mill was restored back to operation in late
2003 and has been running until the museum was closed on April 30, 2011. The
mill is run by a 15 Hp electric motor through a jackshaft that reduces the
rotational speed from 1730 RPM down to about 60 RPM. The mill has an automatic
feeder that is fed by an ore bin. It has a water fed sluice table that collects
the concentrates that are further classified by a 1940’s Goldwheel.
Concentrates can also be reduced in a small Wifley table. This process uses
gold bearing ores.
Other Equipment on Site
that Runs
The outside exhibits include an operable jaw crusher, Gardner Denver Mucker, a Goldwheel,
a small Wilfey table and an incline with an incline or cart.
Dates of Operation The stamp mill and
other outside equipment was run monthly when the museum was open. It will not officially
run again until the museum re-opens.
Contact Information MUSEUM PRESENTLY
CLOSED There is presently no outside contact information for this museum. The
museum has been closed since and there is not schedule for reopening the
museum. The equipment is being maintained by volunteers that periodically
exercise the outside running equipment. The mill is being maintained operable
even though the museum is closed.
Location The museum is located
on 1502 W Washington Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona.
Taylor
Mountain Millsite 2 & 3-Stamp Mills
The stamp
mills are located at Taylor Mountain north of Dolan Springs, Arizona. This is a
private millsite and is operated by Bob Taylor, a very seasoned miner. There
are two operational stamp mills that crush ore down to the consistency of sand
and then passed on to shaker tables to extract the gold from the ore. The site
was established in the 1990’s and continues to operate. A lot of his equipment
is “homemade”, just like the old miners did it. He is definitely from the “old
school” of mining. An example is a
shaker table that he designed and fabricated that has a Plexiglas deck. This is
not standard, but he wanted to see his concentrates separation and the light
shining under the table shows the separation of the black sand, the pink barite
and the stringers of gold.
Other
Equipment on Site There is a tremendous amount of mining equipment, many items made
right on the millsite, including Murphy Spirals, jaw crushers, plunge drilling
equipment and single cylinder engines that operate.
Dates of
Operation N/A
Contact
Information N/A
Location The
millsite is in the Taylor Mountains north of Dolan Springs.
CALIFORNIA STAMP MILLS
American Boy Mine 10-Stamp Mill
The stamp
mill is located at
the Mojave Desert Heritage & Cultural Association, Goffs, California. This
mill was restored to operation in 2012 and continues to run on various
occasions. The mill is run by a 30 Hp diesel engine and has automatic
feeders that delivers the material to the mortar box. It has sluice tables to
separate the gold from the concentrates. This process uses gold bearing ores.
Other Equipment on Site
that Runs
There is one other stamp mill on site that is operable as well as a Gibson
Gyratory Crusher that is going to be restored back to operations.
Dates of Operation This mill is run at
least two times per year during the Spring Encampment and the Fall Rendezvous.
Contact Information The association is
closed during summer months and if you want to visit in the fall, winter or
spring you should contact the museum directly at 760-733-4482 or by Email heb92232@gmail.com or on their website at www.MDHCA.org.
Location Goffs is located on
37198 Lanfair Road. To get there you should take I-40 west from Needles 17
miles to Exit 133, US 95 Searchlight and travel 6 miles North on US 95 to Goffs
road, just before the tracks and take a left and travel 14 ½ miles to Goffs.
Golden Key Mine 5-Stamp Mill
The stamp
mill is located at the Mariposa Historical Society, Mariposa,
California. The mill was moved to the museum and restored in 1974. The mill
runs and has a feeder, but is manually fed and the materials flows out onto the
sluice table that can be panned out.
NOTE: This
is the stamp mill that I originally trained on to become a “Millman”
Other
Equipment on Site There is another 2-stamp mill being
restored, a 10-stamp in pieces and a 15,000 Pound Chilean Mill that is a static
display. There is also many mining artifacts on the grounds.
Hours of
Operation Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Daily - Year
Around
Contact
Information The stamp mill is frequently run for tour
groups. For more information on run times you should call (209) 966-2924 or the
internet at www.mariposamuseum.com.
Location The museum is located at 5119 Jessie Street, Mariposa, California 95338
Paymaster Mine 2-Stamp Mill
The stamp mill is located at the Trinity County Jake Jackson Museum in
Weaverville, California. The mill was constructed in 1901 at the Paymaster Mine
and was relocated to the Trinity County Historical Society in 1984. Gene
Goodyear, Billy Richards and Bob Hamilton were owners of the mine. The three
men located the claim on September 14, 1901 and the mine shutdown in 1915. This
mill is powered by a wood-fed steam boiler that actually works. The mill is
housed in a building on the museum’s grounds. They run the mill several times a
year for school children and they start it for a fee for smaller groups.
Other Equipment on Site that Runs There
is a nice blacksmiths shop, a tin shop and a building with wagons and other
rolling stock.
Hours of Operation The museum is open
daily 10AM to 5 PM.
Contact Information: The stamp mill is run
on major holidays in the summer and to groups of school children. Check the
Contact information for stamp mill run times at 530-623-5211, Fax 530-623-5053,
Email jake@trinitymuseum.org or on their Website www.trinitymuseum.org
Location The stamp mill is located on 508 Main
Street in Weaverville, CA. Cross Streets: Between CA-3/CA-299 and Court St.
Slate
Mountain 10-Stamp Mill
The stamp mill is located in Georgetown, California. The
10-stamp mill has been restored back to operation in 2007. It came from the
Slate Mountain Mine that was located a few miles southeast of town. The stamp
mill was operated by pioneer Ray Little, whose family has operated the stamp
mill for generations.
Other Equipment on Site There is
an early tractor that presently runs the stamp mill through a power-takeoff.
They also have an operational 25 Hp Fairbanks Morse, 1 cylinder engine, Model Y
that runs two air compressors, a 4” and 6” during the demonstrations. There is
a pelton wheel that ran the stamp mill that they run with a water supply. It
does not operate any equipment it just shows the operation of the wheel.
Hours of Operation It is run once a year
on Founders Day which is in September.
Contact Information For more information on
the mill you can contact Mike Monroe at rustmag1987@gmail.com
Stotts Millsite 2-Stamp Mill
The stamp mill is located at the Mojave Desert Heritage & Cultural
Association, Goffs, California. This mill was restored to operation in 2010 and
continues to run on various occasions. The mill is run by a 10 Hp motor and has
an automatic feeder that delivers the material to the mortar box. It has a
sluice table to separate the gold from the concentrates. This process uses gold
bearing ores.
Other Equipment on Site that Runs
There is one other stamp mill on site that is operable as well as a Gibson
Gyratory Crusher that is going to be restored back to operations.
Hours of Operation They are open First of
October to June 30 on every weekend, Saturday, Sunday and Monday 9 to 4 . For
visits in the summer or on weekdays please call ahead at 760-733-4482.
Contact Information This mill is run at
least two times per year during the Spring Encampment and the Fall Rendezvous.
You should contact the museum directly at 760-733-4482 or by Email heb92232@gmail.com or on their website at www.MDHCA.org for the specific run times.
Location Goffs is located on 37198 Lanfair Road.
To get there you should take I-40 west from Needles 17 miles to Exit 133, US 95
Searchlight and travel 6 miles North on US 95 to Goffs road, just before the
tracks and take a left and travel 14 ½
miles to Goffs.
COLORADO STAMP MILLS
Yellow Jacket Mine 10-Stamp Mill
The stamp mill is located at the Western Museum of Mining &
Industry, Colorado Springs, Colorado. This mill was constructed in 1978 to look
like many other Western mills from 1890-1920. The building is quite impressive
and makes the experience very much like it was back in the 1880’s. The mill
continues to fascinate visitors who flock to watch it run.
Other Equipment on Site that Runs
There are quite a few exhibits that run on the museum site. There is a number
of authentic operating steam engines, drills, hoists that operate in the main
building. The most impressive is the Corliss Engine in the main room. You have
to see these machines in action to get an appreciation of their ability. There
are outside operable mining exhibits including a 1920 Osgood Steam Shovel and
two Iron Burro steam trammers that run on compressed air.
Hours of Operations The museum
is open 9am- 4pm, Monday-Saturday (January-December) Daily Guided tours at 10am
and 1pm (included in admission).
Contact
Information The mill is run in the summer months on
the major holidays. You should first check the run times by calling
719-488-0880, Toll Free: 800-752-6558 or go to their website at www.wmmi.org.
Location The museum is located on 225 North Gate
Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80921. You take I-25 to the north end of Colorado
Springs to the North Gate Blvd exit and stay to the right to the museum.
GEORGIA
STAMP MILLS
Crisson Gold Mine 10-Stamp Mill
The stamp
mill is at the Crisson Gold Mine in Dahlonega, Georgia. The mine was
established in 1847 and was worked commercially until the early 1980s. The
operation was opened to the public in 1969. The 10-stamp mill crushes the ore
through a hand fed method, and it goes onto the sluice table to a catch basin
and then is panned out.
Other Equipment on Site There are
many pieces of mining equipment that actually function including a jaw crusher,
Hammer mill, ball crusher mill, and Humphrey Spirals. There is also a trammel
on site that you can process your concentrates.
Hours of Operation They are open 7 days a week year round.
Spring and summer hours 10 am until 6 pm. fall and winter hours 10 am until 5
pm.
Contact Information The stamp mill is run
on various occasions. To find out when the mill is to be operated, you should call
1-706-864-6363, or Email tammy@crissongoldmine.com or website at www.crissongoldmine.com.
Location The museum is on 2736 Morrison Moore
Parkway East, Dahlonega, Georgia 30533 We’re located just two miles past the
Walmart shopping center.
NORTH CAROLINA STAMP MILLS
Reed Gold
Mine 10-Stamp Mill
The stamp
mill is located at the Reed Gold mine in Midland, North Carolina. This mill
operates 5 of its 10 stamps. The material is fed in by hand and crushed down to
a fine powder. It then goes to the sluice table that removes some of the gold
and then to the Wilfley table where more of the gold is removed.
NOTE: This is the site of the first documented gold find in the United
States. The estimated value of gold recovered reached more than one million
dollars a year. North Carolina led the nation in gold production until the
mid-1850s.
Other Equipment on Site There is
also an underground mine tour, gold panning and other activities.
Hours of Operation The museum is open
daily from April through October. Gold panning is available April-October,
weather permitting. Tours of the mine and mining property are offered guided
and self-guided year round. Hours of operation: Year Round Tuesday thru
Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm CLOSED Sundays, Mondays, and major
holidays
Contact Information For specific stamp
mill run times you should call ahead to (704) 721-GOLD (4653), Email reed@ncdcr.gov , website
at http://www.nchistoricsites.org/reed/
Location The museum is located on 9621 Reed Mine
Rd. Midland, NC 28107. From Charlotte Take Albemarle Road. (N.C. 24/27) Enter
Cabarrus County. After crossing Hwy 601 and the Rocky River, turn left on Reed
Mine Road, go approximately three miles, and the site will be on the right.
NEVADA STAMP MILLS
New Pass Mine 5-Stamp Mill
The stamp
mill is located at Bonnie Springs Old Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada. This is an
interesting stamp mill that runs. They feed material with brass in it into the
mortar box and you can see the brass as it goes through the box on to a Wilfley
table and shows the brass on the table top. This mill does not actually crush
gold ore, but it shows the entire process and meets the operable criteria. They use this method to simulate how the
operation functions. They do not actually crush the material, but they separate
the brass from the sand through the action of the stamps.
Other
Interests on Site The setting is an old west town where
visitors can catch a melodrama playing at Bonnie Springs year-round.
Hours of
Operation During the summer, Old Nevada is open
from 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. during winter hours are 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Contact
Information The stamp mill is run by appointment. For
operation of the stamp mill you should call ahead at (702) 875-4191 or visit
them on their Website at www.bonniesprings.com.
Location 16395 Bonnie Springs Rd, Las Vegas, NV, 89124. It is located about 15
miles outside Las Vegas between Red Rock Canyon and Blue Diamond Road.
