Get Josephine County, Oregon, Historical Society Document Mining Location, Placer Pamphlet. Josephine

Other problematic abandoned mines in Oregon include the Almeda Mine, which emits acid mine drainage into the Rogue River; and the Umpqua Site, which has concerning mercury concentrations downstream, threatening the Umpqua River. None rises to the level of the disaster on the Animas.

The historic Peak Hill mine operated between 1893 and 1917 producing about 60,000 ounces from 500,000 tonnes of rock. Alkane re-excavated for gold on the site between 1996 and 2002 retrieving 145,000 ounces gold from 4.9 million tonnes of rock.

Other problematic abandoned mines in Oregon include the Almeda Mine, which emits acid mine drainage into the Rogue River; and the Umpqua Site, which has concerning mercury concentrations downstream, threatening the Umpqua River. None rises to the level of the disaster on the Animas.

Josephine County is located in southwest Oregon and was created by the Territorial Legislature on Jan. 22, 1856 from the western half of Jackson County. It was the 19th, and last, county created before statehood. Josephine County was named for Josephine Rollins, the first white woman to settle in southern Oregon.

Other problematic abandoned mines in Oregon include the Almeda Mine, which emits acid mine drainage into the Rogue River; and the Umpqua Site, which has concerning mercury concentrations downstream, threatening the Umpqua River. None rises to the level of the disaster on the Animas.

The U.S. Forst Service and the Land Management Bureau allow recreational panning for gold on almost all of their public lands located in Oregon. As in other states, the best places to find gold in Oregon are locations where it has been found by other prospectors in the past.

The historic Peak Hill mine operated between 1893 and 1917 producing about 60,000 ounces from 500,000 tonnes of rock. Alkane re-excavated for gold on the site between 1996 and 2002 retrieving 145,000 ounces gold from 4.9 million tonnes of rock.

The period of richest mining in Oregon was between the 1850s and 1880s. In the hundred-year period between the 1860s and 1960s, Oregon mines produced somewhere between $130 million and $215 million.

Other problematic abandoned mines in Oregon include the Almeda Mine, which emits acid mine drainage into the Rogue River; and the Umpqua Site, which has concerning mercury concentrations downstream, threatening the Umpqua River. None rises to the level of the disaster on the Animas.

Josephine County is located in southwest Oregon and was created by the Territorial Legislature on Jan. 22, 1856 from the western half of Jackson County. It was the 19th, and last, county created before statehood. Josephine County was named for Josephine Rollins, the first white woman to settle in southern Oregon.

Prospectors including Shorty Harris and Pete Aguereberry scoured the mountains searching for metals such as gold, silver, antimony, copper, lead, zinc, and tungsten. Prosperous large-scale metal mining in Death Valley ended around 1915 and the once bustling towns which supported them became ghost towns.

The U.S. Forst Service and the Land Management Bureau allow recreational panning for gold on almost all of their public lands located in Oregon. As in other states, the best places to find gold in Oregon are locations where it has been found by other prospectors in the past.

Josephine County is known for its exceptional climate, beautiful scenery and abundant recreational opportunities, including the world-famous Rogue River. Established in 1856, Josephine County's boundaries encompass 1,641 square miles.

The period of richest mining in Oregon was between the 1850s and 1880s. In the hundred-year period between the 1860s and 1960s, Oregon mines produced somewhere between $130 million and $215 million.

Workers used gravity-fed, high-pressure water to remove entire hillsides, drastically altering landscapes and destroying fish habitat in streams and rivers. They also tunneled underground for gold, silver, and copper. In Oregon, miners also found mercury, then called quicksilver.

Prospectors including Shorty Harris and Pete Aguereberry scoured the mountains searching for metals such as gold, silver, antimony, copper, lead, zinc, and tungsten. Prosperous large-scale metal mining in Death Valley ended around 1915 and the once bustling towns which supported them became ghost towns.

In the late 1980's the Forest Service started looking into the abandoned Oregon mines, and the possibilities of dangerous chemical contamination. There were so many mines in their region that they had to sort…

Josephine County is known for its exceptional climate, beautiful scenery and abundant recreational opportunities, including the world-famous Rogue River. Established in 1856, Josephine County's boundaries encompass 1,641 square miles.

Oregon mines also hauled tons of cinnabar from the earth - the bright red mineral from which mercury is extracted. The rocks are crushed and heated to extract the silvery liquid metal.

Workers used gravity-fed, high-pressure water to remove entire hillsides, drastically altering landscapes and destroying fish habitat in streams and rivers. They also tunneled underground for gold, silver, and copper. In Oregon, miners also found mercury, then called quicksilver.

In addition, gold panning is permitted on nearly all streams and rivers running through campgrounds on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and USDA Forest Service (USPS) land in Oregon.

In the late 1980's the Forest Service started looking into the abandoned Oregon mines, and the possibilities of dangerous chemical contamination. There were so many mines in their region that they had to sort…

Oregon mines also hauled tons of cinnabar from the earth - the bright red mineral from which mercury is extracted. The rocks are crushed and heated to extract the silvery liquid metal.

In addition, gold panning is permitted on nearly all streams and rivers running through campgrounds on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and USDA Forest Service (USPS) land in Oregon.