Talk:Empire, Nevada

Oldest Continuously Operating Mine?
The article states: "The Empire gypsum mine was the longest continually operating mine in the US, operating for 88 years from 1923 to 2011." I'm not sure if this is true.


 * Bingham Canyon Mine "The mine has been in production since 1906," The article also states "It was not until 1863 that extraction of ore began and the potential of the canyon's mineral resources began to be widely recognized."  This would make Bingham Canyon the oldest continually operating mine in the west

Other Contenders:
 * Homestake Mine (South Dakota) Discovered in 1876, listed on the NYSE in 1879. Closed in 2002.
 * Chino Mine "The mine was started as the Chino Copper Company in 1909." "December 3, 2008, Chino's parent company, Freeport-McMoRan, announced it planned to suspend mining and milling activities at Chino, but would continue reclamation activities and copper production from its SX/EW plant. About 600 people from the work force of 830 would be laid off beginning about Feb. 13, 2009." "However, Freeport-McMoRan announced in October 2010 that they would be restarting operations at the mine ramping production up to a planned mining and milling rate by 2013."  So, the Chino Mine was not continuously operated.

Also, mining activity at Empire was occurring in 1910, see http://oralhistory.unr.edu/research_catalog_pubdetail.asp?ProdID=165: "University of Nevada Oral History Program No. 075 (1977) Louise Swesey Schmidt: Memories of Childhood in Gerlach Area—1910-1916

"Louise Schmidt was born in Troy, Montana, on December 15, 1905; and at the age of six months she moved to Fallon, Nevada, with her parents, Alfred and Nellie Swesey, and her half brother, “Koot” Bronson. In 1910, after four years of homesteading in Fallon, the family, which by then included a younger brother, Alfred, moved to Gerlach, Nevada. For the next six years the family resided approximately thirteen miles southeast of Gerlach in an area known as the Gypsum Mine. ... Mrs. Schmidt presents memories of life in the Gerlach area. She recalls her father’s activities while he was employed by the Pacific Portland Cement Company. She describes neighbors, friends, and life in an isolated, rural setting."

In another oral history, Thornton states that James Raser discovered gypsum at Empire, see Clarence. J. Thornton, "Ch. 3: Ranch Life in Northern Nevada and Eastern California," University of Nevada Oral History Project. (http://contentdm.library.unr.edu/u?/unohp,1205 URL is down right now.). I believe this happened in 1910, though I'll look further. Cxbrx (talk) 23:25, 22 September 2013 (UTC)