Beautiful Downtown Candelaria

Mineral County, Nevada. The Candelaria district was discovered in the 1860s, and production of bonanza-grade oxidized silver ore occurred in the latter 19th century. These ruins date from that phase of activity. The district got a new lease on life beginning in the 1970s, with large-scale heap leach operations. The smooth ridge at the right is actually a reclaimed heap leach. These had all shut down by 2000, and at present there is no obvious activity despite the run-up in silver prices. Insets show close ups of some of the better-preserved stone ruins. Looking more or less west.