slgwv's photos with the keyword: Esmeralda County

Hematite-stained volcanic rock off the back road from Coaldale Flat to Fish Lake Valley. The geology isn't cluttered up with green growing things! Esmeralda County, Nevada.

On the back road between Coaldale Flat and Fish Lake Valley, Esmeralda County, Nevada. The green vegetation is due to Gap Spring.

Site of a borax rush (!) in the 1860s.

In the Volcanic Hills off Nevada State Route 773. A tuff is a volcanic rock that was laid down as individual particles rather than as a molten flow. They range from practically sedimentary in nature ("water-laid tuffs") to hard rocks difficult to distinguish from lava flows, because the particles were so hot they welded together ("welded tuffs" or "ignimbrites.") Tuffs are common across the Great Basin of the US, particularly in the western part.

Close-up. (Pronounced LYE-duh, with a long "i", btw.)

Adits and colorful spoil heaps. Pronounced "LYE-duh," btw, with a long "i."

The sign reads: "Thinking that local joshua trees were related to palm trees, the 1866 prospectors named the mining camp Palmetto. The town "died" and revived three times. New prospecting in 1903 caused Palmetto to grow to a town of 200 tents on a platted townsite. At its peak year, 1906, the commercial street, over ½ mile long, contained all the necessary mining camp businesses. Local miners drifted away in autumn, 1906. Mining, on a lease basis, has been minimal since that time. An important talc deposit lies nearby. "

Looking north from Peak 9285 in the Palmetto Mtns. The almost-dead town of Silver Peak is invisible near the center of the picture (outlined). The prominent drainage in the flats on the right is Lida Wash. Silver Peak isn't quite a ghost town because the brines in the white flats in Clayton Valley are currently the only US domestic source of lithium, and an active mining operation is taking place.

Looking southwest. Not much left...

Site of a short-lived strike around the turn of the last century.

Silver Peak district, Esmeralda County. I liked the cinder cone ("The Crater") in the background...

A short-lived strike around the turn of the last century.