Mesquite Mine

Coordinates: 33°03′37″N 114°59′40″W / 33.060318°N 114.994413°W / 33.060318; -114.994413 The Mesquite Mine, operated by New Gold, is located in Glamis, Imperial County, California. It is one of the largest gold mines in the United States. It is near the Mesquite Regional Landfill, a waste-by-rail landfill being constructed for trash primarily originating in Los Angeles County.

History

Felizario Parra discovered gold in April 1876, worked placers until 1880, and sold out for $3000.00. Dry washing of low grade ores continued intermittently for 100 years, along with many exploratory shafts. From 1957 to 1980, Dick and Anna Singer mined, recorded earlier efforts, made studies, and sold their findings to Gold Fields Mining Corporation. After investing 70 million in exploration, development and construction, Gold Fields began full scale production in March 1986. Production reached 207,897 ounces of gold in 1992. It was expected that this rate of production would be maintained through 1999 when the mine would be subsequently exhausted....Gold Fields and Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corporation, had given steady employment to over 300 persons, contributed heavily to public and private needs and operated with full environmental issues until it was acquired by New Gold Inc. in 2008. Mesquite Mine is still in production, contrary to previous predictions...and is set to produce over 100 million dollars in revenues for its new owners New Gold Inc.

References

• Hill, Liezel (2009-03-05). "New Gold will buy Western Goldfields for cash, shares". Mining Weekly. http://www.miningweekly.com/article/new-gold-will-buy-western-goldfields-for-cash-shares-2009-03-05. Retrieved 2010-06-20. 
• "Mesquite Mine". The Center For Land Use Interpretation. http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/CA4906/. Retrieved 2010-06-20. 
• "Mesquite Regional Landfill website". http://www.mrlf.org/.