Rio Tinto, NV
In 1919 prospector and mining engineer Franklin Hunt was convinced that copper would be found here. It took many years but in 1932 he finally found a major deposit. He sold the claim to Anaconda Copper, which set about building a company town at the site. The town included houses, apartments, a school and a theater. Production increased following the completion of a new mill in 1936.
Rio Tinto became the second largest producer of copper in the state and held that position for several years. However, the rich ore began to run out following WWII, and that, coupled with the post-war drop in the price of copper, brought the mine to an end. In 1947 no new ore bodies were found, despite extensive searching. The mine closed in 1948 and the equipment, as well as many of the buildings, were sold off.
In 1970 the mine was reopened for a few years to extract the remaining low-grade ore.
Other nearby sites of interest include Mill Creek Cabin, NV and Nelson Ranch, NV.
I visited Reveille in July 2024.
Ghost Towns, Mines, and More!
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