Thorndike Mine CA

Thorndike Mine, CA

Thorndike Mine, CA is in the Panamint Range. It's also known as the Honolulu Mine. The earliest discovery here was in 1907, however most production happened during the early 1940s. The produced lead, silver, and some copper. On this trip I only visited the lower mine, which is accessible by four-wheel drive. The highest site of the mine is way, way up the mountain and can be reached only by strenuous hiking. I'd like to try it sometime. The upper mine has a few ruins, including the remains of an aerial tram that was used to bring ore down to the lower site.

I visited the Thorndike Mine in June 2024.

Looking up the canyon towards the Thorndike Mine. A small building can be seen at center left. On the hillside above it is a mine with a sizable pile of waste rock. At lower right are the ruins of a cabin.

Cabin ruins near the mouth of the canyon.

The remains of a small stone dugout near the cabin ruins.

On the trail leading up to the mine. The stone foundation of a cabin can be seen at center left.

An aerial view of the Thorndike Mine. There is a mine entrance behind the small building, and another one on the hillside above it. At lower right is an open stope.

Another aerial view of the Thorndike Mine.

An aerial view of the upper mine. The entrance to the mine has caved in. Tracks lead out onto the waste pile.

Another aerial view of the upper mine. The entrance to the mine has caved in. Tracks lead out onto the waste pile.

Here's an aerial view of the metal shack at the Thorndike Mine.

Another view of the metal shack at the Thorndike Mine.

Yours truly, standing in front of the metal shack.

Another view of the shack.

Approaching the door of the shack.

There is an engine and compressor inside the shack.

Another view of the engine and compressor inside the shack.

The sign on the wall says, "$One hunderd bounty on thieves."

Looking into an opening on the top of the compressor. When I first entered the shack, a rat ran into this opening.

Another view of the compressor and air tank. The tank is unusually small. I wonder if there used to be larger tank outside the shack?

The adit (mine entrance) behind the shack.

The tracks coming out of the mine are partially buried.

The ruins of a small ore bin or loading chute.

There is another mine about halfway up the mountain, to the right. There used to be an aerial tram that brought ore down from this mine.

The frame and bed of a small dump truck or pickup truck has been abandoned high up a branch of the canyon. I'm not sure how or why it's there, because it's not near any of the mines and there are no trails leading to this area.

Ghost Towns, Mines, and More!

#ghosttowns, #mines, #Nevada, #exploring, #adventure, #abandoned, #ruins