Mine History

      The Columbia 23 Mine (formally The Columbia Mine) is a part of the Goodsprings Mining District. The Columbia claim, which was located in 1886.· According to local report, a prospector, Von Trigger, had located the claim and mined 10 tons of copper ore as early as 1880. In 1898  Emory Hershing received the opportunity to option the Columbia and Boss mine and that same year they built the Yellow Pine Mill which was the first mill to be built in the Goodsprings District. In 1906 the mill site was purchased by  Joseph Dederich.

      From the start of Columbia mines production days the miners were mainly digging for the copper and zinc rich ore, however they did find over 4000 ounces of silver and about 40 ounces of gold. During the height of its production it produced an average of 59,367 pounds of copper a year with the most productive year producing 230,518 pounds of copper.

      Some of the other rocks and minerals they identified over the years there are sultan limestone. chalcopyrite, chalcocite, tenorite, chert, dolomite, sandstone, shale, feldspar, colonial and solitary corals, cinnabar, cobalt, dioptase, malachite, azurite, bornite, chrysocolla, mottramite and heterogenite.