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Giant Ledge Mine, Caruthers Canyon
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Mojave National Preserve
Caruthers Canyon
Giant Ledge Mine

Overview

The Giant Ledge Mine is a hard-rock mine dug into decomposing quartz monzonite granite. The mine was active in 1927 when the miners were primarily extracting copper ore. For context, see Giant Ledge Mine Trail.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ... mines are never safe to enter. I took a calculated risk on this one, and because I did, everyone can look at the pictures and nobody else needs to go inside. Be safe and do not enter the dark, dangerous mine shafts.

Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine

Mine 2. First adit when walking up the road. Note that this adit collapsed despite the presence of roofing timbers.

Giant Ledge Mine
A bench? No - the roof collapsed despite timbers!
Giant Ledge Mine
Inside collapsed adit - timbers didn't help here

Mine 3. Shallow adit with roofing timbers and a bit of ore in the back wall

Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine

Mine 4. Steep slope down to the opening

Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine

Mine 5. Upper East Mine

Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine
Fluorite.-Pale-lilac, fine-grained fluorite?
Giant Ledge Mine
Adit runs back to a shaft
Giant Ledge Mine
Shaft - looking up
Giant Ledge Mine
End of the mine

Mine 5. Upper level mines above the main mine openings.

Giant Ledge Mine
Adit and shaft
Giant Ledge Mine
Shaft
Giant Ledge Mine
Adit
Giant Ledge Mine
Inside the mine
Giant Ledge Mine
Timbers
Giant Ledge Mine
Timbers
Giant Ledge Mine
Timbers and cribbing - don't ever touch this stuff!
Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine Giant Ledge Mine
Giant Ledge Mine
Drift forks: left (steeply down) and right (horizontal)
Giant Ledge Mine
Right fork (horizontal)
Giant Ledge Mine
End of right fork (horizontal)
Giant Ledge Mine
Narrow left fork winds down and looks too scary

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240328

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