Potosi orPotosi Camp, was calledCrystal City in the 1870s, a miningghost town inClark County, Nevada. It lies at an elevation of 5705 feet.[1]
ThePotosi Mine35°57′44″N115°32′12″W / 35.96222°N 115.53667°W /35.96222; -115.53667[2] is thought to be the site of the oldest lode mine in Nevada. Itslead deposits were discovered in 1847 but it was not until 1856 that Mormon miners from their colony ofLas Vegas Springs began a lead mine there. Operations ceased in 1857 after 9,000 lbs of lead were extracted due to difficulties in smelting the ore.[3]
Nothing further was done with the mine until 1861. That year the Colorado Mining Company, began to minesilver in the Potosi Mine. They first set up a large smelter atPotosi Spring35°58′14″N115°32′28″W / 35.97056°N 115.54111°W /35.97056; -115.54111[4] and established Potosi as its mining camp. Potosi had a population of 100 until mining ceased there in 1863.[5]
After theSalt Lake and San Pedro Railroad was built through Clark County in 1905, it became possible to minezinc in the Potosi Mine. From 1906 to 1928, zinc was mined there.[5]
The site of Potosi appears barren of ruins.[1]
Municipalities and communities ofClark County, Nevada,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| Proposed communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
35°58′15″N115°32′27″W / 35.97083°N 115.54083°W /35.97083; -115.54083
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