Mesquite Mine

Coordinates: 33°03′37″N 114°59′40″W / 33.060318°N 114.994413°W The Mesquite Mine, operated by New Gold, is located near Glamis, Imperial County, California. It is one of the largest gold mines in the United States. It is near the Mesquite Regional Landfill, a waste-by-rail landfill for trash primarily originating in Los Angeles County.

History

Felizario Parra, a miner of nearby Picacho, discovered gold in April 1876, worked placers until 1880, and sold out for $3000.00. Dry washing of low grade ores continued intermittently for 100 years, along with many exploratory shafts. From 1957 to 1980, Dick and Anna Singer mined, recorded earlier efforts, made studies, and sold their findings to Gold Fields Mining Corporation. After investing 70 million in exploration, development and construction, Gold Fields began full-scale production in March 1986. Production reached 207,897 ounces of gold in 1992. It was expected that this rate of production would be maintained through 1999 when the mine would be subsequently exhausted. Gold Fields and Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corporation, which had given steady employment to approximately 300 persons, contributed heavily to public and private needs and operated with full environmental issues until it was acquired by New Gold Inc. In 2001, the mine closed due to a rise of gold prices. It was reopened in 2007 to resume production, producing over 100 million dollars in revenues for New Gold Inc. and 17 million dollars for Imperial County.[1]

Landfill

The Mesquite Regional Landfill was approved in June 1997 by Imperial County for construction.[2] The landfill, which would receive 20,000 tons of landfill daily, was finished on December 2008.[3] A 4.5 mile (7.2 km) long rail spur originating from a Union Pacific line north of Glamis to the landfill was built from 2006 to 2011.[4] Rail operations, which would consist of doublestack trains carrying waste from a facility in Puente Hills to the landfill, has been postponed due to rising transportation costs and cheaper alternatives on closer landfills.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Ruth, Brooke (2008-08-15). "Mesquite Mine goes for the gold". Imperial Valley Press. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
  2. ↑ "Mesquite Landfill approval finalized". Palo Verde Valley Times. 1997-06-25. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
  3. ↑ Varin, Elizabeth (2010-08-21). "Union on strike at Glamis-area Mesquite Regional Landfill". Imperial Valley Press. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
  4. ↑ "Mesquite Regional Landfill storm drainage project begins". The Desert Review. 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
  5. ↑ Cook, Morgan (2014-04-18). "L.A.'s $400 million trash train going nowhere, to O.C.'s benefit". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2014-04-26.

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