University of Nevada, Reno the Historical Archaeology of Ore Milling
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University of Nevada, Reno The Historical Archaeology of Ore Milling: Ideas, Environment, and Technology A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology By Christopher Shaun Richey Dr. Sarah E. Cowie/Thesis Advisor August 2016 THE GRADUATE SCHOOL We recommend that the thesis prepared under our supervision by CHRISTOPHER SHAUN RICHEY Entitled The Historical Archaeology of Ore Milling: Ideas, Environment, and Technology be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Dr. Sarah E. Cowie, Advisor Robert Mcqueen, M.S., Committee Member Dr. William Rowley, Graduate School Representative David W. Zeh, Ph.D., Dean, Graduate School August, 2016 i Abstract Changes in milling technology at the Cortez Mining District, a gold and silver mine located in a remote area of central Nevada, are examined through the study of five mills that were active between 1864 and 1944. Each mill is analyzed through documentary and archaeological sources in order to understand how different forms of technology were implemented and modified to most effectively treat ores over time. Locally, this process of technological adaptation was influenced by changing environmental knowledge. On a larger scale, the milling technology is contrasted against global trends relating to a second wave of industrialization, such as the use of engineering and scientific knowledge in industrial pursuits, and the increasingly systematic deployment of capital. ii Acknowledgements The author would like to express gratitude to Summit Envirosolutions, Inc., Rob McQueen, and Erika Johnson for the opportunity to work in the Cortez Mining District and to develop the questions presented in this thesis. Thanks go to the chair of my committee, Dr. Sarah Cowie, for her guidance over the past two years, and to committee members Mr. Rob McQueen and Dr. William Rowley. Also, thanks to my colleagues in the Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno for valuable input. I would also like to thank my family and friends for their support. Finally, I would like to thank Amanda Rankin for her continual encouragement and support despite the time investment that was required by this thesis. iii Contents Abstract i Acknowledgements ii Tables v Figures vi 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 Ore Reduction Mills .................................................................................................................. 2 Thesis Outline ........................................................................................................................... 4 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 4 Historical Background .............................................................................................................. 6 The Cortez District .................................................................................................................. 10 Discovery and Settlement (1863 – 1870) ....................................................................................... 11 Consolidation (1871 – 1880) ......................................................................................................... 16 Early Production (1881 – 1890) ..................................................................................................... 18 Early Lessee (1901 – 1915) ........................................................................................................... 19 Late Production (1916 – 1929) ...................................................................................................... 20 Late Lessee (1930 – 1940) ............................................................................................................. 20 2. The Archaeology of Mining...................................................................................................... 22 The Mining Landscape ........................................................................................................... 23 Corporations ............................................................................................................................ 25 Environment and Technology ................................................................................................. 26 Landscape Learning ....................................................................................................................... 27 Changing Technology .................................................................................................................... 31 3. Cortez Documentary Sources ................................................................................................... 36 Introduction to Documentary Sources .................................................................................... 38 Types of Documents ............................................................................................................... 40 Cortez Company Mill (1864 – 1886) ...................................................................................... 45 Tenabo Mill (1886 – 1915) ..................................................................................................... 60 iv Menardi Mill (1913 – 1915) ................................................................................................... 72 Consolidated Cortez Mill (1923 – 1937) ................................................................................ 74 Roberts Mill (1930 – 1944)..................................................................................................... 79 4. Cortez Archaeological Data ...................................................................................................... 86 Previous Work ........................................................................................................................ 88 Construction, Operation, and Abandonment .......................................................................... 90 Cortez Company Mill (1864 - 1886) ...................................................................................... 93 Tenabo Mill (1886 – 1915) ................................................................................................... 103 Menardi Mill (1913 – 1915) ................................................................................................. 116 Roberts Mill (1930 – 1944)................................................................................................... 121 Consolidated Cortez Mill (1923 – 1937) .............................................................................. 133 5. Discussion ............................................................................................................................... 145 Continuous Trends ................................................................................................................ 148 Changing Trends ................................................................................................................... 149 Future Work .......................................................................................................................... 152 6. Works Cited ............................................................................................................................ 154 v Tables Table 1-1. State and Local Historical Periods and Cortez Mills......................................... 7 Table 3-1. Document Types Relating to Cortez Mills ...................................................... 41 Table 3-2. Cortez Mills ..................................................................................................... 45 vi Figures Figure 1-1. Map of Nevada showing selected population centers in the vicinity of Cortez. ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Figure 1-2.Overview of the Cortez Mining District ......................................................... 11 Figure 1-3. A portion of the “Nevada Giant” taken near the Consolidated Cortez Mill. 13 Figure 1-4. West slopes of Tenabo, facing east. ............................................................... 17 Figure 2-1. Flowchart based on the Landscape Learning Model...................................... 30 Figure 3-1. Location of Cortez Mills ................................................................................ 44 Figure 3-2. Cortez Company Mill Location ..................................................................... 47 Figure 3-3. Front and side view of a ten stamp battery. ................................................... 51 Figure 3-4. Gould and Curry Mill using the Patio Process ca. 1863. ............................... 53 Figure 3-5. Wheeler Amalgamation Pan. ......................................................................... 54 Figure 3-6. California Pan Mill pan and settler configuration at Virginia City. ............... 56 Figure 3-7. Tenabo Mill in 1907. ...................................................................................... 61 Figure 3-8. Tenabo Mill circa 1888. ................................................................................. 65 Figure 3-9. Tenabo Mill circa 1900. ................................................................................. 66 Figure