The Keystone Mine was originally discovered in the late 1860s by one of the wandering prospectors who were drawn by the Eureka boom. But there wasn’t much activity until 1898 when ore was uncovered that assayed as high as 600 ounces of silver and $120 in gold per ton. The sample ore to be shipped was so carefully selected that it did not reveal the true and common value of the ore. Unfortunately, that first shipment of ore contained everything of value in the mine. Efforts to locate new deposits were fruitless and by the end of the summer most of the population had left. Only rubble marks the site today.

Submitted by: Shawn Hall from his book Romancing Nevada's Past: Ghost Towns And Historic Sites Of Eureka, Lander, And White Pine Counties Click here to purchase his book!