History / Idaho-Maryland Mine
| Learn more:
Gold In Quartz, The Legendary Idaho Maryland Mine Hardy Books in Grass Valley |
| Bringing A Mighty Mine to Life
Part of its history involves a rags to riches story, part revolves around modern day know-how. But no matter how you look at it, the Idaho-Maryland Mine is an intriguing story that continues today. One name connected with the mine is that of Errol MacBoyle who began his mining career in the early 1900s. As a student he worked for $3 a day as a mucker - he put ore into the carts. He went on to graduate from the University of California School of Mines and returned to Grass Valley penniless. In 1916, MacBoyle began consolidating a number of mines and claims including the Idaho-Maryland which had been idle for some 15 years. Capital for the project was obtained in 1919 through an eastern financier, and work began using the advice of mining experts from the east who ignored MacBoyle’s theories regarding the location of the gold. Lack of success caused the eastern group to abandon the project in two years, but MacBoyle had faith, and taking every cent he could lay his hands on, he bought back the operation. Again, he was virtually penniless. The only credit he could get was from a Chinese grocer. MacBoyle’s theories proved to be correct. Having dug 50 feet in the opposite direction from the eastern engineers’ tunnel, he struck gold. The entire group of mines began to produce under the name Idaho-Maryland Mines Corporation, and during the next 15 years, $40 million in gold was extracted. MacBoyle became rich, but did not forget the lean days. He bought the Chinese grocer a new store and helped the poor. MacBoyle also helped fund the hospital and built the local airport.
After World War ll, the price of gold was kept artificially low by the government. When expenses exceeded revenues, the great mines were forced to close in the mid-1950s. In 1975, the Idaho-Maryland caught the attention of geologist Ross Guenther. He realized that the Empire Mine, largest gold mine in the state, had been mined to 5,000 feet, while the Idaho-Maryland had gone to only 3,000 feet. After a 10 year search for more information on the mine, he was directed to 3,000 maps and stacks of old reports in the basement of one of the mine’s partners. They showed that the potential was there with apparently a million ounces of gold still at the 3,000 level and more below that. Guenther helped the owners move toward re-opening the mine, but in 1996 gold prices suffered a decline, and the project was put on hold. Today, the mine is a subsidiary of Emgold Mining Corporation of Canada. Guenther is general manager of the Idaho-Maryland Mining Corp. and a director. During the years he worked toward re-opening the mine, he realized something had to be done about the mine tailings or debris. So, Guenther developed a process to turn the tailings into industrial ceramic products. Currently, over 20 engineers, scientists and technicians are working in a 45,000 square foot research and development center in Grass Valley preparing to launch this new ceramic technology at the mine and throughout the world. Work also continues on obtaining permission to re-open the mine. It is anticipated the City of Grass Valley will vote on the issue in the spring of 2007. |
| Other Nevada County Mines and mining artifacts
Empire Mine State Historic Park North Star Power House & Pelton Wheel Mining Exhibit Miners Foundry Cultural Center Underground Gold Miners Museum, The Historic Parks & Museums See also... |