Lost California Treasure
LOST MINE Protected / Restricted

Empire Mine State Historic Park

One of the oldest, largest, deepest, and richest hard-rock gold mines in California. Operating for over 106 years from 1850 to 1956, it produced 5.8 million ounces of gold from 367 miles of underground passages, reaching an incline depth of 11,007 feet.

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AI Summary & Quick Facts

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  • Target Name: Empire Mine State Historic Park
  • Registry Category: lost mine
  • Geographic Location: 10791 E Empire St, Grass Valley, Nevada County (Coordinates: 39.20590, -121.04380)
  • Land Status: Empire Mine State Historic Park (Restricted; state park, no artifact gathering) (Classified as Protected / Restricted)
  • Primary Historic Source: USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS ID #10061245)
  • Search & Usefulness Rating: Score 62/100 (Field Readiness: Archive / View Only)
  • Summary Overview: One of the oldest, largest, deepest, and richest hard-rock gold mines in California. Operating for over 106 years from 1850 to 1956, it produced 5.8 million ounces of gold from 367 miles of.

Historical Overview

One of the oldest, largest, deepest, and richest hard-rock gold mines in California. Operating for over 106 years from 1850 to 1956, it produced 5.8 million ounces of gold from 367 miles of underground passages, reaching an incline depth of 11,007 feet.

Field Search & Recovery Tips

Visit the state park to view the massive stamp mill, the historic Bourn Cottage, and the open mine portal. Under state law, all rocks, minerals, and historical relics inside the park boundaries are protected. Mineral prospecting or metal detecting is strictly forbidden within the historic park.

Field Action Checklist

1
Use the source link, public overlooks, museum records, or agency pages; do not disturb the ground or wreck site.
2
Record photos, bearings, and public interpretation notes instead of collecting objects.
3
Contact the managing agency before any research that goes beyond viewing or documentation.
4
Stay out of adits, shafts, and unstable hydraulic cuts; old mine workings can collapse without warning.

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Research Dossier
62
Usefulness Rating Medium Potential
Land Status Designation Protected / Restricted

Empire Mine State Historic Park (Restricted; state park, no artifact gathering)

Field Readiness Mode Archive / View Only
Research Coordinates
39.20590, -121.04380
Google Maps ↗ OpenStreetMap ↗ CalTopo ↗

Legal & Permit Review

REQUIRED BLM MLRS Check active mining claims, serial records, and land-record context before any prospecting or detecting. ↗ REQUIRED California State Parks Detector Rule Verify state-park detector and cultural-resource restrictions before bringing equipment. ↗ RECOMMENDED BLM Mining Claims Review BLM claim filing and maintenance rules so claim status is interpreted correctly. ↗

Recommended Outfitting

Walking shoes Camera Light jacket
Reference Work Citation

USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS ID #10061245)

Open original reference source ↗