The Stonewall Mine
has been preserved as a historic site within Cuyamaca Rancho State
Park. The mine was one of the richest and most long-lived in the
county. At it's height over 500 people lived in the company town
named "Cuyamaca City", just two miles to the north.
Gold was discovered here in 1870 by William Skidmore, although
this has been disputed. He named the mine the "Stonewall Jackson"
for the Southern General; however, due to the anti-Southern feeling
at the time the "Jackson" was dropped. Between 1876 most of the
easily-mined gold was removed. Over 2 million dollars in gold
($20/oz.) was recovered, at this day and age the gold would have
fetched about 30 million dollars. The mine was later purchased by
California Governor Robert Waterman.
The quartz vein exploited in the mine was a bit different from
those in the nearby Julian Mining District in that it was a
consistent thickness (up to 20 feet) and a portion of it cut
through granitic rather than the through well known "Julian Schist"
rock. There is nearby evidence of the schist that suggest this
large vein may have wandered.
There is little that remains today of the mine and of nearby
Cuyamaca City. The daming of Cuyamaca Lake flooded the mine shafts,
the machinery was sold for scrap, and the buildings were
dismantled. Oak and pine trees now have claimed back the
land.
TO LOG THIS
CACHE:
1. How deep was the main shaft at
Stonewall Mine?
To log this cache e-mail me
the
answer
HERE
.
Sources:
Bergen, F.W., H.J. Clifford, S.G. Spear. 1996. Geology of San Diego
County: Legacy of the Land. Sunbelt Pulications. San Diego, CA.
175p.
Walawender, M.J. 2000. The Peninsular Ranges: A Geological Guide to
San Diego's Back Country. Kendall/Hunt Publishing. 114p.