Mining

Both Death Valley and the Amargosa River region feature a rich history of mining. While the fabled gold that drove so many seekers into the desert rarely materialized, prospectors and miners found plenty of other precious materials to make their fortunes: silver, lead, copper, talc – and boron! Boron is best known in its commercial form of Borax, of 20 Mule Team fame. This versatile mineral is still used today in everything from TV screens to agriculture, although it is no longer mined in Death Valley or the Amargosa.

Our collection showcases the many forms this diverse mineral takes, and provides a look into the work and lives of our early local miners.