Gold Town, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Goldtown
OarVille
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Former settlement
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An abandoned house in Goldtown
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 Goldtown
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Kern County |
| Elevation | 2,713 ft (827 m) |
Gold Town (also called OarVille on some maps) is a place in Kern County, California, that used to be a settlement. It is located about 9.5 miles (15.3 km) north of Rosamond. The area is about 2,713 feet (827 meters) above sea level.
Today, Goldtown is mostly a network of dirt roads. You can still see a few old buildings and mines left in the desert. These are located just off California State Route 14. Silver Queen Road is the main paved road that connects Goldtown to State Route 14.
Nearby places include Fleta, which is a short distance northeast of Goldtown. Mojave, California is also close, about 1.44 miles (2.3 km) to the north. There are gold mines within 2 miles (3.2 km) both north and south of Goldtown. Some of these mines are the Golden Queen Mine and Elephant Eagle mine to the south. To the north, you'll find the Whitmore Mine and Exposed Treasure mine.
The Golden Queen Mine: A Look Back
The Golden Queen Mine was active for many years, from the early 1900s until the 1980s. Miners used different methods to get gold and silver, including digging large open pits and underground tunnels. They also used a process called heap leaching.
Over time, the mining process created a lot of leftover material called "tailings." These tailings contained certain substances, like arsenic. Because of natural erosion, some of these materials spread into the surrounding environment. This meant that the waste from the mine needed to be handled very carefully to protect people and the environment.
Reopening the Golden Queen Mine
Work has started to reopen the Golden Queen Mine as part of the Soledad Mountain Project. The mine is expected to begin operating again around 2015.
When it reopens, the mine will use modern methods to get gold and silver. This will involve open pit mining, where they dig large holes. They will also use a process called cyanide heap leaching. This method helps to recover tiny bits of gold and silver from crushed rock. The area where this process happens, called the heap leach pad, will be located near Goldtown.
