Shenandoah-Dives Mill facts for kids
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Shenandoah-Dives (Mayflower) Mill
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | San Juan County, Colorado |
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| Nearest city | Silverton, Colorado |
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | Arthur J. Weinig, Metallurgy |
| Part of | Silverton Historic District (1997 increase) (ID97000247) |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000262 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 16, 2000 |
| Designated NHL | February 16, 2000 |
| Designated NHLDCP | April 3, 1997 |
The Shenandoah-Dives Mill, also known as the Mayflower Mill, is an old building that used to process rocks to get valuable metals. It is located about 2 miles (3 km) east of Silverton, Colorado, in the United States. This mill was built in 1929. Its main job was to separate metals like gold, silver, lead, zinc, and copper from the ore (rock with metal in it) that came from the nearby Mayflower mine.
The ore was brought to the mill using a special cable car system called an aerial tramway. This mill is very special because it still has all its original equipment, and it can even work! It is the only mill of its kind in Colorado that is still complete and able to function. The Mayflower Mill is now owned by the San Juan County Historic Society and is open for tours during the summer.
What is the Mayflower Mill?
The Mayflower Mill is found east of Silverton, on the north side of County Road 2. It sits in a valley called Arrastra Gulch, looking over the Animas River. The main mill building is made of wood and covered with corrugated metal. It was built into the hillside. This design helped materials move easily through the mill using gravity.
How Did the Mill Work?
Inside the mill, there are many machines that helped process the ore. First, the ore was moved into the building. Then, it was crushed into very small pieces. After crushing, the ore was mixed with water to create a thick liquid called a slurry.
The mill used two main ways to get metals from this slurry:
- Gravity separation: This method used the weight difference of materials. Heavier metal pieces would sink, separating from lighter rock pieces.
- Froth flotation: This was a new and clever method for its time. It used bubbles to separate the metal parts (called sulfide ore minerals) from the rest of the rock. The metal pieces would stick to the bubbles and float to the top, forming a "froth" that could be collected. This method made it possible to process ores that were too difficult to work with before.
All the original machines in the mill are still in working order today. It is truly a unique place in Colorado.
A Look at the Mill's History
The Shenandoah-Dives Mining Company built the Mayflower Mill in 1929. It was made to process ore from the Mayflower Mine, which was very close by. The ore traveled over 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) from the mine to the mill using a long aerial tramway.
At its busiest time, the mill could process 1,000 tons of ore every single day! It operated regularly until 1945. After World War II ended, the government needed fewer metals, so the mill mostly shut down. It was used sometimes by different owners until 1992. Then, the San Juan County Historical Society took over the mill. They turned it into a museum so people could learn about its important history.
See also
