Tungstonia, Nevada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tungstonia, Nevada
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 Tungstonia, Nevada
Location in Nevada
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| District | White Pine County |
| Elevation | 7,648 ft (2,331 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Tungstonia, Nevada, is a ghost town located in White Pine County, Nevada. It sits on the southern side of the Kern Mountains. This former mining community is found along Tungstonia Wash.
Contents
Exploring Tungstonia's Past
Tungstonia is known as a ghost town because people no longer live there. It was once a busy place where people mined for a special metal.
How Tungsten Was Found
In 1910, two men named George Sims and C. Olsen discovered tungsten in this area. Tungsten is a very strong metal used in things like light bulbs and tools.
The Mining Boom Begins
Mining for tungsten started in a big way in 1914. Two companies from Utah, the Salt Lake Tungstonia Mines Company and the Utah-Nevada Mining and Milling company, came to the area. They set up operations to dig for the valuable metal.
Life in the Mining Camp
By 1916, about 50 people lived in Tungstonia. It was a typical mining camp, with buildings like stores and a boardinghouse. People lived and worked there to support the mines. For a short time, from January to August 1917, Tungstonia even had its own post office. Kirby Smith was the postmaster.
Why Tungstonia Became a Ghost Town
The Salt Lake Tungstonia Mines Company stopped working in early 1918. After that, most people quickly left Tungstonia. Another company tried to mine there later that year, but it didn't work out. The remaining residents soon moved away, leaving the town empty.
A Brief Return to Mining
Tungstonia saw a small burst of activity between 1935 and 1942. Three new mines, called the Dandy, the Whiskey Bottle, and the Tungstonia, started up. However, since 1942, there has only been a little bit of mining. The total value of all the tungsten taken from the area is about $126,000.
