ANGELS QUARTZ MINING COMPANY – THE ANGELS MINE

ANGELS QUARTZ MINING COMPANY – THE ANGELS MINE, 

(California – Mining) Located in Calaveras County, California, the Angels Quartz Mining Company, was a historically significant gold and quartz operation active during the California Gold Rush. It consolidated various claims near Angels Camp, California, in 1886 and operated continuously until 1918, producing gold from massive quartz veins

The Angels Mine, which was also known as the Big Mine and Southwell Mine, was a consolidation of the Angels, Billings, Crystal, Dr. Hill, Minnie Hennesay, McCormick, Oneida, Potter, and Valentine Jr. claims, comprising a total of 101.15 acres.

The story of Angels Camp begins in 1848 with brothers Henry and George Angel, lately of Rhode Island. As former soldiers during the Mexican American War, the men were part of a mining expedition led by James Carson and John Robinson. The Angels, along with 90 others, had set out in May from Monterey, prospecting around the region around what would become Angels Camp.

By December, Henry and George had set up their own trading post and named a nearby creek after themselves. Upwards of 100 other miners had settled in the area to mine placer gold. The Angels soon realized that trading with these men could prove quite lucrative, and it was easier than toiling for gold. By the time Henry Angel sold the trading post at a profit, some 300 miners were trying their luck on Angels Creek.

The Angels claim was first worked in the late 1850s and by 1872 was developed by a 600-foot shaft and equipped with a 30-stamp mill. Prior to their consolidation with the Angels claim in 1886, the Dr. Hill claim had yielded $250,000 (period values) by 1867. In 1882, the Potter claim was being worked through a 100-foot shaft. A $100,000 pocket was reported to have been discovered on the Crystal claim in 1910. The total output of the property is unknown, but public figures show its value exceeds $3.25 million (period values) (Clark and Lydon, 1962). In 1886, the claims were consolidated by the Angels Quartz Mining Company and worked as a unit almost continuously until March 1918 when the mine was idled at a depth of 1,050 feet.

The mine was closed on March 1, 1918 on account of the owner's death. At the time of the closing, the deepest level was 1050 feet, and ore was being mined on the 200, 400, and 500-foot levels (Logan, 1921).

Source: Western Mining history

Archive includes:

1st Ledger – Begins on November 30, 1899 thru November of 1901. 57 pgs. For the most part this is a ledger with pages listed as Superintendents Report. There are columns titled as Date, Skips Hoisted (core, waste, wate)’ Tons of Ore milled, Ounces of Amalgin, Hours Mill Ran, Sacks Sulphurets (prod. – Ship), Number of Men Employed, Amount of Wages, Other Expenses, Total Expenses, Number Feet (Sunk, Xcut, Draft), Remarks.

2nd Ledger – Begins April 17, “84 to April 23, ‘84. (Pgs. 2-6). October 28th, 1887 – May 4th, 1888. (Pgs 8-45). Jan. 1st, 1903 – Jan. 21st, 1905. (Pgs. 46-143) Ledger columns include Date, Ore, Waste, Water, No. Of Cars To Mill, Number House- Mill Run, Number of Tons Ore Milled, Number Ounces Silver Fed, Ounces Amalgam Taken Up, Pounds Sulphurets Produced, Number Men Employed, Amount of Wages, Amount other Expenses, Total Expenses, Nol of Feet 850 Drift, Value Gold in Assay, Record of Assays (Sulphurets, Battery, Tailings).

3rd Ledger – April 1916 – December 1917. Usual columns of information and figures. Also there is information of Accident Insurance in Accout with Fidelity and Casualty Co.; Reports of Clean Up For each month in 1916, Cost of Management and Operating Mine Compensation Insurance.

4th Ledger. – 200 pgs. January 31, 1900 – July 13, 1904 (Pages 1-155). September 14-November 7th, 1907 (pages 156-163). April 6, 1917 – May 14, 1917 (Pgs. 179 – 183). Pages contain the usual columns wit Date, Sample, When Taken, Value.

Also included are THE ANGEL’S MINE, a series of results statements for the year 1916 ( 3 pgs. November, December and total year) and Jany 1917 – Dec. 1917 (March is missing).

ANGELS QUARTZ MIINING CO. Daily Mill Report. August 19, 1908 – August 31, 1908 (11 pgs.)

May 1, 1908 – May 31st 1908 (23 pgs.) July 1, 1908 – July 31, 1908 (31 pgs.)

Source: Western Mining History

The entire archive is very readable and in vg cond.