Aurum is a historic ghost town and mining camp in White Pine County, eastern Nevada, situated in Silver Canyon on the eastern slopes of the Schell Creek Range. It lies roughly 3 miles west-southwest of the Spring Valley road, in a rugged high-desert mountain setting with elevations around 7,000–8,000 feet.
The site is part of the broader Aurum (or Silver Canyon/Siegel) Mining District, which also includes areas like Muncy Creek, Siegel Canyon, and nearby Schellbourne. The district produced silver, gold, lead, and manganese ores.
Early Discoveries and First Settlement (1869–1873)
The first mineral discoveries in the Silver Canyon area occurred in 1869 by prospectors Chisolm and Ramsdell. The district was formally organized in 1871, with most early mines controlled by the Grace Mining Company.
By 1872, a small camp known as Silver Canyon had developed with a population of about 50 residents. However, the initial boom was short-lived; the camp was largely abandoned by 1873 as early prospects proved insufficient to sustain long-term operations.
Founding and Peak of Aurum (1878–1880s)
New discoveries in 1878 led to the rebirth of the camp, this time named Aurum (Latin for “gold,” reflecting hopes for valuable mineralization). Dr. Brooks, one of the key figures in the 1878 discoveries, constructed a 10-stamp mill at the mouth of Silver Canyon, which began operations in early 1881.
By summer 1881, Aurum had grown into a functional mining town with:
- A post office (established April 4, 1881)
- A store, saloon, and blacksmith shop
- Two boarding houses
- A school (opened in November 1881)
Population reached modest but stable levels, with periodic growth exceeding 50 residents during revivals.
Mining activity focused on silver ores, with some gold and manganese. Ore values were promising at times—up to $300–$500 per ton in richer strikes. The camp experienced multiple small booms and busts typical of remote Nevada mining districts.
Challenges and Decline (1880s–1906)
Aurum faced significant setbacks:
- A slowdown in 1882 reduced operations to just eight men working in the district.
- The post office relocated multiple times while retaining the Aurum name.
- On February 11, 1884, a devastating snowslide (avalanche) struck the camp, killing three men (Wallace McCrimmon, John Fox, and W.H. Mitchell) and destroying the Sadie L. mine boarding house and other structures.
A revival occurred around 1887–1888 after Simon Davis and George Palmerton located the Aurum Mine, which produced high-value ore. The town briefly grew again, but sustained production remained elusive.
By 1906, Aurum was largely abandoned once more. Only Simon Davis remained as a lone prospector in Silver Canyon. He later organized the Lucky Deposit Mining Company in 1914, but large-scale activity never returned.
The post office continued intermittently until its final closure on May 31, 1938.
Legacy and Current Remains
Aurum exemplifies the boom-and-bust cycle of small-scale mining camps in Nevada’s remote ranges. Unlike the massive White Pine silver rush of the late 1860s (centered on Hamilton, Treasure City, and Shermantown), Aurum’s activity was more modest and sporadic, tied to the Schell Creek Range districts.
Visible remnants today include:
- Stone and foundation ruins of the mill and mining structures
- Scattered building sites in Silver Canyon
- A small cemetery with graves dating to the 1890s (including Jacob Cameron, James Doherty, N.L. Hughs, and Moses Killam)
The site is remote and requires careful access via dirt roads. It attracts ghost town enthusiasts interested in Nevada’s lesser-known mining history.
Historical Context
Aurum operated during a period when Nevada’s mining industry shifted from the great Comstock and White Pine booms toward smaller, more scattered precious-metal districts. Its story highlights the harsh realities of high-elevation mining: isolation, extreme weather (including deadly avalanches), and dependence on fluctuating ore values and outside capital.
Sources
This report is compiled from historical accounts, including Nevada Expeditions (nvexpeditions.com), Western Mining History resources, USGS reports on eastern Nevada mining districts, and contemporary mining records. Aurum remains a quiet footnote in White Pine County’s rich mining heritage.