Tempiute (also spelled Tem Piute, Tempahute, Timpahute, or similar variations) is a ghost town and historic mining district in Lincoln County, Nevada. Its name derives from the Southern Paiute, roughly translating to “rock water people.”
Location
- Coordinates: Approximately 37°39′09″N 115°38′09″W.
- Elevation: 6,112 feet (1,863 m).
- It sits on the south slope of Tempiute Mountain, about 6 miles southeast of Rachel, Nevada (near the “Extraterrestrial Highway,” State Route 375), in a remote high-desert area.
The site includes an older silver mining area (often called Old Tempiute) and a newer tungsten mining complex (Lincoln Mine / New Tempiute) on the north side of the mountain.
Early History: Silver Mining (1860s–1880s)
Silver was first discovered in the Tempiute Mountain area in 1865 during the broader Pahranagat mining rush. Additional lodes were found in 1868, leading to the organization of the Tem Piute Mining District.
A small mining camp developed, reaching a peak population of about 50 miners by 1870. Ore was shipped to mills at places like Crescent City or Hamilton, but development was severely hampered by a lack of water. Supplies had to be hauled by mule from springs up to 12 miles away.
A post office operated intermittently as “Tem Piute” from 1879–1881 and 1882–1883. Efforts in the late 1870s by companies like the Tem Pahute Land, Mining, and Improvement Co. and Wyandotte Silver Mining Co. included building a water pipeline and planning a stamp mill, but these largely failed. By the mid-1880s, the silver camp was mostly abandoned as miners moved to more promising areas.
20th Century: Tungsten Boom and Bust
Tungsten ore was discovered in the district in 1916, but significant operations waited until later. The Lincoln Mines Company began larger-scale work around 1940, building a mill. Production ramped up during World War II due to demand for tungsten (used in steel alloys and armaments).
After the war, activity declined until the early 1950s when tungsten prices rose. The Wah Chang Trading Company (operating as Black Rock Mining Company) revitalized the district. At its peak in the mid-1950s, the town had a population of around 700, including a school and other amenities. The post office reopened as “Tempiute” from 1953 to 1957.
The Lincoln Mine (also known as Tem Piute Mine, Emerson Mine, etc.) became one of the leading tungsten producers in the United States. Later operators included Union Carbide (1977–1987). Mining was intermittent and ultimately ended in the mid-1980s due to falling prices from cheap imports (especially from China).
Today
Tempiute is an abandoned ghost town. Remains include stone cabin foundations from the silver era, mine shafts, tailings, and larger industrial ruins from the tungsten period (mills, buildings, and underground workings). The site is split into areas, with some accessible by vehicle and others requiring hikes. It is located near restricted or sensitive areas (proximity to Rachel and the Nevada Test and Training Range), so visitors should respect boundaries, obtain permissions if needed, and practice leave-no-trace principles.
Significance
Tempiute exemplifies Lincoln County’s boom-and-bust mining cycles — starting with 19th-century silver rushes and shifting to strategic minerals like tungsten in the 20th century. Its history reflects challenges common to Nevada mining towns: water scarcity, fluctuating mineral prices, and dependence on distant markets and transportation.
Sources for this report include Wikipedia, Nevada Expeditions, Rachel-Nevada.com, mining databases, and Lincoln County historical references. If you’d like directions, photos, comparisons to nearby sites (like Rachel or other Lincoln County ghost towns), or more on the geology/minerals, just let me know!