Mesquite Mine

The Mesquite Mine, operated by Equinox Gold, is located near Glamis, Imperial County, California. It is one of the largest gold mines in the United States. It is near the Mesquite Regional Landfill, a waste-by-rail landfill for trash primarily originating in Los Angeles County.

History

Felizario Parra discovered gold in April 1876, worked placers until 1880, and sold out for $3000.00. Dry washing of low grade ores continued intermittently for 100 years, along with many exploratory shafts. From 1957 to 1980, Dick and Anna Singer mined, recorded earlier efforts, made studies, and sold their findings to Gold Fields Mining Corporation. After investing 70 million in exploration, development and construction, Gold Fields began full-scale production in March 1986. Production reached 207,897 ounces of gold in 1992. It was expected that this rate of production would be maintained through 1999 when the mine would be subsequently exhausted. Gold Fields and Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corporation, which had given steady employment to approximately 300 persons, contributed heavily to public and private needs and operated with full environmental issues until it was acquired by New Gold Inc. In 2001, the mine closed due to a fall in gold prices, but it was reopened in 2007.[1]

Landfill

The Mesquite Regional Landfill (owned by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County), which would receive 20,000 tons of solid waste daily by rail, was finished in December 2008.[2] A 4.5 mi (7.2 km) long rail spur originating from a Union Pacific rail line north of Glamis to the landfill and an intermodal facility were completed in 2011.[3] Rail operations, which would consist of trains carrying waste from a facility in Puente Hills to the landfill, have been postponed due to a drop in waste heading to Southern California landfills.[4]

References
  1. Ruth, Brooke (2008-08-15). "Mesquite Mine goes for the gold". Imperial Valley Press. Archived from the original on 2014-04-26. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
  2. Varin, Elizabeth (2010-08-21). "Union on strike at Glamis-area Mesquite Regional Landfill". Imperial Valley Press. Archived from the original on 2014-04-26. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
  3. "Mesquite Regional Landfill storm drainage project begins". The Desert Review. 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
  4. Cook, Morgan (2014-04-18). "L.A.'s $400 million trash train going nowhere, to O.C.'s benefit". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
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