| This study was undertaken to analyze the nature of a mining region in the Southwest as it has changed through time. Attention was directed to such topics as the establishment of individual mining districts, the importance of various minerals, mining and metallurgical techniques, population, ethnicity, origin of foodstuffs, transportation routes, building types, form and function of settlements, environmental impact, and kindred matters. Greatest attention was devoted to activities of the nineteenth century, but the dissertation was carried up to the present.; Methodology consisted of library, archival, and field work. Libraries in California and New Mexico were utilized to study published material concerning the research topic. Sources consulted include books, monographs, journals, maps, and contemporary newspapers. Archival study was performed primarily in three places: the Bureau of Land Management's headquarters in Sante Fe, the New Mexico State Archives in Santa Fe, and the Grant County Courthouse in Silver City. Documents scrutinized include surveyor's field notes, township plats, mine plats, mining claims, and manuscript census schedules. In the field such features as mines, building types, settlements, and environmental modifications were examined. Field observation revealed information that was rare or nonexistent in written form.; The first mining was performed in pre-Columbian times to obtain turquoise. Copper mining commenced shortly after 1800, and gold extraction began in 1860. Silver, the most important metal of the nineteenth century, came under large scale exploitation in the 1870's. Precious metals were eclipsed by copper in the 1890's. Most activities were performed under Anglo-initiative, but Hispanic contributions were great. Mining techniques employed were those common to the American West. There was considerable variation in settlement, but Silver City itself, was large and well planned. Negative environmental impact manifested itself in the form of vegetation destruction, artificial gullies, floods, and stream entrenchment. |
