The first place to produce free-milling metals in the United States was discovered in Nevada. The first discovery of gold in Nevada is credited to emigrants and prospectors; to the former in the spring of 1849, to the latter in the summer of 1850. Nevertheless, as the former is authentic history, it is considered as the first discovery recorded in this state.
The first settlers to enter the state were Mormons, and settlements were made by them as early as 1848. The gold excitement of 1848 attracted Mormons, as well as others, and considerable numbers went to California from Salt Lake City. In 1849, a party of Mormons, while camping on the Carson River panned some of the sands of Gold Canyon and their surprise discovered gold. On passing on to California later, they reported to the miners of Placerville that one-half ounce diggings were found on Carson River. Immediately prospectors crossed the mountains and worked the gravels, but the gold was low grade owing to the presence of silver. It was not until about 1852-1853 that much interest was felt in the discoveries.
In May, 1850, two prospectors, Prouse Kelly and John Orr set out in the first wagon train leaving for California; while stopping to rest on Carson River, some samples were panned and gold was found. Prouse Kelly named the place Gold Canyon. This is claimed to be the first discovery of gold in Nevada. When they returned to the place, some gold nuggets were obtained in a gold pan. Basically, gold mines of considerable richness were worked since 1850 at various points along Carson River and some places contained silver minerals, which augmented new explorations. In 1857 was discovered in Six Mile, the next large canyon north of Gold Canyon; the gold discovered was at a point about a mile below the location where silver was first found. The search for gold was leading the prospectors slowly but surely toward the Comstock lode.
A claim was made for the Grosh Brothers, Allen and Hosea, sons of a Universalist clergyman. This was the possible first discovery of a silver lode. They arrived in San Francisco harbor on the August, 1849. They found their way to Gold Canyon in 1853, but meeting with discouraging results, returned to California next year. They returned to Gold Canyon in 1856 and found veins at the forks of Gold Canyon.
It is possible that the discovery of Comstock lode were very old. Apparently, early pioneers found Mexicans engaged in working the gold veins on Gold Hill and operating a number of aratras, which was carried on as late as 1857, two years prior to O’Reilly’s and McLaughlin’s discovery. The reason why these early workings were not discovered, if they existed before is not clear. With regard to the first assay of the Comstock ore, it is claimed that the first assay of the ore from the Ophir mine was made by Melville Atwood of Grass Valley, in June, 1859 at the requested of Judge Walsh, who received the ore brought from the Comstock.
The direct result of the discovery of rich mineral in Nevada was an increase in population, which was localized at Virginia City. The indirect result was the exploration and development of the surrounding country, which would not have been done so effectively in scores of years had it not been for the great permanent attraction of the Comstock lode. In 1860, the silver districts of Esmeralda, Potosi, Coso and Humbolt were discovered, together with others of less importance. Nevertheless, the Comstock was the center of attraction and became the home of a large and excited population.
Ore was first discovered in quantity in the Eureka district in 1863 or 1864, and a point near the “76” mine in New York canyon. The deposit was worked to a depth of 48 feet between 1857-1863. The first claims were very rich, but were soon exhausted and were abandoned. The Eureka mine was first located in February, 1851 and closed in 1877,but was not developed to any extent until 1863 or 1864, only an 8 feet pit was sunk. The mines at Pioche were first worked in the 1870’s, when no attempt was made to save any value of gold and silver. Apparently, the copper values left in the mine and on the dumps exceeded those recovered in gold and silver.
The first discovery in the Esmeralda district occurred in August, 1860, and was made by James Brady, J.C. Corey and E.R. Hicks. The first discovery of ore at Aurora was made in 1862, and in a few months fully 16,000 people were on the ground. Nevertheless, the excitement did not culminate until 1863, the boom holding on until 1864. In 1882, a New York company purchases the Cortez mine on Silver Hill and began active development which resulted in the uncovering of several bonanzas. These mines produced gold and silver.