Lost Gunsight Mine — Death Valley

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Lost Gunsight Mine — Death Valley

Lost Treasure CA • Inyo County County
Description
Death Valley lost-mine legend born from the 1849 Lost '49ers — Jim Martin's silver ore fashioned into a rifle sight sparked decades of searches for the Gunsight lode in the Panamint Range.
Historical Notes
Splinter groups of the Hunt wagon train crossed the desert shortcut in 1849–1850, nearly perishing before survivors reached Mariposa and named Death Valley. Jim Martin displayed silver ore found crossing the Panamints; a gunsmith made it into a new gunsight and launched the Lost Gunsight Mine boom. Turner and Dr. E. Darwin French mounted failed return expeditions from Fort Tejon. The specific outcrop was never relocated though Death Valley later produced many other mines.
Status / Verification legend — Legendary or approximate

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