The Kokoweef Cavern/Mine Complex

A fee dig today with the Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society to the Kokoweef Cavern Mine in the Mojave Desert.

Just a few photos now, more later. Much to write on. Travertine, onyx, and wonderful calcite cave popcorn, a stalactite which shows outstanding cleavage. eBay has specimens like the one pictured below made into cabs. Again, more later.

Members examining what to look for. The operator is donating this material to a school program.

 

A closer look at the material.

The tailing pile is steep and rocky but provides outstanding examples of this bubbly looking stalactite formation, much still clinging to its limestone host.

Some popcorn from the front.

And the same piece from the back, possibly cleaved when the cavern roof fell.

Well established buildings out of view, the result of former commercial zinc mining. This is not public land. This is private property as the result of a once patented mining claim.

The road in. Desert driving. At one fork a sign points to the right for the Kokoweef. Instead, one goes left.

Steven Bisyak documents everything about the area’s history and will gladly discuss same. I am trying to find a magazine article he referred to, “Uncharted Caverns of The Desert by Phillip Johnston.”

Steven Bisyak explaining the history of the cavern and the mine and his attempt to document its history.

Nice UV reaction on calcite under shortwave. The darker rock is limestone.

Visible light of same rock.

Faced with a bad stretch of road, a Jeep owner admitted to me that he didn’t have skid plates. This was my reaction.

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