The Garvanza Mine

The Garvanza Mining and Milling Company of Michigan first worked its mine in Cliff Canyon on the north slope of the New York Mountains in 1907. In June of the following year, arrangements were being made for the installation of a twenty-five ton reduction plant to be ready in 90 days. Surprisingly, this was accomplished toward the end of August. The claims which had been bonded to Los Angeles and Eastern parties were worked for 9 months in 1908. However, the power plant for the mill proved inefficient, and it ran for only 3 months. The mine was first worked for values of silver, copper, gold, and lead, but by late 1909, the owners became aware of the presence of molybdenum and thorium. In fact, they were planning to erect a plant to produce thorium nitrate from the ore, even tough this rare element amounted to only about .05 percent. Nothing more is heard of the attempt to mine this exotic element, and the mine is primarily known for the tungsten that was produced in small quantities during the First World War. Some time before 1916, three gentlemen from South Ivanpah, J. R. Comerford, Matt McCarthy and George Carruthers, took over the property, but soon becoming dissatisfied, they were all willing to “sell this property on very reasonable terms.” 183