Near Blairsden-Graeagle in Plumas County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Round Lake Mine

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 5, 2013

1. Round Lake Mine Marker

Inscription. This gold mine, part of the Johnsonville Mining District, was initially prospected during the Gold Rush but not fully developed until 1914. A stamp mill was built here in 1915 to extract the gold. Only a few feet of ground surface were gold bearing as the quartz vein extended under Round Lake and covered by glacial debris. In 1918, miners built a shaft 300 feet deep. This created a tunnel that followed the gold-bearing solid quartz fissure 100 feet to the east and another 160 feet to the west under Round Lake.

In 1935, the Ready Bullion Company of Sacramento built a second mill at a cost of $100,000. A 400 foot incline shaft was built to reach under the lake. Unfortunately the mill and shaft timbers burned to the ground shortly after they were built and the venture was abandoned. The remains of the mill are what you see here.

Erected by Plumas National Forest.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.

Location. 39° 40.06′ N, 120° 54.228′ W. Marker is near Blairsden-Graeagle, California, in Plumas County. It can be reached from Gold Lake Highway, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6200 Gold Lake Highway, Blairsden Graeagle CA 96103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Shasta Cascade

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Port Wine (approx. 2½ miles away); La Porte – Quincy Wagon Road (approx. 3.9 miles away); Benjamin W. Barnes (approx. 4.3 miles away); “Quick Silver Charley” (approx. 4.3 miles away); La Porte’s Chinese Community (approx. 4.4 miles away); Reilly’s Saloon (approx. 4.4 miles away); Fuller & Buell (approx. 4.4 miles away); Frank D. Everts (approx. 4.4 miles away).

More about this marker. This marker is located at Round Lake. To access the marker park at the Round Lake traihead on the west side of Golden Lake Highway and take the trail approximately 1 3/4 miles to Round Lake. The trail is well marked.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 5, 2013

2. Round Lake Mine Marker

Stamp mill located beyond the marker.

Stamp Mill ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 5, 2013

3. Stamp Mill ruins

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 5, 2013

4. Stamp Mill ruins

Mining relics image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 5, 2013

5. Mining relics

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 5, 2013

6. Round Lake

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,303 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 21, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.