Andies Mine is a mercury mine located in Lincoln County, Nevada at an elevation of 6,280 feet. It produced primarily Mercury between 1955 and 1957.
Mercury ore was first discovered at the site in 1919. The claim was staked in 1954 by a gentleman named Anderson, which likely gave the mine its name. Mining exploration began in 1955 but produced mostly low grade ore. This resulted in the decision in 1957 to not pursue development of the mine. The mine is surrounded by evidence of more recent prospects, visible in the video above. The most prominent features today are the water tank on a hill, an impressive 6-cylinder steam shovel partially hidden in the trees, the remains of some wood buildings and a shallow vertical shaft. The steam shovel alone is worth exploring. How did it end up here in the middle of nowhere?
The mine is close to the restricted area surrounding the Nevada Test and Training Range, in particular the infamous Area 51. Be sure to follow the directions below and stay on the road. Away from the road the boundary is poorly marked. There is an interesting network of 4WD roads around the mine worth exploring. As long as you stay north of the main road you are a safe distance away from the perimeter but you may see security in a pickup truck keeping a watchful eye on you from the distance.
Directions
In order to preserve the site, in particular the historic steam shovel, we decided not to publish directions here. However, if you are interested in exploring this site with a bit of research it should not be too hard to find. Access to the mine requires a high clearance 4WD vehicle.
The old water tank on a hill is the first thing you will see approaching the mine. A water line near the bottom leads in the direction of the mine [07/10/2019]
This old steam shovel, a six cylinder Bucyrus-Erie model 29-B, is worth the visit all by itself. How did it end up here? [07/10/2019]
Amazingly, the shovel section is mostly intact after all the years sitting out here [07/10/2019]
Remains of a wood building with railroad ties as corner posts [07/10/2019]
Shallow vertical mine shaft near the wood building for exploration of deeper layers of the soil [07/10/2019]
These pipes are mounted on a concrete platform on a nearby plateau. Not sure what their purpose was [07/10/2019]
