Cherokee was an early and prominent gold rush town that was initially settled by a band of Cherokee Indians prior to 1853. The Cherokee came from Oklahoma, presumably to seek out gold after being displaced from their homes.
This is a new one on me. As many years as I've spent studying western mining camps, I've never heard of Cherokee or the fact that any diamonds came out of California.
There are several things that were new to me, not that I'm a mining or ghost town expert, such as; I didn't know the Cherokee had gone that far west or had been involved in mining of any kind. Also like you I had never heard of diamonds being found in California. JD
You'd be surprised at the varied demographics of the gold rush miners. I read once that a huge amount of them came from Chile of all places. There was even an old mining camp in my area named Chile Gulch because there were so many Chilean miners there. But diamonds? That threw me for a loop.
Interesting, most of what I know is the little we were taught in school, not much here in La, old western movies and a little research I've done on topics posted have... JD
Same here until I settled near the Mother Lode and started seeing all the old ruins and traces of mining. It got my curiosity up so I started researching and we all know about rabbit holes.
Gotcha watch those rabbit holes, hard to climb out of some of them. If I lived near anything like that I would have been climbing all over it myself JD
About the mystery surrounding the mine closure, seems to me a "modern" survey would reveal if there were\are enough diamonds, quality and source of, to make mining commercially successful. Even industrial quality diamonds might be worthwhile. Such a survey would not be that costly and if there are . . .
Cherokee is up on whats called Table Mountain. It's located on the "North" end. Over on the "South" end near Oroville there was a diamond mine opened. Not great quality but, DeBeers bought the mine and sealed it up. Needed to limit supply.
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ReplyDeletelike you, this is new to me!
and I’ll be 70!
Good for the Cherokees!!
There are several things that were new to me, not that I'm a mining or ghost town expert, such as; I didn't know the Cherokee had gone that far west or had been involved in mining of any kind. Also like you I had never heard of diamonds being found in California.
ReplyDeleteJD
You'd be surprised at the varied demographics of the gold rush miners. I read once that a huge amount of them came from Chile of all places. There was even an old mining camp in my area named Chile Gulch because there were so many Chilean miners there.
DeleteBut diamonds? That threw me for a loop.
Interesting, most of what I know is the little we were taught in school, not much here in La, old western movies and a little research I've done on topics posted have...
DeleteJD
Same here until I settled near the Mother Lode and started seeing all the old ruins and traces of mining. It got my curiosity up so I started researching and we all know about rabbit holes.
DeleteGotcha watch those rabbit holes, hard to climb out of some of them.
DeleteIf I lived near anything like that I would have been climbing all over it myself
JD
About the mystery surrounding the mine closure, seems to me a "modern" survey would reveal if there were\are enough diamonds, quality and source of, to make mining commercially successful. Even industrial quality diamonds might be worthwhile. Such a survey would not be that costly and if there are . . .
ReplyDeleteIt's in California. They're not allowed to dig holes there anymore.
DeleteReminded me of this (in case it is new to you) https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/diamond-hoax-bonanza-never-was
ReplyDeleteCherokee is up on whats called Table Mountain. It's located on the "North" end. Over on the "South" end near Oroville there was a diamond mine opened. Not great quality but, DeBeers bought the mine and sealed it up. Needed to limit supply.
ReplyDeleteIndustrial diamonds have bwen found in larimer county colo also. 40 years ago was talk about it now just crickets.
ReplyDelete