Austin, Nevada

Prior to 1862, central Nevada was a vast and largely unexplored region. Aside from Native Americans, the area's only regular inhabitants were Pony Express riders and employees of the Overland Mail Company.

The first major discovery occurred in May 1862, when William Talcott, a former Pony Express rider and resident of the Reese River Pony Express Station (also known as Jacob's Spring), found a promising quartz vein while cutting wood in Pony Canyon. Samples were sent to Virginia City for assay, where they confirmed the presence of rich silver ore.

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