A Tungsten Mine with Fluorescent Minerals

Over a year ago Cash, Taylor, Xavier, and I explored a small tungsten mine in the Mojave Desert. The mine was likely discovered in the late 1800s when the area was prospected for lead and silver, but it wasn’t until the 1940s that the mine was worked for tungsten. From the early 1940s to the mid 1950s, a small ore body was mined which contained 2-10% Tungsten Trioxide concentrates. This was considered very high grade as many mines made profits off of ore containing one tenth of that value. Tungsten was highly sought after in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s for use in armor piercing ammunition, cutting tools, high temperature alloys, and lightbulb filaments among other things.