Carson City BLM releases American Flat Mill documentary and hosts American Flat Mill exhibit
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CARSON CITY, Nev. - The Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District has released an American Flat Mill documentary and is continuing to host a mobile exhibit highlighting the history of the 1920s United Comstock Merger Mill at American Flat (also known as the American Flat Mill).
“The American Flat Mill will be missed by a number of people in the area. Thanks to all who participated in the documentary highlighting the history of this icon,” said Dan Erbes, BLM Geologist. “While the mill may be gone, sharing a variety of media with the public ensures its story and relevance is not forgotten."
The documentary is a historical biography of an iconic 1920s mill that was located at the American Flat south of Gold Hill, Nevada. This mill used cyanide to leach gold and silver from local materials. The American Flat Mill Documentary can be found at https://goo.gl/d7KERq
Capable of processing 2,000 tons of ore per day, the mill was reputed to be the largest cyanide mill in the world at the time of its operation. Its concrete-and-steel construction was designed to be solid, stark, and functional. Over the years, the concrete structures gave in to decay, exposing twisted rebar and underground voids that filled with water. The ruins became a serious safety risk to the public. The BLM contracted the demolition of the American Flat Mill for public safety reasons in 2014.
The American Flat Mill exhibit includes a diorama of the historic mill along with descriptions, photographs, and maps documenting the mill’s history. The exhibit allows the viewer to imagine the scale and scope of the operation and the mining activities conducted at each of the eight mill buildings.
The exhibit is currently available for viewing between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the BLM Carson City District Office public room, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, Nevada. A virtual reality tour of the mill buildings, as they were prior to demolition, may be experienced at: http://www.allaroundnevada.com/americanflat/
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.