Summary
Tucked at the base of the Harquahala Mountains, this 198-acre private inholding offers a rare opportunity to own a historic gold and silver mine within Arizona’s wide-open desert landscape. Completely surrounded by BLM land, the property provides exceptional privacy and direct access to extensive recreational terrain, including miles of trails for hiking, hunting, off-roading, and horseback riding. Conveniently situated approximately one hour from Wickenburg and Buckeye and just 1 hour and 35 minutes from Downtown Phoenix, the property is home to the historic Hercules Gold Mine, a documented producer with renewed exploration interest supported by recent on-site preliminary study.
Property Sold
Location and Access
Hercules Mine, Harquahala Mining District (formerly known as Ellsworth Harcuvar Mining District), Salome, Arizona, USA
The property's general area can be accessed from Highway 60. Highway 60 provides access to other county and state arterial roadways outside of the neighborhood. The property can be accessed from Centennial Park Road, which connects to an unnamed dirt road that provides legal, direct physical access to the property.
Description
Mining activity at Hercules focused on a well-defined quartz vein system, with underground development consisting of two steep declines spaced roughly 520 feet apart and two levels of workings that followed mineralized structures. The surrounding district contains numerous small historical workings, reflecting a broader pattern of localized gold and silver mineralization. Historical records document production of approximately 668 ounces of gold and 720 ounces of silver from roughly 2,670 tons of ore, resulting in an average gold grade of approximately 8 g/t (0.26 ounces per tonne).
In 2024, a preliminary geologic study was completed at the Hercules gold and silver mine to support renewed exploration interest. This work included drone photography of surface trenches and the collection of trench samples, providing updated documentation of surface conditions and historical workings. Combined with its historic production, complete BLM surround, and proximity to major Arizona markets, the Hercules Gold Mine presents an attractive opportunity for exploration, recreational use, or private ownership within a well-known Arizona mining district.
Geology
The Hercules Gold Mine is centered on a gold- and silver-bearing quartz vein system hosted within a structurally complex mountain-front setting. Mineralization occurs along steeply dipping vein structures that were historically followed underground and expressed at surface through multiple trenches and small workings across the property.
Gold and silver mineralization is associated with quartz veining and localized alteration along structural zones, with historical mining targeting higher-grade portions of the system. A 2024 preliminary geologic study incorporated drone imagery of trenches and surface features, along with trench sampling, to better define the extent and continuity of mineralized structures.
Geologic Highlights:
• Gold–silver mineralization hosted in quartz vein systems
• Two principal underground declines following mineralized structures
• Multiple surface trenches and historic workings across the property
• 2024 study included drone mapping and trench sampling
• Mineralized trends remain partially untested at surface and depth
History
Mining at the Hercules Gold Mine began in the early 1900s, with intermittent activity occurring between approximately 1900 and 1950. Much of the early work is poorly documented, and total gold production may exceed the commonly reported figure of 668 ounces cited by Bancroft (1911) and Stanton (1978).
Located within the Harquahala Mining District of La Paz County, Arizona, the Hercules Mine was developed along a central gold-bearing quartz vein system. Underground workings consist of two steep declines spaced roughly 520 feet apart and two levels that followed mineralized structures. Documented production includes approximately 668 ounces of gold and 720 ounces of silver recovered from about 2,670 tons of ore, yielding an average gold grade of approximately 8 g/t (0.26 ounces per tonne).
Mining ceased around 1950, and no modern production has occurred since. The property includes patented claims owned by the Owen Family, with six adjacent unpatented claims held by an associate. Recent interest has been supported by a preliminary geologic study completed in 2024.
Additional Information
• Patented mining claims included
• Preliminary geologic study completed in 2024
• Multiple historic underground workings
• Excellent access for a remote mine
