BajaNomad

Conception Mine Pics

CarlosAK - 8-28-2014 at 10:18 AM

Being a newbie I wanted to learn how to properly post pics to the site. Using David K's instructions and working off my Ipad here are a few pics I took out at the old Conception Mine last winter. Thank you David K










bacquito - 8-28-2014 at 10:28 AM

Thanks, good photos. Where is Conception Mine?

Mula - 8-28-2014 at 10:42 AM

Out on the Point of the Peninsula.
Was Active during WWII.

I heard at some point 7.000 people worked out there.

Great Photos, Carlos . . . . How did you get there - 4 wheelie, boat, hike, camp???

We go every May to camp out there for 3 or 4 days. Hot.

David K - 8-28-2014 at 11:10 AM

Oh, thank you Carlos!

The Punta Concepcion mine has interested me since I read about it in Jim Hunter's 'Offbeat Baja' (1977). What I was wondering was why didn't Erle Stanley Gardner mention it in his 1967 'Off the Beaten Track in Baja' after he extensively explored the Concepcion peninsula.

I still hope to get out there... it just that there still is so much Baja, and so little time!

More on the mine...

David K - 8-28-2014 at 11:18 AM

From Pompano, with map pointing it out and photos from the sea: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=71228

More...
Quote:
Originally posted by rockman
There are several references to the Gavilan mine which produced manganese (not magnesium) for the US war effort during WWII. At that time, more than 6,000 people worked at the mine. It was operated by a Mexican subsidiary of the Homestake Mining Co. Lessened post-war demand diminished the output, and the mine closed when a hurricane devistated much of the infrastucture in 1946. Although many of the foundations and concrete floors still survive, all of the equipment was salvaged and moved to other operations. The ore consisted of veins of pyrolusite, traces of which can still be picked up. There are great campsites, but the drive from the west side of the peninsula to the east can be quite challenging. High clearance is mandatory.

Best References:
Baja Explorer magazine (Later called Baja Life), Nov-Dec, 1991. Article by Bob Vinton.
Manganese on Punta Concepcion, by James Noble, Calif Inst of Tech, in Economic Geology, v45#8, Dec, 1950.



Here is the magazine cover, followed by the 4 pages of the article by Baja Bob (Bicycle Bob) Vinton!









bajacalifornian - 8-28-2014 at 12:16 PM

Nice Carlos! You're at the top of the class with your posted images. Thank You!

CarlosAK - 8-28-2014 at 12:38 PM

Mula, I went out to the mine by boat. I did travel out to the rock paintings this year though. The road (if you call it that) was way worse than it was two years previous. The rain storms of last year played havoc.

bajacalifornian - 8-28-2014 at 01:42 PM

Carlos, are you talking about the paintings about half way up the bay on the east side . . . up the canyon? Lots of fish pictures?

Mulegena - 8-28-2014 at 02:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mula
Out on the Point of the Peninsula.
Was Active during WWII.

I heard at some point 7.000 people worked out there.
I think one of my husband's younger brothers was born out there in the 1970s. I'll ask the family and will edit this post.

And yes, nice photos.

Such a pretty place. Good scuba diving out there, too.

Vince - 8-28-2014 at 02:17 PM

We use that mine as a land mark for fishing spots, works well.

Mula - 8-28-2014 at 02:18 PM

Carlos,
And a lot of the painting have fallen down in the last 5 to 8 years.

I want to take my mules out there and go to the mine.

Yes, Mulegena - any current info would be great. It is a fascinating place.

Vince - 8-28-2014 at 02:36 PM

In about 1962 my brother and I with a few friends sailed from San Carlos to Conception Bay in a 23 foot sailboat named El Cuate. One of the places we visited an abandoned rancho that sounds like El Salto, described by Bob Vinton in Baja Explorer article above. All the furniture was made with raw hide and there was a corral for cattle. There were still a few cattle roaming around. We heard later from the owner of Las Casitas, where we were staying in Mulege, that the family all died of tuberculosis a few months before. The nearby canyon was very beautiful with fresh water and a few petroglyphs. One of these day's I'll go back to El Salto and that canyon.

StuckSucks - 8-28-2014 at 02:56 PM

Is this it? Google Maps

dtbushpilot - 8-28-2014 at 03:04 PM

Me and ged had a fun ride out there a few years ago, here's the trip report:
For some reason it comes up at the bottom of the report, you need to scroll to the top.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=51730#pid6038...

[Edited on 8-28-2014 by dtbushpilot]

Mula - 8-28-2014 at 03:27 PM

There was - a couple of years ago - a family from Mulege acitvely residing in El Salto and trying to operate a fledging cattle herd. Nothing there this spring when we were there.

CarlosAK - 8-28-2014 at 04:08 PM

bajacalfornian; yes,those are the paintings. Lots of fish and turtles, a few whales. I've hiked up the canyon a few times. Beautiful!

chuckie - 8-28-2014 at 04:19 PM

Great report...Thanks...havnt been there in years.....Maybe will take a quad over in a boat from Mulege this year (concession to old age)....

David K - 8-28-2014 at 06:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by StuckSucks
Is this it? Google Maps


Yes

David K - 8-28-2014 at 06:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot

For some reason it comes up at the bottom of the report, you need to scroll to the top.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=51730#pid6038...



Remove the #pid... so the link looks like this: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=51730

Mulegena - 8-28-2014 at 07:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chuckie
Great report...Thanks...havnt been there in years.....Maybe will take a quad over in a boat from Mulege this year (concession to old age)....
I'm ridin' shotgun, Chuckie!!
You opened your mouth and I'm just sayin'!!

dtbushpilot - 8-28-2014 at 07:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot

For some reason it comes up at the bottom of the report, you need to scroll to the top.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=51730#pid6038...



Remove the #pid... so the link looks like this: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=51730


Thanks DK, appreciate the info.

Mulegena - 8-28-2014 at 08:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mula
There was - a couple of years ago - a family from Mulege acitvely residing in El Salto and trying to operate a fledging cattle herd. Nothing there this spring when we were there.
My husband says there still is a man from Mulege, Colonia Loma Azul, named Rafael H. who does live out there at El Salto and is running the cattle. He also will provide the gorgeous rock laja that's from there. It's a dark desert rose color. One of a kind and stunning. We almost used it for the floors of our house.

As to my recollection about my brother-in-law being born out at the mine, well I asked my husband about that and he looked at me like I was nuts. He said absolutely not, the mine was closed some 50-60 years ago. Somebody I know did tell me about a family member being born at the mine... now I gotta find out!

mulegemichael - 8-28-2014 at 09:43 PM

Our friends, Tom and Patti Higgenbottem have written about the mine in their travel book about Baja and mention that it's one of the "snakiest" places they have experienced on the peninsula...i don't want to misquote them but i think that is an appropriate paraphrase. Our amigo Stu took his bmw bike back in there and said he probably wouldn't do it again....and i know dt and that damn canadian did it a few years ago when they stayed with us in mulege and mentioned it was a tough run in....i'll probably only stop by boat for a picnic..below the tide line.

chuckie - 8-29-2014 at 12:00 AM

We have picnicked on the beach on the Mulege side of the point and saw Rattlesnakes every time...