Cerbat Crest 3.0

Visit old mines and ride the crest of Cerbat Mountains.  Traverse eroded, rocky roads and view a large copper mine.
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This trip will take you to a number of old mines, but it will also allow you to view the open pit Mineral Park Copper Mine.

A 2013 report said that Mineral Park represented one of the largest copper reserves in the United States and in the world, having estimated reserves of 389 million tonnes of ore grading 0.14% copper and 31 million oz of silver.
Large scale copper mining began in the old Mineral Park district in 1963 when Duval Corporation began the open pit operation. The mine changed hands owners several times and was acquired by Mercator Mineral Park Holdings of British Columbia in 2003. In December 2014 the mine closed as the company filed for bankruptcy. On January 20, 2015, it was reported that Origin Mining Company, a subsidiary of the Canadian company Waterton Global Resources who also own Elko Mining Group and Carlin Resources LLC in Nevada, had purchased the property.  Wikipedia

There is a GPS - gpx track file at the bottom of the page.
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Mineral Park Mine
We did this trip in a counterclockwise direction but it can be done either way.  Climbing up Cerbat Canyon will take you by many old mines on roads that do not see a lot of use.  Nice views after reaching the crest.
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Cerbat Canyon
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Easterly view from crest
One of the first interesting points is the foundation of a mill for the Big Bethel Mine.  A little farther along the loop you will come to a set of columns formed from barrels.
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Big Bethel Mine mill base
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Columns formed from barrels
Coming down from the crest you will pass this ore chute at the Alpha Mine.  Near the end of the loop is an old bridge on what appears to have been a high quality haul road.
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Ore bin at Alpha Mine
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Old bridge
This trail is fun to drive because it has enough challenges to keep you busy, but they are not serious enough to be a problem.  Some sections are used quite a bit and some are seldom traveled.  Overall very enjoyable.
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Boulders in little used road
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Eroded section
Page updated 2017.
cerbat_crest_3.0.gpx
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File Type: gpx
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