Abandoned mines in Kern County, California

1. Mine openings

   shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
   2,013 41.3%
2. Prospect pits and trenches

   shallow exploration diggings that never became a mine
   2,096 43.0%
3. Mines and surface workings

   labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
   379 7.8%
4. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits

   construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
   322 6.6%
5. Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob

   what mining left above ground
   67 1.4%
6. Mills, tipples and facilities

   processing plants and hazardous structures
   2 0.0%

A name is the label printed beside the symbol on the map. "First mapped" is the earliest topographic edition that shows the symbol, which bounds the feature's age from above; it is not the date it was worked. Unnamed features (most prospect pits, adits and shafts carry no label) are in the counts above but not this list.

1. Arvin Pit

   Surface metal/non-metal · Granite Construction Company · MSHA ID 0404360
   Abandoned 2020-07-13
2. Atolia Giant #2

   Surface metal/non-metal · General Quarters Mining Inc · MSHA ID 0404624
   Abandoned 1984-08-29
3. Atolia Giant Mine

   Surface metal/non-metal · Mindamar Resources Inc · MSHA ID 0404601
   Abandoned 1984-11-27
4. B And J Gold

   Underground metal/non-metal · B & J Gold · MSHA ID 0401330
   Abandoned 1980-04-28
5. Bakersfield Mill

   Surface metal/non-metal · H Lima Company Inc · MSHA ID 0405482
   Abandoned 2009-05-27
6. BAKERSFIELD PORTABLE PLANT

   Surface metal/non-metal · Granite Construction Company · MSHA ID 0404766
   Abandoned 1999-08-13
7. Banjo Mine

   Surface metal/non-metal · Banjo Placers · MSHA ID 0404644
   Abandoned 1986-02-14
8. Baron

   Surface metal/non-metal · David Doremus · MSHA ID 0405962
   Abandoned 2023-05-19
9. Big Bute Mine

   Facility metal/non-metal · Big Bute Mining · MSHA ID 0405143
   Abandoned 1993-05-17
10. Big Dyke

    Surface metal/non-metal · Cascade Exploration · MSHA ID 0405079
    Abandoned 1990-12-03
11. Big Four Mining

    Underground metal/non-metal · Big Four Mining Company · MSHA ID 0404648
    Abandoned 1985-06-26
12. Big Rock Creek Quarry

    Surface metal/non-metal · Granite Construction Company · MSHA ID 0405212
    Abandoned 2007-11-08
13. Bissell Magnesite

    Surface metal/non-metal · California Portland Cement Company · MSHA ID 0404388
    Abandoned 1990-10-09
14. Blackburn Dam

    Surface metal/non-metal · Earl Williams & Sons · MSHA ID 0405073
    Abandoned 1990-02-10
15. Blue Eagle Lode Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Blue Eagle Lode Mining Co. · MSHA ID 0404787
    Abandoned 2021-04-26
16. Boron

    Surface metal/non-metal · Carlton Global Resources, LLC · MSHA ID 0405671
    Abandoned 2008-05-30
17. BORON OPERATIONS UNDERGROUND MIN

    Underground metal/non-metal · U S Borax Inc · MSHA ID 0405366
    Abandoned 2001-05-04
18. Boron Refinery

    Facility metal/non-metal · United States Borax & Chemical Corp · MSHA ID 0403886
    Abandoned 1987-01-01
19. BOWMAN PIT

    Surface metal/non-metal · Holliday Rock Company Inc. · MSHA ID 0404739
    Abandoned 2007-04-04
20. Bowstring Operation

    Surface metal/non-metal · Bowstring Operation · MSHA ID 0405691
    Abandoned 2006-07-19
21. Butte Lode

    Underground metal/non-metal · John Romp Group · MSHA ID 0404518
    Abandoned 1983-11-28
22. Cactus Gold Mine

    Surface metal/non-metal · Brown & Root (U S A) Inc · MSHA ID 0404786
    Abandoned 1991-03-15
23. Cactus Gold Winkler Underground

    Underground metal/non-metal · Small Mine Development · MSHA ID 0404939
    Abandoned 1988-12-20
24. Calcite Property

    Surface metal/non-metal · Calmat Company · MSHA ID 0404387
    Abandoned 1990-10-09
25. California Rand

    Underground metal/non-metal · Silver State Mining Corp · MSHA ID 0404653
    Abandoned 1983-11-28
26. Canebrake Pit & Mill

    Surface metal/non-metal · Osborn Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 0402797
    Abandoned 1978-02-23
27. Devil'S Den

    Underground metal/non-metal · Fannin-Superior Gypsum Company · MSHA ID 0404233
    Abandoned 1981-01-08
28. Diatomite Project

    Surface metal/non-metal · Getty Mining Company · MSHA ID 0404496
    Abandoned 1985-04-15
29. Eureka Mine

    Surface metal/non-metal · Eureka Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 0404174
    Abandoned 1979-06-28
30. Evening Star Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Blackhawk · MSHA ID 0404663
    Abandoned 1990-09-04
31. Feather Fork Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Feather Fork Mines Ltd · MSHA ID 0404213
    Abandoned 1979-08-27
32. Garlock Pit

    Surface metal/non-metal · Maverick Asphalt Inc · MSHA ID 0405773
    Abandoned 2010-04-08
33. Garlock Plant

    Surface metal/non-metal · Pacific Western Construction Inc · MSHA ID 0404208
    Abandoned 1981-05-22
34. Glen Olive Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Glen Olive Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 0404318
    Abandoned 1985-02-01
35. GOLDEN QUEEN

    Underground metal/non-metal · Golden Queen Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 0405292
    Abandoned 2000-01-31
36. Golden Queens Tailings Pile

    Surface metal/non-metal · Conejo Readymix Inc · MSHA ID 0404976
    Abandoned 1989-03-06
37. Goler Rock And Gravel

    Surface metal/non-metal · Goler Rock & Gravel · MSHA ID 0405051
    Abandoned 1990-12-26
38. GOT ROCKS

    Surface metal/non-metal · Got Rocks · MSHA ID 0404904
    Abandoned 2000-06-01
39. Gwynne Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Warrington Brothers Mining Company · MSHA ID 0404805
    Abandoned 1987-09-11
40. H & S Mechanical Construction Inc

    Facility metal/non-metal · H & S Mechanical Construction Inc · MSHA ID 0405765
    Abandoned 2009-06-17
41. Hi Desert Rustic Stone

    Surface metal/non-metal · Sydney Peak Stone Inc · MSHA ID 0404965
    Abandoned 2014-10-01
42. High Enough

    Underground metal/non-metal · Metaline Industries Inc · MSHA ID 0404133
    Abandoned 1981-05-22
43. HIGH GRADE #3

    Underground metal/non-metal · Robert Or Cy Guidry · MSHA ID 0405323
    Abandoned 1998-06-24
44. Hop Demonstration Units #1-2-3 & 4

    Underground metal/non-metal · Fenix & Scisson Inc · MSHA ID 0404394
    Abandoned 1982-06-18
45. Inyokern Sand Pit

    Surface metal/non-metal · Desert Construction Company · MSHA ID 0404789
    Abandoned 1988-07-27
46. James Francis Contractor Incorporated

    Surface metal/non-metal · James Francis Contractor Inc · MSHA ID 0405196
    Abandoned 1994-02-18
47. James Road Pit

    Surface metal/non-metal · Granite Construction Company · MSHA ID 0401751
    Abandoned 1989-11-03
48. James Road Pit & Mill

    Surface metal/non-metal · Kern Rock Company · MSHA ID 0401830
    Abandoned 1988-08-05
49. Jawbone Canyon

    Surface metal/non-metal · Desert Colors Enterprises Inc · MSHA ID 0405119
    Abandoned 1993-05-13
50. Lebec Plant

    Surface metal/non-metal · B & B Materials Inc · MSHA ID 0404780
    Abandoned 2007-05-25
51. Lebec Quarry

    Surface metal/non-metal · National Cement Company Of California Inc · MSHA ID 0404355
    Abandoned 1988-07-25
52. Little Sparkler Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Great Lakes Chemical Corp · MSHA ID 0403709
    Abandoned 1980-07-25
53. Loop Ranch Limestone Quarry

    Surface metal/non-metal · H Lima Co Inc. · MSHA ID 0405655
    Abandoned 2010-01-07
54. Lost Hills Mines

    Surface metal/non-metal · Fannin-Superior Gypsum Company Inc · MSHA ID 0400927
    Abandoned 1986-01-15
55. Lucy B No 3

    Underground metal/non-metal · P G C S Ltd · MSHA ID 0404226
    Abandoned 1981-01-29
56. Miracle Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Martin Trost Associates · MSHA ID 0404127
    Abandoned 1980-11-05
57. Mojave Quarry

    Surface metal/non-metal · California Portland Cement Company · MSHA ID 0404350
    Abandoned 1988-11-02
58. Monarch Quarries

    Surface metal/non-metal · Monarch Quarries · MSHA ID 0404315
    Abandoned 1985-06-26
59. Monarch Quarry

    Surface metal/non-metal · Carlton Global Resources LLC · MSHA ID 0405749
    Abandoned 2008-05-16
60. P V CLAY

    Surface metal/non-metal · Protech Minerals, LLC · MSHA ID 0405399
    Abandoned 2001-11-16
61. P V Clay Mine

    Surface metal/non-metal · Pfizer Inc · MSHA ID 0400534
    Abandoned 1985-06-11
62. PACIFIC MINE

    Surface metal/non-metal · Standard Industrial Minerals Inc · MSHA ID 0405120
    Abandoned 2007-09-21
63. Pala Ranch Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Keystone Canyon Mining Company · MSHA ID 0404222
    Abandoned 1981-05-22
64. Plant 1

    Surface metal/non-metal · North American Recycling and Crushing, LLC · MSHA ID 0405740
    Abandoned 2007-12-17
65. PLANT 1

    Surface metal/non-metal · Frazier Park Sand & Gravel · MSHA ID 0405316
    Abandoned 2003-01-15
66. Poka Dot 1

    Underground metal/non-metal · Freear Mining · MSHA ID 0404587
    Abandoned 1985-08-08
67. Portable Plant #1

    Surface metal/non-metal · B & B Materials Inc · MSHA ID 0405360
    Abandoned 2009-02-18
68. Portable Plant #1

    Surface metal/non-metal · Custom Crushing Inc · MSHA ID 0405600
    Abandoned 2005-03-14
69. Pruett Desert Supply

    Surface metal/non-metal · Pruett Desert Supply & Service Company · MSHA ID 0405105
    Abandoned 1994-03-18
70. Quatal Canyon Gypsum Quarry

    Surface metal/non-metal · Calaveras Portland Cement Company · MSHA ID 0404235
    Abandoned 1988-08-05
71. Rand Mine

    Surface metal/non-metal · Glamis Rand Mining Co · MSHA ID 0404752
    Abandoned 2007-12-17
72. RANDSBURG PLACER MINE

    Surface metal/non-metal · Southwest Contractors · MSHA ID 0405227
    Abandoned 1999-04-06
73. Rio Tinto Mine

    Surface metal/non-metal · Kiewit · MSHA ID 0405925
    Abandoned 2019-06-21
74. RIVER PLANT

    Surface metal/non-metal · Kern Brothers Trucking Inc · MSHA ID 0405085
    Abandoned 2019-01-15
75. ROBBERS ROOST

    Surface metal/non-metal · Oro Limited · MSHA ID 0404676
    Abandoned 1997-01-27
76. Rosamond Minerals Incorporated

    Facility metal/non-metal · Rosamond Minerals Inc · MSHA ID 0402649
    Abandoned 1991-03-11
77. Rosamond Site

    Surface metal/non-metal · C & M TOPSOIL INC · MSHA ID 0405979
    Abandoned 2025-08-15
78. Salt Dale Plant

    Surface metal/non-metal · Long Beach Salt Company · MSHA ID 0401598
    Abandoned 1978-11-30
79. Screening Plant B

    Surface metal/non-metal · Yeager Skanska, Inc. · MSHA ID 0405552
    Abandoned 2004-03-01
80. Sheep Springs Pit And Mill

    Surface metal/non-metal · Excel Mineral Company Inc · MSHA ID 0400551
    Abandoned 1989-08-31
81. Sidewinder #1

    Underground metal/non-metal · Sidewinder Mine & Milling Company Inc · MSHA ID 0404402
    Abandoned 1981-01-29
82. Sierra Piedra Company

    Surface metal/non-metal · Sierra Piedra Company · MSHA ID 0404831
    Abandoned 1991-10-04
83. Silver Cross

    Underground metal/non-metal · Capital Mineral Association Inc · MSHA ID 0404570
    Abandoned 1983-10-05
84. Snow White Mine

    Surface metal/non-metal · VM Buyer LLC · MSHA ID 0405938
    Abandoned 2020-03-31
85. Soledad East

    Underground metal/non-metal · Edco Mining Company · MSHA ID 0404489
    Abandoned 1988-08-01
86. Standard Hill

    Underground metal/non-metal · Shell Mining Company · MSHA ID 0404696
    Abandoned 1985-01-31
87. Standard Hill

    Surface metal/non-metal · Target Construction Company · MSHA ID 0404879
    Abandoned 1989-08-18
88. Standard Hill

    Surface metal/non-metal · Gull Operations Inc · MSHA ID 0404883
    Abandoned 1991-02-21
89. STANDARD HILL MINE

    Surface metal/non-metal · Billiton Minerals U S A · MSHA ID 0404912
    Abandoned 1999-07-14
90. Stark Pit

    Surface metal/non-metal · Best Materials · MSHA ID 0404874
    Abandoned 1989-11-22
91. Summit Diggings

    Surface metal/non-metal · Chemetech Corp · MSHA ID 0404927
    Abandoned 1989-12-11
92. Susan Group #1 #2 #3 #4 #5

    Underground metal/non-metal · Tri-State Corp · MSHA ID 0404655
    Abandoned 1984-06-27
93. Syndex Sand & Gravel

    Surface metal/non-metal · Syndex LLC · MSHA ID 0405697
    Abandoned 2010-10-01
94. Taft Plant

    Surface metal/non-metal · General Production Service Of Ca Inc · MSHA ID 0404337
    Abandoned 1994-12-15
95. Tehachapi Quarry

    Surface metal/non-metal · Calaveras Portland Cement Company · MSHA ID 0404354
    Abandoned 1991-01-31
96. Tropico Gold Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Shell Oil Company · MSHA ID 0404607
    Abandoned 1983-10-05
97. Tropico Mill

    Facility metal/non-metal · Edco Mining Company · MSHA ID 0404875
    Abandoned 1990-06-01
98. Tungsten Peak Mine

    Underground metal/non-metal · Graham & Associates Inc · MSHA ID 0404134
    Abandoned 1979-05-04
99. Valley Rock

    Surface metal/non-metal · Gilliam & Sons Inc · MSHA ID 0405733
    Abandoned 2012-05-11
100. WEBSTER SAND

     Surface metal/non-metal · Webster Sand Inc · MSHA ID 0401998
     Abandoned 2001-01-31
101. Wheeler Ridge Plant

     Surface metal/non-metal · CalMat Co · MSHA ID 0401829
     Abandoned 2016-03-23
102. Wild Burro Mine

     Underground metal/non-metal · Wild Burro Mine Partnership · MSHA ID 0403526
     Abandoned 1981-05-26
103. York Claims

     Surface metal/non-metal · Lentz Mining · MSHA ID 0404775
     Abandoned 1986-01-30
104. Zenda

     Surface metal/non-metal · Equinox Resources Inc · MSHA ID 0405061
     Abandoned 1990-06-27

Status and date are as reported to MSHA by the operator. Each mine's own page carries its accident, citation and inspection record.

• San Bernardino County 14,976
• Inyo County 11,475
• Riverside County 3,227
• Mono County 2,946
• Siskiyou County 2,362
• Imperial County 1,232
• Mariposa County 1,079
• Tuolumne County 948
• San Diego County 901
• Calaveras County 840
• Shasta County 832
• Trinity County 685

1. USGS, Consolidated Prospect- and Mine-Related Features from 7.5- and 15-Minute Topographic Quadrangle Maps of the United States (USMIN)
   597,612 point and area features digitized from about 106,350 historical topographic maps published 1886–2006; public domain (CC0). A feature is a map symbol, not a field-verified site, and the map does not say whether it was still worked.
2. USGS Fact Sheet 2025–3003, The Abandoned Mine Inventory of the United States
   States that as of 2025 there is no comprehensive national inventory of abandoned mine features, and that the detailed national database now being built will not be published.
3. OSMRE, Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (e-AMLIS), public Problems layer
   One row per abandoned mine land problem in a problem area, with its type, funding program and reclamation status; mostly coal mined before the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Coordinates are the problem area's.
4. MSHA, Mines dataset (Mine Data Retrieval System)
   Every mine registered with MSHA since the 1970s; a mine reads Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed when its operator reported that status. Refreshed weekly.
5. US Census Bureau, 2023 cartographic county boundaries (1:500,000)
   Each feature's county is assigned by its coordinates against these boundaries, not copied from the source file.
6. GAO-20-238, Abandoned Hardrock Mines (March 2020)
   Federal agencies had identified at least 140,000 abandoned hardrock mine features on federal land and estimated more than 390,000 more not yet captured in their databases.
7. Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) Program, US Department of the Interior
   The program the USGS inventory is compiled for. Its appropriations and the 674,000 field-confirmed feature count on this page were provided by the program manager, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, and are cited with permission (2026-09-08).
8. IMCC-NAAMLP Hardrock AML Report
   Page 48 carries the two figures this page leans on: USGS estimates 633,181 of the 725,690 mine features it recorded from historic topographic maps, 87 percent, are hardrock; and state and federal agencies have submitted more than 724,000 AML features to the national database being built, already more than the historic maps hold. Year-by-year AHMR funding is on page 35.