Rosamond Mining District, California

Southwest of Mojave is a gold mining district littered with remnants such as shafts, machinery, structures, and townsites. Some mines around Soledad Mountain (the big hill south of Mojave) are still active, such as the Golden Queen mine on the north slope of Soledad Mountain, where drilling and blasting still occur. The town of Rosamond, a few miles further south, was a center for this mining district, and the Tropico Mine, west of Rosamond, has scenic ruins that are used as a film location. The mining operations of years past have also left a legacy of contaminated sites throughout this area.