HISTORY
Gold Rush Origins
The story of the Ruby Mine begins during the California Gold Rush. In the early 1850s, fortune-seekers discovered the Old Ruby Channel, a rich Tertiary riverbed exposed - or “daylighted” - above the Yuba River. Following the trail of unusually large gold nuggets, prospectors named the watercourse “Slug Canyon,” referencing the heavy gold "slugs" they found. Rock Creek, which flows across the Ruby property, was soon bustling with activity and became known as Rock Creek City.
Early Mining Efforts
By the 1860s, surface gold was dwindling, and miners turned their attention to the ancient river channels buried beneath the ridges. These early efforts at underground drift mining were limited by primitive technology and a lack of understanding of the region’s complex geology. Water intrusion was a major barrier, especially since miners were initially working “downstream” into the Ruby Channel.
Drift Mining Boom
In 1880, the Ruby Tunnel was portalled, and over 2,000 feet of tunnel was driven to access the Old Ruby Channel. The 1880s and 1890s became a period of major productivity for the Ruby Mine, as underground placer mining techniques improved. A parallel operation by the Bald Mountain Extension Company also flourished on the east side of the property.
The Ruby Mine gained fame for producing some of the largest gold nuggets in California history, including a 201-ounce nugget in 1891 and others weighing 90 and 180 ounces. A replica of the 180-ounce specimen can be found in the California State Mining and Mineral Museum in Mariposa.
20th Century Developments
Work slowed in the early 1900s, but pioneers like Walter Lawry and Willie Wolf conducted exploratory shaft work in new zones like the Black Channel System. Despite challenging conditions and limited technology, these efforts confirmed the presence of additional rich channels and even quartz-ledges beneath the old placer deposits.
In the 1930s, with gold prices increased from $20 to $35 an ounce, C. L. Best - owner of Caterpillar Tractor -purchased the Ruby Mine and hired L. L. Huelsdonk to oversee operations. Under their leadership, the mine was modernized and became one of the most well-equipped placer operations in the world. The Ruby returned to prominence as a leading gold producer until World War II, when all gold mining was halted under War Production Board Order L-208 in 1942.
Post-War to Present
The Ruby did not reopen after the war. It changed hands several times, with smaller operators working remnants of earlier operations—often with surprising success. By the 1980s and 1990s, various stock-funded ventures attempted to revive the mine, upgrading infrastructure and rehabilitating old tunnels. However, most lacked the capital and experience to endure during a prolonged downturn in gold prices.
Today, the Ruby Mine is an active, fully permitted mining project with miles of underground workings and on-site infrastructure for both placer and quartz gold recovery. The mine is positioned for long-term growth and sustainability, conservatively estimated to contain over 150,000 ounces of gold reserves.
A historic view of several miners' cabins clustered around the Ruby Mine, capturing the essence of classic placer mining life.
The handwritten note on the reverse reads:
"Ruby Mine, June 1886 overlooking Downieville, Sierra County, California. This is property of Mrs. D. Smith, 124 Lyme (sp) St., San Francisco, California."
The photograph features a group of miners standing near their cabins and the Ruby Mine itself. To the right, a tailings dump shows signs of having been reworked, while to the left, a raised and covered ore cart track leads to a long sluice box used for processing ore.
This 1887 photograph captures activity at the Ruby Mine during a pivotal moment in its development.
A handwritten note on the reverse reads: "1887, first mining machinery in California sent by Rothschilds of England, who sent 150 men working this mine."
In the foreground, several miners stand on a raised platform beside the end of a long tom, where ore was deposited after processing.
In the background, a building, possibly worker housing, stands with 10 to 15 miners gathered outside, offering a rare glimpse into the early industrial phase of the site.
This close-up photograph from 1887 shows a group of approximately 20 men, women, and children gathered below the elevated ore cart track, where ore was dumped into a long tom for processing.
The reverse bears a handwritten note: "Ruby Mines, 1887, Sierra County."
The Ruby Mine is located near Downieville in Sierra County, at the confluence of the North Fork of the Yuba River and the Downie River.
Downieville was founded during the Gold Rush in late 1849 (initially called “The Forks”), and renamed for Major William Downie around 1850 when he and a group of miners struck rich deposits. It became the county seat upon the establishment of Sierra County in 1852.
While many major mills in the area had become idle by the late 1860s, Sierra County had already produced substantial gold, likely totaling in the multimillions by the 1870s.
