Picture a town that exploded from nothing to thousands of people in just three years, only to vanish like a desert mirage.

The ghosts of the Silver State’s mining roots aren’t just spooky — they’re a serious environmental hazard. About half a million abandoned mines lie untouched across America, polluting waterways and ...

It doesn’t take much for a century-old mine shaft to cave in around you. Or for the mercury, lead or arsenic leftovers to leech into the Silver State’s already strained groundwater supply. That’s why, ...

These Five Former Boomtowns Invite You To Step Into the State’s Mining History On the northern edge of the Mojave Desert sits the remnants of a former boomtown. There, visitors are greeted by the ...

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images There are about 500,000 abandoned mines in ...

Dozens of people get injured or die in the U.S. every year because they don’t follow this simple advice: Stay out of abandoned and active mines and surrounding lands. Abandoned mines are not history ...

Bodie is the quintessential ghost town, frozen in time high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Once a booming gold mining town ...

Nevada's high desert landscapes and mining heritage come alive aboard historic trains that roll through valleys and mountains. These preserved railways offer more than just transportation - they're ...

Drainage from abandoned coal mines can carry massive loads of carbon dioxide, venting to the air decades or even centuries after mining stops.

There are as many as 500,000 abandoned mines nationwide — far outnumbering those that are still active, according to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. Rescue workers search through ...