Old and New Hachita

The photos of old mine ruins that follow were taken at Old Hachita near what some maps show as "Turquoise Mountain". Many more abandoned mine sites dot the Little Hatchet Mountains.

Stories of Indian turquoise brought prospectors to the Little Hatchet Mountains around 1875. In addition to turquoise they discovered silver, lead, copper, and some gold.

Old Hachita was mostly abandoned by 1920. Now (1997) about 24 buildings remain, six still with roofs. Bats and owls occupy the old open mine shafts, and rattlesnakes slither across the desert. The road up to Old Hachita and the Eureka Mine District is long gone.