[clearcarbon]

"landscapes that have retained their natural beauty despite decades of heavy mining"

Mining for what besides gold?

[Axenolith]

Silver, vanadium, tungsten, zinc, lead, copper, borax, aggregates...

Need more?

[Drago]

Some volcanic cinder mines (red “lava rock”)...gave rise to the famous “Mojave Phone Booth” near the Aiken Cinder Mine. The fun of calling a phone booth in the middle of nowhere dozens of miles from a paved road ended after the last large land grab by Clinton in the 90’s (Mojave Preserve). See:
http://deuceofclubs.com/moj/mojave.htm

http://cinderpeak.com/index.htm

http://www.mindat.org/nearestlocs.php?lat=35.22888946533203&long=-115.72389221191406

[Nifster]

Unless something has been found that’s new the operating mine is gold