Page 83 - Vol. 1 Walks In The Black Range - 2nd Edition

As you approach the saddle between the Opportunity and Rattlesnake Mines the concrete structures described in the Opportunity and South of the Opportunity walks become visible. At one time these structures were the on-site headquarters for the mines and even housed a restaurant.
Walking past the main Rattlesnake Mine shaft and the structures described in the Opportunity Mine walk you are presented with an opportunity to take the lower fork to the Eureka Adit or to take the right fork and head up-hill to the workings at the top of the canyon. It is the later which is mapped above.
mid-May. This plant is common in the foothills east of Hillsboro. Unlike some of the other species shown here, this one has a range which is widespread. It is especially prevalent in the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains.
H. At the fork you will probably find several examples of Plantago pagagonica, Wooly Plantain, as shown above from
I. Near the end of this walk you will find the highest workings of the Rattlesnake Mine, most appear to be adits. In the case of the one shown above, there is a continuation of the tunnel to the rear of the photographer. It is not clear if the hole was created intentionally, to shorten the walk into the adit or if it is a cave in. Given the absence of a road to the tunnel entrance shown above I suspect that this was a cave-in. Cave-ins were not unusual in the adits of this area. In many cases, these tunnels followed veins which were not far below the surface — as opposed to others which were very deep and very long.
The Rattlesnake Mine
The Rattlesnake Mine, or simply Snake Mine, is located in the southwest portion of the Animas Hills near Hillsboro. There are a number of tunnels and shafts at this location. It is “right around the corner” from the Opportunity Mine. The photograph on the following page is one of the classic “old photos” from the Hillsboro Mining District, it shows the Rattlesnake in about 1900.