As was usually the case, a small camp formed when silver was discovered at Argenta in 1866. The town became a shipping point for the Austin mines and residents had high hopes that Austin would help make Argenta the railroad center of Lander County. However, attention began to focus on nearby Battle Mountain, which was not only closer to Austin but nearer to the booming Galena Mines as well. Argenta’s residents realized the town was doomed and began to make plans. In December 1870, they moved everything—buildings and themselves—to Battle Mountain and Argenta became a ghost town. There was no activity until 1930 when a rich deposit of barite was discovered on the Argenta Mountain. From 1930 to 1969, well over $3 million in barite was produced and the mine is still active today.

Submitted by: Shawn Hall from his book Romancing Nevada's Past: Ghost Towns And Historic Sites Of Eureka, Lander, And White Pine Counties Click here to purchase his book!