Lost Steers Mine
The Lost Steers mine was the site of the first cinnabar discovery in the Pilot Mountain Mining District. In June 1913, Thomas Pepper and Charles Keough were tracking two stray steers when Keough recognized the red mineral at an abandoned prospect. Their claims were worked more-or-less consistently until 1918, producing 344 flasks. The mine sat idle until 1939, when it was taken over by the Mina Development Company. In 1941, ore was trucked down a new road to the rotary furnace at the Mina mine, and an additional 53 flasks was recovered. The mine has been idle since, leaving it's total production at 397 flasks.
