The city of Oro Valley derives it’s name from mining in Canada Del Oro river bed in now Oro Valley. Extensive placer mining took place dating as far back as the 1500s by Spanish Colonials. These easy pickings in the river bed originated from larger deposits in high up in the Catalina mountains which triggered the Arizona gold rush of 1880 and subsequently earned the City it’s name.
I have personally found arrastras among other mining ruins from the early Spanish settlers. These are primitive mills for grinding ore where a large stone is drug by a pivot turned by a mule. The stone then crushes the ore so it can be processed releasing it’s precious metals. My imagination runs wild when I find these ruins high in the mountains. What life was like here hundreds of years ago? Did the colonials live in toil or find great riches?
Mining records from the Spanish Colonial period if any did not survive the test of time. We knew there was extensive mining but more often than not treasure hunters rely on old stories such as this one to search for treasure, and yes indeed some do find lost riches!
Back in the 1920’s of two prospectors found Spanish mining ruins in the Catalina Mountains. As the story goes, they stumbled upon the remains of a large settlement and extensive mining operation. They spotted several arrastras next to a large iron door within the ruins of the hidden valley. There was no way to open heavy door so they returned to Tucson. Note Oro Valley wasn’t a town at this time.
The prospectors told a merchant their story. Then offered to share part of the treasure should he outfit them with supplies to open the iron door. The merchant had done so in the past making a small profit when the these prospectors returned with gold. He provided them with dynamite to blast the door and enough provisions for a couple months. They loaded their mules early the next morning and road off never to be seen again.
Years later a child went out to play on his uncle’s ranch on Canada Del Oro. He was told to stay close to the ranch. The mountains were too enticing. He climbed up the slopes above Canada Del Oro. There he spotted a door covering an entrance into the mountain and a blunderbuss with the wooden stock rotted off. Not knowing what it was or thinking much of it he returned to the house. He mentioned what he found to his uncle who thought surely this was the “Iron Door Mine”. The boy tried to lead them back to where he had explored but not having been from here he couldn’t remember how to return to the hidden valley.
What do you think? Does the Iron Door mine exist? I do know there’s a fantastic Café on atop the Catalina Mountains with it’s namesake, “Iron Door” restaurant. The food is great and in it’s entrance you will find the story of the Iron Door mine.