University of Nevada
Oral History Program
Mail Stop 324
Reno, NV 89557-0099
775/784-6932
Fax: 775/784-1365
E-mail: ohp@unr.nevada.edu
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Room 109 of the Mack Social Science Building on the University of Nevada, Reno campus
Mining and World War II World War II had a great influence on mining in Nevada. While restrictions on gold mining had begun almost immediately after Pearl Harbor, the War Production Board issued Limitation Order L-208 in October of 1942, effectively closing the nation’s gold mines all together. The government’s intent in shutting down gold mines was to focus mining on strategic metals and minerals such as lead, zinc, copper and tungsten, which were needed for the war effort. Gold and other precious metals such as silver were deemed “non-strategic.” While many individual miners managed to find employment in strategic-metal mines, the closing of gold and silver operations had a significant impact on the communities that relied on them for jobs as well as support of local businesses. |
