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Dixie Marsh Nevada

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Dixie Marsh Nevada

Dixie Marsh Nevada Overview

Dixie Marsh was a mining district in Churchill County, Nevada.

Also known as Humboldt Salt Marsh and Salina (the Salina Mining District was west and is now part of the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Naval Air Station Fallon Target B20, and the Fallon National Wildlife Refuge.

Learn more about Ghost Town in Nevada and Ghost Towns in the Southwest.

Year Established/Founded

  • Discovered: 1861
  • Period active: 1861-1868

Dixie Marsh Nevada History

From 1861 to 1868, this marsh produced a large amount of salt which was shipped to the silver mills of Virginia City, Austin, Belmont, Unionville, and even as far as Silver City, Idaho. Some 10 cars of borax were produced by R. Nieschwander from the N. end of the marsh according to a letter from J. T. Reid. No production has been made for many years. Tests made by the U. S. Geological Survey and the Railroad Valley Co., in recent years showed the potash content of this marsh to be commercially negligible.

From Nevada State Journal – Sunday, January 9, 1955 – Page 9:

Salt for Comstock

The Dixie Marsh district, at the north end of the recent zone produced salt, borax, and potash in its tune. The Dixie Marsh district covered about square miles and was called Osobb Valley by geologists of the Fortieth Parallel Survey. It is not known when, or why the name was changed.

From 1861 to 1868 this marsh produced a large amount of which was shipped to the silver mills at Virginia City, Austin, Bolmont, Unionville and as far as Silver City, Ida. Ten cars of borax were produced by R. Nelschwander from the north end of the marsh, reports indicate. No production has been made for many years. Tests the U. S. Geological Survey the Railroad Valley Company, some years after the district discovered, showed the potash content of this marsh to be commercially negligible. The marsh, formed by the dedication of lake not more than 150 feet has deposits which consist of alternating layers of salt and saline mud. The salt contains little sodium carbonate and sulphate, and the brine has a of potash.

Timeline

Mines

Sodium chloride, borates, and potash.

Railroads

Unknown at this time.

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Post Office

None

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Newspaper

None

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The Population of Dixie Marsh Nevada

Unknown at this time.

Elevation

3,383′

Location

Located from various resources:

Dixie Marsh lies to the east of the Stillwater Range, in the lowest part of Dixie Valley (Osobb Valley of the Fortieth Parallel Survey). The Territorial Enterprise (1863) described a Salina district bordered “on the south by Tower Canyon, on the north by Shoshone Springs, on the east by the summit of the mountain [Clan Alpine Mountains], on the west by the great salt field [Humboldt or Dixie salt marsh]” that covers the area of the present Bernice and Dixie Marsh districts. Carlson (1974) described the Salina district as located at “a Churchill County salt flat,” and Garnett and Paher (1983) incorrectly (?) placed Salina some 20 miles northeast of Stillwater, on the west side of the Stillwater Range between Cox and Shady Run Canyons.

Dixie Marsh lies to the E. of the Stillwater Range in N. E. Churchill Co. It covers about 9 sq. m. in the lowest part of the present valley, which was called the Osobb Valley by the geologists of the Fortieth Parallel Survey.

Dixie Marsh Nevada

GPS Coordinates

  • Humboldt Salt Marsh  – 39° 49′ 29.70″ N, 117° 58′ 48.47″ W
  • Dixie Hot Springs – 39° 48′ 59.70″ N, 118° 0′ 4.47″ W

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Photos and Videos

None at this time.

References Used

Click here to view our list of History of the Southwest – Books and Online Resources to learn more about our amazing area!

Dixie Marsh Nevada