Introduction
People searching for Del Bandito Mine Esmeralda NV history facts often expect to find the story of an old abandoned gold mine in Esmeralda County, Nevada. However, official mining records point to a different conclusion.
The documented property was called Bandito, not “Del Bandito Mine.” Nevada’s 2012 Directory of Mine Operations placed Bandito in Elko County, not Esmeralda County. The directory identified gold as its commodity and listed WK Mining (USA) Ltd. as the associated operator.
Mining-company records also describe Bandito as an exploration prospect near the Nevada–Utah border. The available evidence does not show that it became a large or famous producing mine.
This article explains the verified history, location, exploration work and possible reason why Bandito became incorrectly connected with Esmeralda County.
Quick Facts About the Bandito Project
| Fact | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Recorded name | Bandito |
| Popular online name | Del Bandito Mine |
| Correct Nevada county | Elko County |
| Main mineral | Gold |
| Associated company | WK Mining (USA) Ltd. |
| Historical exploration company | West Kirkland Mining Inc. |
| Main activity | Mapping, sampling and drilling |
| Major commercial production | Not confirmed |
| Esmeralda County location | Not supported by official records reviewed |
The state directory listed Bandito under Elko County at Section 35, Township 41, Range 68. It recorded five workers, described the activity as “other methods” and identified gold as the commodity.
Was Del Bandito Mine Located in Esmeralda County?
The strongest verified answer is no.
Nevada’s official directory has separate sections for Elko County and Esmeralda County. Bandito appears in the Elko County section. It is not presented as an Esmeralda County operation.
Company information supports the same location. West Kirkland Mining described Bandito as a project on privately held mineral rights on the Nevada side of the Nevada–Utah border. It placed the prospect approximately 17 kilometres west of the TUG gold-silver deposit in Utah.
The phrase “Del Bandito Mine Esmeralda NV” therefore appears to combine the documented Bandito project with the much better-known mining history of Esmeralda County.
Was “Del Bandito Mine” Its Official Name?
The official documents reviewed for this article use the name Bandito.
The Nevada directory calls the operation “Bandito.” West Kirkland’s reports and announcements use terms such as “Bandito project,” “Bandito prospect” and “Bandito target.” They do not use the full name “Del Bandito Mine.”
“Del Bandito Mine” may be an informal internet variation, a copied mistake or a name created by combining unrelated local information. Without a historical map, claim document or government record using that exact name in Esmeralda County, it should not be presented as a confirmed historic mine.
What Was the Bandito Project?
Bandito was an early-stage gold-exploration property connected with West Kirkland Mining’s wider Long Canyon Trend programme.
The company explored a large regional land package covering parts of Nevada and Utah. Its prospects included Bandito, Lewis Spring, 12 Mile, Toano and the nearby TUG deposit.
Geologists were interested in Bandito because earlier work had identified structures, rock alteration and elevated gold readings. The company believed that previous shallow drilling had not completely tested the favourable rock layers beneath the surface.
A mineral prospect is not automatically a working mine. It is an area where geological evidence suggests valuable minerals may be present. More drilling, technical analysis, environmental review and economic studies are normally needed before commercial mining can begin.
Geological Work at Bandito
Mapping and sampling identified a structural corridor measuring approximately 450 metres by 80 metres. The area contained elevated gold values in soil, while rock-chip sampling produced strongly unusual gold readings. One surface grab sample reportedly returned 10 grams of gold per tonne.
A single high-grade surface sample does not prove that a profitable deposit exists underground. Surface samples can help geologists choose drilling locations, but they cannot establish the size, continuity or economic value of a mineral resource by themselves.
The company therefore treated Bandito as an exploration target rather than a proven mine.
The 2012 Drilling Programme
In February 2012, West Kirkland announced plans to drill approximately 1,400 metres at Bandito using four reverse-circulation holes.
The targets included several north- and northeast-orientated structures where earlier drilling had found elevated gold values. The company planned deeper holes to test rock layers that previous work may not have reached.
Reverse-circulation drilling uses compressed air and specialised equipment to bring broken rock samples to the surface. Geologists examine and test these samples to understand the mineral content below the ground.
By April 2012, West Kirkland said it had received the necessary permits and was preparing to move drilling equipment to Bandito, Lewis Spring and Toano. Its wider regional programme included about 11,000 metres of planned drilling.
Exploration Continued in 2013
West Kirkland continued working along the Long Canyon Trend in 2013.
The company planned approximately 8,000 metres of drilling across high-priority targets at Bandito, Lewis Spring and 12 Mile. It also planned gravity surveys and expanded soil sampling to identify additional gold targets.
Later company results stated that drilling at Bandito and 12 Mile had intersected near-surface oxide gold mineralisation similar to material found around the TUG deposit. The company said the results deserved further exploration.
However, “warranting further exploration” does not mean that a commercially profitable mine was discovered. It means the geological results were interesting enough to justify more investigation.
Did Bandito Become a Producing Gold Mine?
No reliable evidence reviewed for this article shows that Bandito became a major commercial gold producer.
The available sources focus on:
- Exploration permits
- Geological mapping
- Soil and rock sampling
- Reverse-circulation drilling
- Gold targets
- Possible future exploration
They do not describe regular ore production, a processing plant, a published reserve, large-scale mine construction or a long operating history at Bandito.
The most accurate description is that Bandito was a gold-exploration prospect in Elko County.
Is Bandito an Abandoned Mine?
Calling Bandito an abandoned mine may be misleading.
An abandoned mine usually suggests a developed site containing old shafts, tunnels, stopes, buildings or processing equipment. The records reviewed describe Bandito mainly as a surface-exploration and drilling project.
Exploration may leave drill pads, temporary roads or sample locations, but these features are not the same as a developed historic mining complex.
Anyone visiting an old Nevada mining area should remain careful. Unmarked openings, unstable ground, loose rock and damaged roads can create serious dangers.
Why Is Esmeralda County Famous for Mining?
Esmeralda County has a real and important mining history, even though the documented Bandito prospect was not located there.
The county includes historic areas such as:
- Goldfield
- Silver Peak
- Weepah
- Divide
- Gold Point
- Clayton Valley
The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology maintains historical maps, reports, photographs, assays and production records connected with Esmeralda County’s mining districts.
Because Esmeralda County contains so many historic claims and mining sites, an online writer may have mistakenly connected the Bandito name with the county.
Goldfield’s Historic Mining Boom
Goldfield is the county seat of Esmeralda County and one of Nevada’s best-known historic mining communities.
Gold discoveries in the early 1900s caused the settlement to grow rapidly. Miners, investors, business owners and workers entered the district, leading to the construction of homes, hotels, banks, stores and industrial buildings.
A historical technical report states that Goldfield’s population reached about 25,000 in 1909 before falling sharply as mining activity declined.
The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology identifies the Tonopah–Goldfield era as an important period in Nevada’s wider mining history.
These facts belong to Goldfield and Esmeralda County. They should not be used as proof that Bandito was located there.
Modern Gold Exploration Near Goldfield
Esmeralda County continues to attract modern mineral exploration.
In June 2025, the Bureau of Land Management approved gold exploration across approximately 15,294 acres of public and private land near Goldfield. The programme could continue for ten years and include surveys, access work and exploratory drilling.
In September 2025, the BLM approved an expanded Montezuma gold-exploration project about seven miles southwest of Goldfield. The project allowed exploration drilling within a larger 5,672-acre area.
These approvals demonstrate that Esmeralda County remains important for gold exploration. However, neither project confirms the existence of a historic “Del Bandito Mine” there.
A Mining Claim Is Not Always a Mine
Online articles sometimes use “claim,” “prospect” and “mine” as though they mean the same thing. They do not.
A site may pass through several stages:
Prospecting
Geologists or prospectors search for signs of valuable minerals.
Claim Recording
A person or company records certain mineral rights according to applicable law.
Exploration
Workers map the area, collect samples and drill test holes.
Resource Evaluation
Specialists estimate the possible amount and quality of mineral material.
Mine Development
The operator obtains approvals, secures financing and builds roads, pits, tunnels or processing facilities.
Commercial Production
Ore is regularly removed and processed for sale.
The records reviewed place Bandito mainly in the exploration stage. They do not establish it as a large producing mine.
How to Verify an Old Nevada Mine
Researchers should use several sources before publishing claims about an obscure mine.
Useful records include:
- Nevada mine-operation directories
- Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology archives
- Bureau of Land Management land records
- County recorder documents
- Historical maps
- Mining-company reports
- Technical exploration reports
- Contemporary newspapers
The mine name should be matched with its county, township, range, mineral, operator and period of activity.
Nevada’s 2012 directory gives Bandito a clear location: Section 35, Township 41, Range 68 in the Elko County section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Del Bandito Mine in Esmeralda County, Nevada?
Official records reviewed for this article do not place it there. The documented Bandito gold operation was listed in Elko County.
What was its official name?
Government and company documents use the name Bandito, not “Del Bandito Mine.”
What mineral was found at Bandito?
Gold was the main recorded commodity. Exploration also found elevated gold readings in soil and rock samples.
Who explored the Bandito property?
The property was explored by West Kirkland Mining through its associated company, WK Mining (USA) Ltd.
Where was Bandito located?
It was located on the Nevada side of the Nevada–Utah border, approximately 17 kilometres west of the TUG deposit.
Did Bandito become a major gold mine?
No verified evidence reviewed for this article shows that it became a major producing operation. The available records mainly describe exploration and drilling.
Why is Esmeralda County connected with the keyword?
The connection may come from inaccurate online articles or confusion with Esmeralda County’s genuine mining districts, particularly Goldfield.
Conclusion
The phrase Del Bandito Mine Esmeralda NV history facts appears to contain both a name variation and an incorrect location.
Official records identify Bandito as a gold-exploration operation in Elko County, Nevada. West Kirkland Mining mapped, sampled and drilled the property during the early 2010s, but available evidence does not show that it developed into a major commercial mine.
Esmeralda County has a valuable mining history of its own, especially around Goldfield, Silver Peak and Weepah. Keeping these separate stories clear gives readers a more accurate and trustworthy understanding of Nevada’s mining past.
