Mike Miller
Gold Mine Owner

As President and Chief Executive Officer of the last fully functional gold mine in California – the Original Sixteen to One Mine in Alleghany -- Mike Miller is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company. In 1975, Miller became the sole proprietor of the Morning Glory Gold Mines. Prior to that, he was self-employed in Santa Barbara County, California from 1965 to 1974. Mike served as a trustee and President of the Sierra County Board of Education (1979 to 1983 trustee; Director in 1976, President in 1983). From 1991 to 1999 he served as a member of the Sierra County Planning Commission (Chairman 1992 and 1993). He is licensed as a California Class A general engineering contractor. He is a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. In 1965, Mr. Miller received a B.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara in combined Social Sciences-Economics. Mike Miller is presently reconstructing mine shafts and buildings for the Empire Mine Historic Park in Grass Valley.  

Mike was born in Sacramento, California and presently resides near Alleghany, in Sierra County, California.

 

Mike Miller – profile questions

When did you arrive in this area?  What were your first impressions?

In late 1960’s, I knew that I no longer wanted to live in southern California (Santa Barbara).  Born and raised in Sacramento (fifth generation Californian), rural northern California was my location of choice to explore for finding my family’s new home.  We motored the Sierra Nevada up highway 49 to Quincy.  Thanks to the good fortune of my father owning a small interest in a gold mining company in Sierra County, I found Alleghany in 1974.  My early impression was that the area and the gold mining offered great opportunities for independent living, work satisfaction and adventure.

Describe what you do. 

My job is that of a president.  Presidents make both easy and tough decisions, especially in a corporation with a small staff.   My activities include hands on tasks, including dump runs.  Most of my time the past ten years and today is spent managing the flow of paper required to keep the various operations going.  I also handle much of the gold sales, project analysis, legal activities and personnel issues. 

Who or what are inspirations for your work?

Besides the universal inspirations most industrious businessmen feel, the “long gone” miners who worked the gold mines of the Alleghany Mining District inspire me to think a little more or work a little longer to overcome the problems of building and running a gold mine.  There is an old saying that mines are not found they are built.  Ours is over 100 years old with a good potential to produce for another 100 years.

What are your plans for the future?

My plans for the future are very ambitious.  I want to find and mine the largest pocket of gold.  The record is 83,000 ounces.  I believe a good location is the junction of two primary gold veins in property we own called the Red Star. It requires a capital investment that we must obtain by gold production or perhaps some adventurous capitalists will join the effort.   Other plans include winning an important social lawsuit against some evil lawyers, who have broken the laws in their misguided prosecution of innocent miners.  I want to grow mushrooms in the abandoned workings of the mines.  I want to build affordable natural Sierra Nevada mountain coffins.  I want to make “moonshine”.

What is your favorite spot in the region?  Why?

My favorite spot in the region is my home and surrounding property.  I built my house in 1977 and continue to improve its hominess.  My favorite spots are anywhere underground in the mines.  It never ceases to humble me.  Both the natural beauty and the human endeavors to challenge the earth’s forces we see each day underground are inspiring.

Why do you think this region holds such a fascination for people?

Our section of the Sierra Nevada is similar in beauty to most all other areas of the 200 plus mile long mountain range.  Our area is called the Northern Mines.  South of Auburn the area is called the Mother Lode.  A great amount of gold likely remains buried in the California gold belt.  Alleghany holds the record for the richest concentrations (pockets) ever mined in the state.  Gold is unlike all other elements, and I think that many people both consciously or unconsciously feel and are affected by the powers of gold.  I have witnessed the affects of Sixteen to One gold on men, women and children.  It has always been positive.

If you had to describe your feelings about the Sierra Nevada region in one word (or a few words), what would you say?

Genuine.