 The Galena mine has a long history dating back to 1887.However, recent mining began in 1953 by ASARCO, in an effort to explore and exploit outcrops of silver-lead ore. At that time a shaft was sunk to the 3000 level (3000 feet below the shaft collar) and lateral or level drifts were excavated on the 2800 and 3000 levels.The level drifts accessed down dip projections of the silver-lead ore from above.