First located in 1867, the Sheep Ranch Mine produced more than 8 million dollars in gold during its years of operation. Acquired in 1877 by Senator George Hearst, K.B. Haggin, and associates, it was operated continuously by the Hearst firm until 1893, produced an estimated 4 million dollars in gold, and reached a depth of 1,400 feet. Sold by the Hearst interests by 1898, the mine was later operated by the St. Joseph Lead Company. By 1942, when it finally closed, the mine had reached 3,100 feet in depth and was regarded as the most productive in the Sierran East Gold Belt.