Blacksmiths have an important role in history, including serving as major partners to the mining industry. Today, blacksmithing is an integral part of the Arizona Gold Mining Experience at Cave Creek Museum.
Guests can see the blacksmith, gold panning and stamp mill at work from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 25.
According to blacksmith Paul Diefenderfer, who demonstrates blacksmithing for visitors and guests at the Arizona Gold Mining Experience, blacksmithing grew in popularity once iron was discovered because of its durability and wear resistance.
“Blacksmithing is defined as working hot iron,” said Diefenderfer, lead Arizona Gold Mining Experience blacksmith and owner of Desert Rat Forge in Cave Creek.
“Iron turns black after being heated in a hot fire; this is known as oxide or fire scale. Blacksmiths in the 1800s, and even today, used wood and coal for fires.”
The craft, which is believed to have started in Europe, was deployed in mining by using a hammer to repoint drill bits and repair chisels, picks and more so they were ready for use. Blacksmiths also created crucial new products and made horseshoes and more for miners.
Today it uses materials such as concrete and iron for infrastructure needs.
“A lot of modern phrases came from blacksmithing,” Diefenderfer added.
“You have too many irons in the fire (you have too much going on) was one of them. So is hit it while it’s hot (you have to work it hot to get it done right) and dead as a doornail, which means it is a dead nail — it’s no longer usable. Visitors can come by and see a real dead nail at the AGME blacksmith shop.”
The Arizona Gold Mining Experience features the amazing Golden Reef Stamp Mill and Tramway, Arizona’s only fully operational ten-stamp ore crushing mill. The 1,000-pound stamps slam down in synchronized motion to pound ore removed from the mine into fine gravel. The stamp mill was brought from its former location at the Golden Reef Mine on Continental Mountain to Cave Creek Museum, which has the only fully operational mining stamp mill in its original mining district in Arizona. Other historical and fascinating stops include the arrastra, gold panning, early mining engines and more.
Registration is required in advance by calling 480-488-2764, stopping by the museum or visiting cavecreekmuseum.org.