Eric Twitty
4 books in the catalogue, published 2001 to 2008.
Eric Twitty writes mining history, from the chemistry of blasting to the ruins of old mills and the silver districts of the San Juan Mountains. Western Reflections Publishing carries three of his books, which appeared in 2001, 2002 and 2008, and it lists Basins of Silver in both a hardbound and a softbound edition. Each treats mining as a working trade, with real tools, buildings and risks.
About Eric Twitty
We know Eric Twitty through his books. We searched for a biography and found none we could verify: dealer and library listings for Blown to Bits in the Mine and Riches to Rust give the title, publisher and format, and nothing about the writer. The publisher's own page for the softbound Basins of Silver adds one line: he is an owner of Mountain States Historical in Boulder, Colorado, and has researched and analyzed the remains of thousands of mines throughout the state. Beyond that we will not describe his career, home or training. We have no verified birth or death dates.
What the books show is a writer who covers mining from several angles. Blown to Bits in the Mine looks at explosives. Riches to Rust is a guide to the sites, machinery and methods of mining in the old West. Basins of Silver follows the Las Animas Mining District near Silverton. A dealer listing says Blown to Bits was later reissued as a paperback with endnotes, a bibliography and an index.
Books
Basins of Silver-Hardbound
The hardbound history of the Las Animas Mining District near Silverton, Colorado, starting with the 1860 gold rush. It follows silver, tramways and power plants through more than a hundred years of operation.
Blown to Bits in the Mine
A history of explosives in United States mining, from the Industrial Revolution into the twentieth century. It mixes tales of death and survival with the technology of blasting and is meant for casual readers and specialists alike.
Riches to Rust
A guide to mining in the old West that doubles as a field guide to abandoned mine sites. It explains mine development, prospecting, mining, milling and transporting ore, and helps you interpret the equipment left behind.
Basins of Silver-Softbound
The same Las Animas District history in a softbound edition. The publisher's page for it names Twitty as the author and describes his years of work documenting the district's historic mines.
What the books share
Twitty's books share a subject: the practical side of hard rock mining in the American West. They are about how ore actually came out of the ground and what was left behind, including blasting methods, surface plants, mills and a single district's long record. The period runs from the nineteenth century into the twentieth. They suit readers who want technology and place together, whether they are hiking among old mine ruins or reading at home. All three are history, and the notes, bibliographies and indexes that accompany them are a good sign that research is expected.
The subjects this author is catalogued under. Open Library record.
Good to know
How many Eric Twitty books are in the library?
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Is there a biography of Eric Twitty?
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