Local artists paint large mining-themed murals in Nevada's city of Elko

Reno's Joe C. Rock painted an intricate mural covering the walls and roof of a 90-ft tunnel. Photo credit: Joe C. Rock's website

Mining

Local artists paint large mining-themed murals in Nevada’s city of Elko

Nevada Gold Mines is one of Elko’s top employers

Rowan Dunne

Published

January 6, 2025

A pair of Nevada artists have contributed new mineral extraction-themed murals to a city known for its rich mining heritage.

One of them, Joseph Corgile or “Joe C. Rock” as he likes to be called, painted a vast work of art on the walls and roof of a 90-foot tunnel in Elko. It depicts a prospector, dump truck and hard hat with a flashlight on it along with the city’s name in graffiti-style writing.

Corgile has done vast numbers of mural paintings and other artwork with various themes, but this is his first gold-mining piece.

The other, Chris Vedis, used a 30-foot wall of a local motel to depict a haul truck used for transporting ore. Vedis is based in Elko and has experience working in the mining industry. He served as a maintenance foreman for Nevada Gold Mines until 2021.

Vedis was voted “Best Artist” by the Elko Daily Free Press in 2023 and 2024 — the city’s top newspaper.

Joe C. Rock’s mural. Photo credit: Double Scoop — a Nevada-based arts publication

Elko County hosts diverse array of minerals

The mining industry, and gold in particular, is a major economic driver for the city. It hosts a vast number of geology and engineering firms.

Nevada Gold Mines, one of the world’s top gold producers, is headquartered in Elko. Other international companies like Sweden’s Epiroc AB Class A (OTCMKTS: EPIAF) have set up facilities within the city limits too. In June last year, Capital Mining Services established its North American headquarters in the Nevada mining hub.

Other commodities that Elko’s surrounding area is known for include silver, copper, uranium, tungsten and antimony.

Many Elko residents can easily find jobs in the industry that pay a livable wage ranging between US$25 and $30 per hour. A favourable and increasing price of gold is continuing to help make this possible.

The Goldstrike, Cortez, Carlin and Turquoise Ridge operations run by NGM are the city’s closest. And if you drive a couple hours south, you’ll find the Pan Gold Mine run by Calibre Mining Corp (TSE: CXB) (OTCMKTS: CXBMF).