In the West, early mining district record books can serve as an important source of historic context material. In some cases, these record books document the formation of miners' committees that established district laws and recorded the tenuous ownership of mineral deposits. A hypothetical example of the value of these early records might involve a prospect pit discovered in an 1860s gold district, but abandoned after the first rush. Lacking these records to provide historic context information that links the property with the early gold rush era, the evaluation may be based solely on the marginal integrity that the property exhibits today. Such an evaluation would overlook the prospect pit's critical association with a significant period in mining history.
Oral histories can also serve as an important source of historic context information.
Individuals living near historic mining areas may offer valuable information about resources in a given locale. In some cases, previous oral history studies will already have documented these stories either on tape or in print. In other cases, researchers may have to seek out individuals capable of providing valuable perspectives concerning local mining properties. There are many books and other sources of information on the history of mining. These studies help provide a general understanding of mining history.