Stephen M. Voynick

Climax: the History of Colorado's Climax Molybdenum Mine--mountain Press Pub Co. Stephen M. Voynick

High atop the Continental Divide, the Climax Mine opened during World War I to meet military needs for molybedenum, a metallic element that enhances the toughness and durability of steel. Climax became the most successful American company of the Great Depression, even as its workers cursed the mine as "that hellhole near the sky." During World War II, Climax single-handedly supplied the huge Allied molybedenum demand, and in the postwar years it became the world's largest underground mine. But the 1981 molybdenum-market crash caused devastating layoffs, and today Climax is working to become competitive again in a changing global marketplace. Steve Voynick's deft portrayal of Climax and its people, ane more than 100 rare photoographs, make this an invaluable addition to western mining lore.