Stamp Mill
Historic Structure
Documentation
The Project
Located on the hillside at the Superstition Mountain Museum in Apache Junction, Arizona, the 1914 Cossak 20-Stamp Ore Mill is a towering reminder of America’s mining past.
Stamp mills like this were the heart of ore processing from the mid-1800s through the early 1900s — using powerful steel stamps to crush gold- and silver-bearing rock into fine material ready for metal extraction.
Today, this impressive structure still operates for educational demonstrations, but its age and exposure to the elements make documentation critical for its preservation.
What Is a Stamp Mill?
A stamp mill works like a giant mechanical mortar and pestle. Heavy steel stamps lift and drop repeatedly onto the ore, crushing it into fine sand.
The sand, mixed with water, passes through screens as a slurry, exposing valuable metals like gold and silver. At the Cossak Mill, metals were recovered using mercury amalgamation and later cyanide dissolution.
The Challenge
The museum needed to:
- Capture a full, accurate digital record of the Cossak Mill in its current state.
- Support ongoing restoration and maintenance efforts.
- Create educational resources for visitors and researchers.
Our Approach
We provided a full 3D laser scanning and documentation service, delivering a complete, highly detailed digital archive.
Our work included:
- High-resolution 3D laser scans of all structural and mechanical elements.
- PDF plans and technical drawings generated from scan data.
- 3D animated models and visualizations to showcase the mill virtually.
- Archival-quality photography for exhibits and online materials
Results
Comprehensive 3D
Laser Scan Data
Accurate Digital
Preservation Assets
Educational and Public-
Facing Visual Materials
Long-Term Support for
Restoration Planning
Visitor Experience
Today, the Cossak 20-Stamp Mill is still brought to life with live demonstrations every Thursday and Saturday at the Superstition Mountain Museum. Learn more.
Thanks to digital documentation, the legacy of this incredible machine is protected for future generations to study and enjoy.
