Yes, it has, but the economic meltdown in much of the country has been a boon to the county and its 5,000 residents, 4,000 of whom live in the Battle Mountain area.\n\nThe reason: They mine gold in Lander County, a mineral-rich area that is a major reason Nevada, nicknamed the Silver State, is also the world's fourth biggest producer of gold.
A steep contraction in the per-pound price of molybdenum - down from an early-September price of $34 to just $11 by the end of the month - has significantly impacted Nevada mining companies.