A Most Unexpected Gold Mine In The High Sierra

This is actually not our first visit to this abandoned gold mine, but this is our first visit to THIS part of the mine. We couldn’t shake the feeling that we had missed something on our first exploring visit… So, after a couple of years, we returned to this abandoned mine high up in the mountains to take a second look at it. We found more surface workings where the miners had carved out trenches surrounding quartz veins and we observed that some of the surface workings we had seen before were looking much more eroded and precarious despite the relatively short passage of time (abandoned mines tend to have a short shelf life). Of much more significance though, while assessing what we thought was a simple ore pass to a caved adit below, we discovered something quite unexpected, which is the subject of this video…
There was some confusion on our part as to whether what we found was a simple ore pass or a shaft. So, you’ll hear us refer to it as both. It was open to the surface and dropped down through various drift levels like a shaft. However, they also dumped ore down from surface workings at the top - like an ore pass - in order for it to be processed in the mill below. Sometimes these things are difficult to classify. So, what do you think it should be called?
I apologize for the footage that is less stable than that to which you are accustomed, but you’ll recall the formula I have shared before: The more remote and harder a mine is to reach, the less gear I will be taking with me. I didn’t even have extra camera batteries for this one. Just my helmet, my handheld flashlight, gloves and my camera. That’s it. Yes, this is a remote mine.
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All of these videos are uploaded in HD, so adjust those settings to ramp up the quality! It really does make a difference…
You can click here for the full playlist of abandoned mines: goo.gl/TEKq9L
Thanks for watching!
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Growing up in California’s “Gold Rush Country” made it easy to take all of the history around us for granted. However, abandoned mine sites have a lot working against them - nature, vandals, scrappers and various government agencies… The old prospectors and miners that used to roam our lonely mountains and toil away deep underground are disappearing quickly as well.
These losses finally caught our attention and we felt compelled to make an effort to document as many of the ghost towns and abandoned mines that we could before that niche of our history is gone forever. But, you know what? We enjoy doing it! This is exploring history firsthand - bushwhacking down steep canyons and over rough mountains, figuring out the techniques the miners used and the equipment they worked with, seeing the innovations they came up with, discovering lost mines that no one has been in for a century, wandering through ghost towns where the only sound is the wind... These journeys allow a feeling of connection to a time when the world was a very different place. And I’d love to think that in some small way we are paying tribute to those hardy miners that worked these mines before we were even born.
So, yes, in short, we are adit addicts… I hope you’ll join us on these adventures!
#ExploringAbandonedMines
#MineExploring
#AbandonedMines
#UndergroundMineExploring

[@markj7612]

As a mining engineer, I can only say that you don't seem to be much concerned about losing your life in a rockfall, which only a slight vibration can set off. With that particular rock type, and its layering, the massive timbering and the present condition of the timber, that's clearly a very dangerous mine. Great video.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. This is one of my favorite mines... It's not that we're unaware of the dangers of abandoned mines, but that we choose to proceed despite these dangers.

[@CumminsDslPwr]

I showed your video to one of my neighbors who was born in 1927, and spent most of his early years as a miner and prospector till the mid 60's. He said that dynamite box was left there by "The Last Man Out", who was responsible for the collapse of the shaft. He said it was common place for the last person leaving a claim that was "Played Out", to sabotage the latest workings and sometimes the entire mine by setting off charges to keep other miners from reaping the benefits of the work that had already been done. Since I don't know any other old time miners, I will just have to take his word for it, though it does sound more likely than not.

[@TVRExploring]

Your neighbor is right. It was not uncommon for mines to be dynamited shut... In fact, the lower haulage adit that we visited the first time we came to this mine looked very much as if that had been done. When the government ordered gold mines closed during World War II, a lot of the mines were blasted shut then as the miners expected to come right back to work at the end of the war. It often didn't work out that way and they remain blasted shut.

[@ThomasConlon-Wind-Power-Pro]

Only if a mine was ordered to close by the government. All gold and silver mines were ordered closed at the beginning of WWI and WWII. The government needed the explosives, iron and steel used in quantity by mines. Also, they didn't want miners hiding out at remote mines avoiding the draft. These were mostly good mines! It was common practice to put all their tools and easily stolen equipment in a small drift and drop the roof on the front part of the drift, saving it for them when the war was over. Quite a few never returned from the war. Others went and did other things. People thought if the miners abandoned the mine, it was probably worked out. Much more common that they died in a war. People don't abandon a good mine. Usually they abandone it for much more serious reasons. Also, scrap prices went through the roof and without anyone to defend it, many old mines died by scrapers, who dynamited the machinery - often using old dynamite left at the mine - and then hauled them away. So the end actually came early.

[@georgekern7334]

That seems weird....why destroy it if it's still ore potent? Why not come back, or continue mining? It makes no sense to me...to sabatoge the mine, if they no longer intend on using it anyway. Miners are not stupid people...but that is stupid. The real reason must of been safety, so people dont go inside, and hurt themselves exploring. The idea of destroying something, still capable of producing value....that you are not going to mine anyway....just so other people cant mine it....is not smart, this does not show any type of intelligence, it's literally just stupid....and honestly nonsensicle, Greed driven? I guess so. "Hey, theres plenty of valuable ore down there, and were not gonna mine here anymore...let's blow it the fuck up for no reason, it's not like what we are mining has any value or necessity to anything" That literally CANNOT be the reason, it had to be safety, i refuse to believe otherwise. Believing otherwise, suggests that minors are stupid...and I dont think that.

[@danmiller6051]

I hate to repeat myself but the quality of your videos, the color, is just amazing and your commentary is really great.

[@TVRExploring]

It's great to hear... Thank you. Repeat yourself all you like!

[@mattwalker4264]

I know I'm late to the party but... man you crazy lol Those timbers look ready to fail at any moment 😨 Have you ever witnessed a mine collapse? Thank you for your hard work and bravery documenting these soon to be lost mines.

[@Steven-vo8tk]

Very interesting mine. So much quartz left. Thanks for sharing another great video.

[@richardrobertson1331]

Love the geology in this video. I must comment on at least two quality of miners that have worked this mine. The first ones did things well, the later ones obviously didn't have an ore processing facility outside the mine and did their "high grading" under ground. This latter group was probably a small group who wanted to take that high quality ore, separate out the visible or metal detected gold and haul it off. So much crushed ore on the floor and in piles (5:18, 2:02, 2:27) inside the mine tells me visible gold is present, and in probably significant quantities. Love this video, as I do all the stuff you guys do. Your work is a refreshing change compared to so much of the other stuff I see. By the way, this is an excellent mine to use a good quality metal detector. Thanks for your efforts!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much for the comment. I love having viewers such as yourself in the audience... You have good eyes! Yes, there was a stamp mill outside in the past, but the harsh winters took care of it a long time ago. That's interesting to me about the "high grading" you mentioned because I noticed those unusual piles, but didn't put together what I was seeing.

[@damienkashton9552]

instablaster

[@IanDarley]

Awesome as always. You are the best no nonsense mine explorer on youtube and deserve far more subs.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you, Ian, for the words of support... Much appreciated!

[@slowstang88]

Great camera work too, the other mine explorers I've seen produce some vomit inducing shaky videos

[@brucebasil4164]

Thanks for being thorough. Really appreciate the efforts.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. I know that some wish I wouldn't be so thorough and would just show the highlights, but part of this is to document exactly what is here for when it is no longer accessible and also there are people like me that are always curious about what is behind every bend... I'm glad I'm not alone!

[@Philios2Glory1]

This is far better than TV. Love your premium content!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. I'm a lot cheaper than Comcast too!

[@donaldpowers5557]

great exploration as always..the quartz vein was thick...thanks for your skills....

[@TheDisabledGamersChannel]

What a fantastic mine and a great explore, well done bro, great content as usual, you never disappoint !

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much!

[@yellowboy1866]

Another great explore thanks for dragging us along.

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks for coming along!

[@KowboyUSA]

Evidence of the hard work of tough, clever men to be seen everywhere.

[@TVRExploring]

Absolutely!

[@Alientraveler003]

Yes now we have a bunch of sisy girlish .men with thin Juan's and expensive phones . And for nothing . All that do is take pics . It's a bunch of gays .

[@robertkamenoff3918]

just getting those timbers set would leave most guys laid out... and PICKING rock?

[@richardrobertson1331]

The last paragraph of your introductory comments should be the first introductory paragraph of your eventual book (print or video)! Excellent insight, and probably the way most of your viewers and readers feel, including me. Hopefully some enterprising company will soon offer you adequate compensation for a full documentary or series. Stay safe and keep up the excellent work!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. I sure appreciate the words of support...

[@DFDuck55]

Dangerously awesome. Some nice looking quartz. This is the kind of mine that makes me wish I was 20 or 40 years younger and still healthy enough to get into places like this. I miss exploring mines.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, this was a great one for our area. "Dangerously awesome" is an excellent way to put it.

[@pizzafrenzyman]

That's a lot of rot, those areas must flood periodically. So much ore left behind, perhaps there was less gold in some of those veins. Makes me wonder about the massive gold veins that open up undiscovered just beyond where they stopped.

[@TVRExploring]

This mine is located quite high up in the mountains and the melting snow in the spring undoubtedly sends a lot of water into it. And, yes, one does wonder about what else might be here!

[@chrisboyack12345]

Love your videos, thanks for the adventures

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for the comment and for coming along on our adventures.

[@nefariumxxx]

Super cool as usual!

[@strietermarinesurvey1415]

Great video! That mine looks real dangerous, be careful and thanks for sharing!

[@mikew2046]

Great video....and thanks for the adventure I don't know how you could even take on the adventure without taking along a DETECTOR or at least a PINPOINTER You have a chance to check with today's technology that the original miners did not. Hope you go back with at least a couple of buckets and grab some samples. Thanks again for the fruits of your labor

[@TheFurriestOne]

Given the blue tinge and the specks floating on the surface I'm gonna say that winze at 6:38 was flooded. Since I didn't see/hear any obvious flow I'd guess that's all from rain via a surface connection, which also rotted the timbers. Wow, that valve looked surprisingly intact! Neat find with the candle ledges! Fun exploration!

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, it was indeed flooded. I realized when I was editing the video that I should have mentioned that it was flooded or disturbed the surface of the water because the water was so clear and still that it is hard to tell if you're not there in person.

[@TheRopeAddict]

Your videos are fantastic. However, even more fantastic, is your dedication and consistency to your vocation. I tip my hat to you.

[@hike2]

Can’t imagine hauling all those timbers in there and setting them up. Must have been a rich vein to do all that work. That quartz was really cool!

[@TVRExploring]

No, I absolutely cannot imagine trying to muscle those huge timbers into place in those tight conditions. The old timers were tough!

[@robertkamenoff3918]

@@TVRExploring imagine one of them starting a bar room brawl...

[@alexburke1899]

That fault at 8:19 is amazing. I’m always amazed how smooth and flat they are after the miners mine up to the contact and remove the quartz or ore away from the rock. You can just never really see faults like this other than in an underground mine because there’s usually dirt obscuring them at the surface, if you are even lucky enough to find one at the surface. Amazing to think about that rock being ground down flat over millions of years a little bit at a time.

[@markcantemail8018]

Thank you for the video and Thank you Chuck for keeping an eye out for your partner . I enjoy your explores and hope you both stay healthy in those places ..... Those huge tree trunks !

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you, Mark. Yes, I was pretty impressed by those tree trunks. I can't imagine muscling those things into place in those conditions...

[@Bedfordmdb]

All that amazing quartz. I'm drooling.

[@TVRExploring]

Yeah, I was pretty impressed!

[@eatsleepdrive7034]

Seems like that mine still has a lot of gold to get! Awesome video as always

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, I think with modern technology and equipment that a lot more gold could be extracted here...

[@ekummel]

This video gave me the willies more than any of your other videos....

[@TVRExploring]

I can see why. Awesome mine though...

[@1haywire]

One of the best finds yet and unexpected too!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. Yes, quite unexpected...

[@paulsouth4794]

Man ... this gave me the cold sweats ... had to stop whatching

[@grendelum]

14:32 Oh man it looks like a snow owl is watching you as you pan across the ore chute... just your light catching something white but damn that spooked me !!

[@RedmanOutdoors366]

Great video very cool mine

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you!

[@carolmoore7365]

Gotta say your one hell of a explorer,do appreciate your efforts for our entertainment,all the best to you,as well as consideration for your safety , thank you for your endeavors.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for coming along!

[@anthonywstanton]

Massive cool video sir!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you.

[@stanleystrycharz2572]

Putting your hand on the timber really gave it a scale. Those things are huge! This was a serious mine. The winze at 6:27 looks flooded but with really clean looking water. This mine must have really produced a lot of gold given how much quartz is in it. Have you ever brought a candle with you? I was told that candle light really shows off the gold flakes in the quartz. It's how the miners followed the most productive ore body's. This is an amazing working and you produce some amazing videos! Keep up the great work and stay safe. :)

[@TVRExploring]

Yeah, they weren't messing around at this mine! Yes, that winze at 6:27 was indeed flooded, but the water was as clear as a crystal. If it hadn't been flooded, I would have gone down there because it was inclined rather than vertical. However, I do draw the line at scuba diving into abandoned mines for now... We did shoot a video to show what it was like inside of a mine working with just a candle, but I haven't posted it yet. I didn't know that about the light from the candle showing off gold. I'll have to experiment with that.

[@stanleystrycharz2572]

Yeah the candle light thing was told to me at a tour of an old gold mine in southern Nevada I took a while back. They actually shut off the lights and demonstrated it at a vein of flake bearing quartz. It really works! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Techatticup_Mine This was the place. Amazing history here and all around this area.

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks for sharing that.

[@jshilohshea381]

hmm a pass shaft ??... lol glad y'all stayed safe and dry...thanks for sharing another great video..

[@ADITADDICTS]

J Shiloh Shea The winze was completely flooded but the second one with the water trickling down it we hav to go back and get into.

[@jshilohshea381]

ADIT ADDICTS bring scuba and climbing gear ?? oops too far to carry..never mind...

[@TVRExploring]

A pass shaft... I like that. And, yes, we also very much like being able to stay dry! Thanks for the comment!

[@aaronkeeth651]

sierra co.?

[@tomfips4682]

Super cool find guys. Had to produce some good numbers in it's day to have been worked over that much. All that timbering had to be a tremendous amount of work, so the pay off must have been decient. Love seeing all that quartz. Glad big, burly Mr. McBride was there to throw your skinny ass up that tiny hole. Also glad he didn't accidently hurt you in the process.(That would only acurre if you had a spider on you and he was acting in self-defence.) Well documented as always. This one won't be around much longer to see, so glad you got it for us. Hats of to ya and take care of Mr. McBride.(Never know when you need a friend to throw you somewhere.)

[@TVRExploring]

LOL, he hauls people out of holes too! Recently he lifted me right out of a hole using only one arm like I was a sack of potatoes... I didn't think I was going to be able to get up to that skinny hole, so I was real glad when he showed up and made that happen. You're right about this one not being around for too much longer. I'm real glad we were able to see what we did, but I'd love to see more of those lower levels too.

[@blackimartinez8567]

I love love ur commentary to those of us who know nothing about mining. Fascinating so keep explaining this history. No, I’m to chicken to go in a mine but I will will go with u on a video tour😂

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks for coming along!

[@577buttfan]

Yeah,this was badass!!!

[@TVRExploring]

One of my favorites...

[@stevedingman474]

Lord you have some big ass balls I have the phobia of being underground lol caves are ok if very large, no tight spots. The whole time I watch you I’m puckered up the entire time! But I can’t tear away because u will find cool stuff!

[@TVRExploring]

I'm glad I can spare you having to go down underground yourself because, yeah, it does suck sometimes!

[@sugarnads]

Me too Steve. Glad JA does it for me to see.

[@ericcorse]

I have been watching your videos for awhile and it is still amazing to me how you can lose perspective of size and even direction in a mine.

[@TVRExploring]

Ha, yes, this one was tricky because it was running down at an angle for so much of it and in two dimensions on the video, it feels weird. I had the same sensation when I was editing the video and I had been there and knew exactly what everything looked like even.

[@ADITADDICTS]

Eric Corse it's easy to get turned around sometimes.

[@ericcorse]

I don't doubt that.

[@TheSWolfe]

Agreed! As viewer/vicarious adventurer, orientation goes askew. Oftentimes, I must pause to gather clues, like, for instance, on which side of the stulls & timbering debris accumulates, the direction rock rolls & gravel slides, & how water pools & streams flow, to even determine which way is up & the camera's perspective. The explorer/videographer, on the other hand, even when visually disoriented, has the ever-present companion, gravity, affording physical perspective.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

This is one of the coolest mines I’ve seen, love the massive amount of quartz, the timbering and the amazing amount of stopes. I would be so nervous in there with all these wet rotting timbers though.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, we underestimated this one the first time we visited. I think this is a really cool mine as well and I'd love to see those lower levels that I couldn't get to this time.

[@JohannesLauesen]

Never really cared for mining... but stumbled on your channel... quite interesting, and very nice walk thru of every mine. @TVR Exploring could you one time try to bring a mining lamp of similar to let us have a look what amount of light a miner would actually have had.... can imagine it can be quite a bit more scary than having your nice lamp. Thanks for exploring for us :-)

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. I don't have a historic lamp, but I can try bringing in some candles to a mine. Those are all that were available for thousands of years.

[@CornishMineExplorer]

Those timbers are huge, practically tree trunks! Like the mines over here, the damp wet air really rots down the toughest timbers, the only wood that really works is pitch pine (hope thats right name for it) we have some in a 1850's mine that is wet nearly all year and the wood is solid! Interesting way into this mine, no doubt that was a haulage adit that once would have gone out the hill, shame the collapse blocked it. A bit of torment looking down that lower level and not being able to access it, I bet it went into more workings!!! hahaha Now you have to go back! :)

[@ADITADDICTS]

Cornish Mine Explorer yes we do. Used the rope to get in there now I have to get more! Lol

[@drumtwo4seven]

Well shiver me timbers

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, the timbers were absolutely enormous and I can't imagine muscling those things into place even with a couple of guys like Chuck helping... When we visited this mine a couple of years ago, we were blocked at all of the entrances we tried and so it was great for us to be able to get to this part at least to have some sense of what the other levels undoubtedly are like. It was painful to have to walk away from the lower levels, but, like you said, we'll have to go back!

[@CornishMineExplorer]

Good effort though, looks a amazing mine to explore!

[@CornishMineExplorer]

Oh, forgot to ask, the coloured survey tapes I see hanging up, how long ago would that have happened?

[@TickledFunnyBone]

Wow that is a huge stope and wow that is alot of Quartz

[@TVRExploring]

I was pretty impressed by all of the quartz to say the least...

[@nielsen145]

this section of the mine, what a gem, even in its water damaged state, most of the structures are still standing. you keep finding the most interresting mines ;). the last part of your video, where you film the quatz, of all shoots you have done of the quatz, this quatz, should have been sampled, due the prensence of iron. i remember the mine you visited, where you walked through complete quatz drifts, it was a tour you did, where the guide said, even all quatz here, not much was prensence there and it can be true for this mine as well. as for other minerals, might be lucky for small amout of silver. sad you couldnt visit the upper levels, besides that gap you were in, which is more like a quater lvl you went up. as for the shaft there, i think it got plugged from the collapses over time, because of the hose there and for the vinze as well in the start of the video, their might be some decent working in the lower levels, because of the huge shaft you found and the vinze showing signs going down quite a ways. have you been able to dig info on this mine?, with the amount of work there, some trails should have been left behind.

[@TVRExploring]

Ah, yes, the video with the tour was the 16-to-1 Mine... Very impressive! In regard to this mine, yes, I would love to see more of the lower workings. We'd like to see more of this one and now that we have a sense of what conditions are like inside, we can return much better prepared for the the challenges that are present here. Thanks for the comment.

[@TTT5000]

Wow, a classic orb at 6:06! Don't see those very often

[@brighthottstarr]

Damn awesome colors

[@worldtraveler930]

WOW!!

[@Mercmad]

At 19:18 as others have mentioned, it's a water pump, commonly known in the old days s a bulldozer pump because of the ability to shift a big head of water . I have been down Down Opal mines in NSW which were also like a rain forest in huge ballroom chambers. The greedy ones would also take out the pillars and at least one guy got squashed when I was there.What I 'd like to know is,where did they get the logs? bring them in from elsewhere or is there forest surrounding the mine? to drag big logs like that requires a team of horses or bullocks, all of which need looking after.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for confirming the pump. I suspected that's what it was, but I don't like looking foolish by making declarative statements that end up being incorrect. I've seen some mines with those big ballroom chambers you described and they are extremely impressive. That's sporty for anyone to chip away at those pillars though! The area immediately around the mine is semi-alpine, but there are forests relatively nearby. Mules would have been needed anyway to haul the huge boiler outside here as well as some of the other equipment...

[@phillipbaker9363]

Sierra Nevada mountains are in heavy forests; hauling was usually done by mule teams.

[@user-ok1xz5if4j]

I wouldn't dare to go inside such a dangerour mine. It looks dangerous to me... Anyway, good job! I really enjoy watching people exploring mines. Something I wouldn't do in real life for sure.

[@markhooper5824]

That was scary ace.

[@Ironsja11]

Holy cats man what a wild job of timbering that mine has! Those old boys pushed the crazy/brave envelope working that one.

[@TVRExploring]

They sure did! The old timers were tough, but that would have been a hell of a thing to be working in there...

[@rickdozier3609]

I'd be taking some samples of that quartz!

[@davebeckley2584]

Lots of quartz! Makes it hard to stop drilling and blasting since they could be a foot away from a million dollars or a million feet away from a dollar. You take some extreme chances sometimes. When I was going mine to mine I never heard of anyone trapped by either having their exit blocked or having rotten timbers give when they were underneath but I did hear a collapse in a mine I was in but I never found it. Maybe it's because I've gotten older but I don't think I would have gone under that rotten chute overloaded with rubble. I think it's that as I get older I worry about not getting older. What would your mom say? That was a good video anyway, thanks.

[@TVRExploring]

The temptation to go for just one more foot in the hopes of finally hitting the gold must have been a powerful force on these miners... My mother wouldn't like it, I can assure you of that. She also worries about the amount of time I spend in war zones, me riding motorcycles, etc. My poor mother has to endure a lot.

[@kevintomes3786]

WOW!! Those timbers !! Thank you for getting in there. One day most of this one will be gone. Good video.

[@TVRExploring]

I sure was impressed by the timbers! Yes, unfortunately, you're right and a lot of these mines are disappearing quickly...

[@chrisackerley1842]

You should grab a chunk of that quartz out of the ore shute and have it assayed.

[@newellbate]

very cool

[@RicardoGonzalez-ww3ov]

Everytime I see those big timbers deep in the mines I just imagine how hard it was to get those up and in place especially when they are going vertical !

[@TVRExploring]

Not easy at all!

[@Lalunabreeze]

Rough cut rock. Ty interesting mine.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, this is one of my favorite mines...

[@richardbidinger2577]

Videos are always great. Was kind of wondering if you guys ever take any material out and have it tested to see if there's any gold left. This mine looked like it could have had quite a lot left behind.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. Yes, undoubtedly, there is a fair amount of rich material left at this mine since the whole top of the mountain is essentially quartz. We actually don't take samples out because we wish to avoid any troubles in case the abandoned mine happens to be a part of a larger mining claim belonging to someone. Also, we're not miners. Too much work!

[@brighthottstarr]

Looks fun

[@TVRExploring]

It is!

[@ronniecardy]

Was thinking I had saw this mine b4 went and watched it again

[@TVRExploring]

It is an impressive one...

[@docmccoy1928]

First off with the size of those stulls can you imagine having to pound them into place. The candle soot and type of stulls show the age of the mine but it's clear some modern working has been done due to the pipes etc. With that amount of quartz the amount of gold they took probably justify 's the many stopes. I think that may have been a sump pump of some kind but I am ust guessing. You know with the age of that mine that many if not most of those stulls were put in with either candle or carbide lamp light. Can't even imagine that. Nice explore. Be safe as always guys

[@TVRExploring]

No, I can't imagine muscling those huge stulls into place, especially in the awkward places they hammered them into. And, like you said, also doing it by candle light! Those old timers were tough! I've tried to pin down when this mine first started being worked, but haven't found any reliable data on that. Those quartz veins run right to the surface and definitely would have gotten the attention of any early prospectors passing through the area.

[@001desertrat3]

TVR -- I can't imagine them muscling those huge stulls into place either , so that leaves only one other alternative , lol , they must have planted Seeds and let those Stulls GROW into place . LOL ! - ( think of Jack and the Bean Stalk ) LOL .

[@TVRExploring]

LOL, that almost seems more plausible to me than the miners heaving those massive stulls into place!

[@Mr42960]

I really enjoy your videos. I would not want to go through some of the spots I see down there! Have you guys ever found a nugget in a wall or on a debris pile when you explore?

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you! Yes, we have seen gold in some of the placer mines we have visited before.

[@Josh-mh3kl]

Nice camera quality. Looks like the beginning of a good horror flick

[@davidmicheletti6292]

Judging by how much quartz remains the must be a great deal of ore remaining in this mine.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, the whole top of this mountain is essentially quartz.

[@davidpotter9462]

Looks like a compressed air winch.. have heard they're pretty rare

[@brentkeller3826]

13:43 here's that bulkhead, and now we're going to check out this random monster encounter behind us. *little goblin warrior holding a small loot chest while looking quite surprised to see people*

[@TVRExploring]

That would have made for a great video...

[@brentkeller3826]

It was good already. I'd have been geeking out over the quartz in that one, er, sump by that stope for lack of a better description. I'd probably still be down there. "You coming?" "In a minute!"

[@TVRExploring]

LOL, yes, you didn't see my reaction before I turned the camera on, but I was geeking out as well by that one!

[@oldschoolmoto]

nice one fellas use chuck for a rope anchor lol thumbs up

[@ADITADDICTS]

d pete hell I already boosted him up to the other levels so why not! Lol

[@TVRExploring]

Ha, that's not a bad idea. He hauled me out of a hole once with just one arm, so I know he can do it!

[@jimanderson953]

19:26, Looks like a direct acting pump, have seen them steam driven in the oil field.

[@cameronmccreary7697]

It's nerve racking just to see all that stuff above; one small bad movement and the whole thing could come down.

[@drumtwo4seven]

I gave this video a thumbs up #94 and a view #861 not to forget comment #53

[@TVRExploring]

Haha, thank you...

[@npsit1]

19:30 I'd be willing to bet that it is an air powered water pump. It has the driving piston ( like a steam engine on one side, with the steam chest/valve on top of it) and the pump on the other side.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. Yes, that would definitely make sense...

[@jackjacke4654]

It's just amazing what men did back in those days. WoW! One had candles and dynamite. Hard to believe... And the quartz still in there is nuts! I'd be taking a few trinkets with me.

[@TVRExploring]

Yeah, I can't imagine working in those conditions... That quartz in there would be a powerful motivator to keep going though.

[@jackjacke4654]

@@TVRExploring If i was getting rich from it yeah! If i was just a miner working for someone. Heck no! Gotta wonder how many men went crazy in there with no lights to speak of. Also how many may have died... Scarey...

[@TVRExploring]

They worked this one in the winter too when the snow would be over the roofs of the buildings. So, after many hours spent underground, they'd go through a snow tunnel to back inside of a dark building. Tough life...

[@jackjacke4654]

@@TVRExploring Those were real men! today no one can do a dam thing without a phone or bitchin about something...

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

Just about need a plum-bob in order to see what direction is up and down!

[@TVRExploring]

Haha, yes, it was weird editing the video even though I had been there and knew exactly what it looked like...

[@MacPhooey]

It helped when you said, “this is straight down.” Because when you turned around it felt like it was still horizontal. I like that you say, “I just came from up there,” etc. it keeps us from getting disoriented. I never feel lost when I watch your videos. I like that you go all the way to the end (or face) of an adit to check. A lot of times it looks like it’s the end from far away, but it turns out it isn’t the case, the adit turns or something. Thanks for making these videos, I really enjoy them!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. Yes, I always try to be very clear about directions and where I'm coming from and such because I know it can get very disorienting at home.

[@kinyon2]

Where is this at?

[@CoryKing]

This type of stope freaks me out. A *huge* narrow sloped chambers with a bagillion tons of mountain above held up by rotted tree trunks. I don’t think I have what it takes to go into that kind of stope. Also, in some other video you mentioned “Frank and Paul”. Are you referring to the “exploring abandoned mines and unusual places” Frank and Paul?

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, that stope was pretty wild... And, yes, that is the same "Frank and Paul" that I am referring to. I've gone out on a couple of trips with them.

[@CoryKing]

TVR Exploring good stuff. I love these mine exploration videos.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Where in Nevada are you? Maybe this one is California? I ask because I grew up between Las Vegas and Henderson, when it was still desert. We had no neighbors the first year or so, but it didn't take long for the town to move out past us. Now I hear it go's clear out to Lake Mead........we left in 1979 and I have not been back. Hard to imagine.....

[@TVRExploring]

This one is in Northern California... You left Nevada at a good time. It is still a great state, but not like it was.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Except for the heat, I liked it down there, but I was glad to leave. There was getting to be too many people.

[@TVRExploring]

I hear you on there being too many people... You're a man after my own heart on that matter.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@kenmccormick3052]

safety first.

[@billyproctor9714]

Bigger balls than I, Thanks for sharing with us.

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks for coming along...

[@TheNimshew]

That's old! Candles were held by "Tommy Stickers" A iron spike curled at the back with a small piece of tin welded to it. They wrapped the tin around the candle and jammed the spike in a crack or timber. "Tommy" comes from the many Cornish tin miners that worked during the 1850's and 60's. There's a Cornish Christmas in Nevada City.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, this is definitely an old one... Thanks for the terminology on the "Tommy Stickers." Are they still doing the Cornish Christmas in Nevada City? I remember going when I was a kid, but it has been a long time now.

[@TheNimshew]

Yes, I believe so. The timber work looks like experienced miner work and certainly early enough when timber that size was readily available.I've donated two "tommy stickers" to the Paradise Gold Nugget museum.

[@matermangros]

@19:09 ...water pump...maybe sump pump

[@leehilton9932]

I'll almost bet if you processed all that ore in the stopes you could actually come out with a profit.

[@TVRExploring]

I expect so...

[@kengamble8595]

The vapor I was seeing from your breath, was it because of air temperature being cold or because of so much humidity ? Like I've said before, no way in hell that I would go down in a hole the way you do but I can watch someone else ! 😊 Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍 👍

[@TVRExploring]

I'm not 100% certain, but it appears to be a combination of lower temperatures and higher humidity. I've never had it happen in a dry mine no matter how cold it is outside. Thanks for the comment.

[@georgekern7334]

I love this shit, it's like real life minecraft

[@perfection4749]

Dude, there has to be gold laying on the floor, at least enough to pay for your trip.

[@ADITADDICTS]

Libranitus Johnson I looked.....hard!

[@deepbludude4697]

So are those timbers burned? it almost looks like they where scorched? Another awesome upload.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. No, timbers in wet mines always end up that color for some reason. Not sure why...

[@001desertrat3]

Justin -- @ 19:25 that's a small Air Operated Piston Pump for pumping Water . --- < Doc > .

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks, Doc. I wish it were still working because I'd love to have seen those lower levels!

[@001desertrat3]

@@TVRExploring -- Even if it were in perfect working order , and you had the Compressed Air to power it ; I hope you don't mind waiting a lifetime for that little pump to de-water the lower levels of that mine . Lol . --- < Doc > . ( PS: Since the lower levels are flooded , that little pump would be about the right size to Draft from the lower levels and act as a Booster Pump to supply water for a few Jacklegs . But it;s no where near big enough for de-watering that mine . ) .

[@AbandonedMaine]

Wonder if this one of the mines that the war production board shut down after WW2?

[@TVRExploring]

I don't know, but, yes, we were speculating about that too. The age of the equipment, timbers, etc. seems to fit.

[@ADITADDICTS]

Fredrick Laverdiere Actually it was idle at the point when ww2 broke out but there still has to be tons of gold in the sulfides.

[@aaronkeeth651]

ADIT ADDICTS sulphides don't pay in a situation like this, unless you have an existing mill close by the trucking would eat you alive. probably wind up owing after the fact.

[@RelaxationMusicSleepSounds]

Did you got any gold ?

[@edwardjonez6615]

THE BIG IIRON TEM YOU FOUND LOOKED TO BE A INGERSOL OR WORTHIGTON AIR POWERED PUMP.

[@sylviakoziarski4912]

My uncle had an Indiana Jones life. He prospected for gold in Alaska for a large company, he was able to keep some of the gold he prospected. He had an old 'straight from Hollywood' cowboy hat that he made a hat band for. Someone he knew put tie tacks on the backs of the nuggets. That was one cool hat. He walked thru Chinook Mall and other places and people who saw him had no Idea how much that hat was worth with all those gold nuggets. This was in the 70's.

[@TVRExploring]

Your uncle sounds like he would be fun to spend some time with! I love characters like that... So, what did he do after prospecting for gold in Alaska in the 70s?

[@tutekohe1361]

"Engine" at 19:30 looked like a water pump driven by, probably, compressed air.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you.

[@sportclay1]

hydraulic pump for drill @ 19:25

[@ericcorse]

I was going to say water pump but you are correct (IMO opinion anyway).

[@andrewkeepers431]

Drills in mines like this were either pneumatic, or steam if before the 1890s. Hydraulic drills came much later. It's most likely a pneumatic water pump for pumping out lower workings.

[@bobrenner7213]

Water pump was my guess.

[@bfk1970]

My guess was a high pressure grout pump for stabilising roof reinforcement.

[@deesmith5600]

Man, What a mess.

[@scottgregory9672]

We need a compilation of “Top 10 mines we’d reopen”

[@TVRExploring]

That's actually quite a good idea...

[@PlanetMojo]

It's hard to convey scale on video. I did the same with some massive trees on our property -- and they looked like any old tree on the video -- anyway, another great exploration!

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, two dimensions are very limiting for scale, I'm afraid. One of the downsides of video...

[@powercat2537]

How do you find your way out?

[@TVRExploring]

It's easier to keep it straight in your head when you're there in person.

[@5Dworld]

during which years was this mine in operation?

[@TVRExploring]

Records are few and far between, but work started in the 1800s when prospectors spotted the quartz on the surface. The last work appears to have been in the 1930s or possibly up until the War Act forced gold mines to close down.