Abandoned Mining Operation - Family Forced to Leave Everything Behind

[@janblake9468]

The National Park Service kicked out all the cinder miners (and cattle ranchers) when they took over the eastern Mojave Desert in the 1990's. The yellow pickup is an ex-military M37 Dodge likely from the 1950's.

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Thanks Jan. Apparently this particular case is still going on!

[@richardbeee]

Seems it was the late seventies or very early '80's that a friend of mine took me out there. The people i met were the kindest souls ive ever met. Seems like there was some dispute about a signed contract with the state. They use to use cinder on icy roads. Then the fuzzy headed tree huggers and other organizations got involved saying natural rock was harming the environment. So all bets were off. They got a hold of me to assay it, thinking maybe, just maybe, they could find another leg to stand on. It was the BLM that eventually booted them off the property that should have been given a deed to. They did everything right. Improved the land, supplied a product, even paid taxes. Yet they still took the property from them. That was a very beautiful house. All the equipment ran nice. Alas, what's a man to do? Great video, nice camera, and the editing was awesome. The improvements y'all make can really be seen on a weekly basis. Be cool 😎. Stay safe. Next time......😊

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Such a tragedy Richard. We have heard that they have won a small court case this January. Hopefully it will be resolved soon.

[@richardbeee]

@@PinInTheAtlas yea, I read that in y'alls comments.

[@Britcarjunkie]

@@richardbeee "They used to use cinder on icy roads..." I guess driving trucks for the past 24 years really is turning me into an idiot: I've only seen 3 or 4 videos of people exploring old cinder mines, and always asked myself "Duh - what do they use that for?" - I only see the stuff everytime I drive across western states!!! Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Nevada, all use the stuff, while California and Oregon "allegedly" (I see them use it sometimes) banned calcium chloride & any glycol-based liquids (de-icer fluids), because the same tree huggers went after them for that stuff, too. Good thing about this stuff is, it can be re-used to a point: about this time of year, the state sends sweeper trucks out to clear the highways of the stuff, and they re-use what they can. They gotta use something, or every road would be shut down every winter.

[@richardbeee]

@@Britcarjunkie yea. That's what I thought it was used for and why the contracts were broke. Thanks for the info. They were really nice people. I hope they get a little something, if not a lot.

[@doug6885]

The family got a small court victory in January, so hopefully they can someday recover and rebuild.

[@PinInTheAtlas]

That’s good

[@jerroldmcley4347]

And that place is 👍😎 awesome I would definitely live there

[@kathleenhack3897]

I really love your program. Love the studying you do on the history you present. So interesting. Kate in Texas 🤠👍

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Thank you Kate. Appreciate your comment.

[@seb3317]

Love the video guys !

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Thanks Seb ❤️

[@granddad-mv5ef]

You are right not to disclose the location. And this is the very first time ever hearing of a cinder mine. It certainly never occurred to me cinders are mined, I (incorrectly) assumed them a waste product of a blast furnace.

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Cinder is also used in asphalt apparently. Sad story but let’s hope something positive happens soon. The court case is still going on

[@DecayWithUs]

Might not be super old, but it's super cool.... I'm super jealous!

[@PinInTheAtlas]

This was a very fun find for sure!

[@noahcount7132]

Very interesting video, Steve and Andrea. 👍 In addition of the abandonment of the overall site, it would be interesting to know what manner of injustice was responsible for the removal of the family from their home. Places like this have such a sad air about them.

[@PinInTheAtlas]

It was something to do with BLM. Apparently the family have just had a small win in court!

[@brianshersby8979]

Hi Steve and Andrea - nice video, with the atmospheric music. Always something desperately sad about seeing what was once someone's home with their belongings still in it, especially in the beautiful but remote and lonely setting of what I would guess is the Mojave Desert.

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Way out there Brian.

[@mikekares-b8q]

Like you guys said I wish people would just leave these places be and not distroy them , nature does a pretty good job on its own . Thanks Guys great content as always .

[@PinInTheAtlas]

So true

[@RalphGuest]

Good to see you again. It’s been awhile. Love the camera work. I’ll bet you’re around the cinder cones on Aiken in the Mojave. Interesting fact that only a little of all mined cinder was used

[@PinInTheAtlas]

@@RalphGuest glad to hear from you again. we post new content every week. Haven’t missed a Tuesday. Hope you manage a catch up

[@davec9244]

You did it again Magoo, a trip to the loo. thank you two. stay safe ALL

[@normstephens8354]

Interesting explore! Funny how Uncle Sam operates at times ... makes a person think there are some corrupt politicians pulling strings in the background! I was thinking about you guys today as I was repairing my push mower with square nails! Someday someone will find that mower and think Sears and Roebuck got a much earlier start at selling gasoline mowers! 🙂

[@PinInTheAtlas]

🤣

[@Britcarjunkie]

I'm guessing that part of what happened here, was the family applied for the patent on the claim - right before Congress decided to have the BLM cease issuing patents on mine claims (that happened in the early to mid '90's): the BLM ended up dragging the process out past the deadline, then said "No.". If that claim is one of two that I'm thinking of, then because of where its located, they were forced to stop all activity...if it wasn't where I think it is, it would still be in operation, even without a patent on the claim. I'm actually amazed that the feds didn't clear everything off the land, as they often do under such circumstances...maybe the family slapped them with an injunction?

[@PinInTheAtlas]

That is very possible!

[@Britcarjunkie]

@@PinInTheAtlas The other thing to note, is if the claim was established AFTER that deadline, another law passed at the same time, made it illegal to construct any permanent structures (cabins, homes, or any other buildings). Clearly based on construction, the claim was established before that time, which (again, depending on where the claim is located - I'm not telling, either!), would allow for continued maintenance, as well as occupation for upto 180 days at a time, without a patent on the land. I'm also guessing that the legal battle is with a BLM that contradicted itself, and not the NPS, but I could be wrong. (I studied up on this stuff before buying my mine claims, to ensure I didn't end up in such a position!)

[@apocyldoomer]

Good stuff y’all, Happy Trails

[@buckwheatsofia]

So sad and so unfair. Can’t understand how people can be so destructive to things that aren’t theirs. Thanks for a great video. Stay safe!

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Thanks Becky. Glad you enjoyed it

[@lesleyrobbins1137]

The desert is full of stories like this. What a harsh ending.

[@davidensign5172]

Tuesday Lunch & Learn - thanks! Such a loss for the family. Many jumbled thoughts roaming through my head. Difficult to reduce to writing. Appreciate your work and presentation. Bon Voyage!

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Thank you David. Wishing you and Virginia well. Take care

[@Hopefloats54]

The sad thing is the damage done is not by young stupid kids. They can't get to most of these locations. It's older kids and people who DO know better. I'm glad you keep these locations quiet so more is not done. Thank you 💚

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Sadly you are right. Thanks for watching

[@michaeljimenez1203]

I just saw that video of two guys destroying what Mother Nature took Millions of years to make, near Lake Mead. Andrea said Disgusting, when seeing that cake in the frig. That's the word that came to mind, when I saw that Video.

[@michaeljimenez1203]

Oh, Andrea ! I think your top is " Far Out "

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Absolutely disgusting Michael

[@PinInTheAtlas]

@@michaeljimenez1203 wonder if anything will happen to those guys who filmed themselves destroying stuff. Or were they paid to do it?

[@pixelpeter3883]

Loved the cinematic opening. Great area, very volcanic with several cinder-cones around. Great combo with all those joshua trees.

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Glad you enjoyed it Peter. Did you see lasts week explore?

[@pixelpeter3883]

@@PinInTheAtlas I never miss a PITA exploration :-)

[@rhondaz356]

What a sad story that is. To lose everything, due to bureaucracy, makes it even worse. Even if they ever return, everything seems beyond repair. Thank you, so much, Andrea and Steven, for your coverage.👏🏻👏🏻🏚

[@PinInTheAtlas]

You’re welcome Rhonda

[@jerroldmcley4347]

Looks like they had a pretty good operation there I guess the government couldn't stand that they were doing so well out there

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Still going through the courts apparently Jerrold

[@loisc5232]

Happy Tuesday, another great adventure, thanks Andrea & Steve. 😍

[@PinInTheAtlas]

You’re welcome

[@DeborahFlorian-gy6lw]

What a desperately sad story. There are no guarantees, no sense of justice. And that cake left behind in the fridge, they must have been so bereft they just couldn't eat it. Hope these people get some relief through the courts but as we can see they lost everything.

[@PinInTheAtlas]

It was a candle in the shape of a cake I think! Apparently they have won a small court case at the beginning of the year. Who knows what will happen!

[@jerroldmcley4347]

People go out there and could camp out in that place but they destroy how freaking stupid is that

[@PinInTheAtlas]

So true.

[@roseapple8786]

So sad that they lost everything. Thank you for sharing and God Bless you and your family. Be safe wherever you go. 🥰👍👍👍👍👍(🌹🐞🦂🌵)

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Thank you Rose.

[@nekto34]

I don't get why people have the urge to shoot at things. Yes, these things are abandoned in the middle of nowhere. But still, why shoot at them? Are they practicing shooting up cars? Will they ever need these skills?

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Totally agree

[@RaymondCoggins-xd2re]

Another Awesome adventure with my pin and beers cheers 🥂 so much left behind love your videos ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Thanks Raymond. We love your comments. ❤️

[@candymcclure2476]

Hi guys, All through the video (which was very interesting) I kept wondering about why those people were forced out of their home. Gramma Candy

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Not sure but the family had done everything right. Apparently the case is still going on.

[@tinadelwiche416]

And people whine and cry about hardship in life today. Way back when life was much harsher.. Love your blouse Andrea in this video. Nice find 😊

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Thanks Tina

[@dezertraider]

COOL.SAFE TRAVELS

[@OdySlim]

As usual, fine Job! Thank You es Regards from Ody Slim

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Thank you

[@olliespackrt5763]

What is cinder used for please?

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Asphalt

[@mikekares-b8q]

Hey Steven seems like Andrea is extra observant today She's got the theory's going on today 😊

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Always

[@weswalker1208]

We don't Heat hot water LOL I love the Hardware Home Improvement joke

[@robertlyman9789]

Surprised no kid has hauled that old Datsun wagon off yet!

[@PinInTheAtlas]

That’s why we don’t give out locations.

[@dawnac6453]

So if they built that home on claim that wasn't yet patented and had no legal deed to the land then yes the BLM can force the people off the claim and cease all mining activity. It says right in the mining laws that you can't build living structure(home, cabin, etc) on unpatented mining claims, until the patent was fully processed and land deed in hand. I'm thinking thats the main reason they got kicked off the land... They didn't have full patency on the property and they built the house and stuff anyways.

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Someone left a comment saying that the family had a small court success in January! Who knows what will happen

[@dawnac6453]

@@PinInTheAtlas I'm thinking that might've just been so they can come back and get whatever belongings they had. They'd have to actually go thru the federal court system to overturn or appeal the BLM decision on the property and mine itself.

[@kerryjacobson5465]

Sad ending of somebody's dream! Not all goes as planned! Great video, as always! Oh, seems I'm first to comment. Yay!😁

[@PinInTheAtlas]

Yay Kerry. Yes it is sad. You just never know what the future holds

[@brianmarywapshott2593]

So I wonder what these grubs would say if someone did the same damage to their home ???, some people just can't help themselves and have to destroy everything they come across, it's a shame to see this sort of behaviour nowadays, well done and keep it up while remaining safe at all times Cheers

[@PinInTheAtlas]

@@brianmarywapshott2593 totally agree. No accountability these days!

[@casedoumasr656]

Hello so this was a family based cinder mine somewhat like a gravel and sand pit operation right But this is based on volcanic rock then crushed for road ways i guess .Any way this family has a on going ownership claim and there age is against them from 3 decades ago but yet they paid property taxes on lan🚜land that BLM said was not theres so depends on the very long Court appeals if they LOOSE they sould get the taxes Back for 3 decades ago with interest if the court says it was not there's why pay taxes ⛏️🤔 sorry i got off track yes so sad seeing all the hard work they did sad sad butvthank you for the explore and the history ⛏️🙏🤔take care and beware when paying taxes

[@PinInTheAtlas]

It’s quite scary how things like this can happen!

[@weswalker1208]

No offense but you sound exactly like Tom Fenton

[@PinInTheAtlas]

He was a real reporter knew the score reported intelligently and objectively. So no, we don’t take offence and appreciate the compliment.

[@weswalker1208]

@@PinInTheAtlas I appreciate that you appreciate the compliment. He is well well-spoken and informative part of that is the voice and delivery. I appreciate your response and I will watch even more attentively

[@bradbundy1471]

They claimed cinder wasn't environmentaly friendly? So they use salt for icy roads. That's great for the environment pluse it does wonders for cars.. WTH?! 🥸