Deep Blue Mystery Mineral Inside An Abandoned Mine In Nevada

[@Tbowie13]

I just saw your video and its almost a yr. old so I’m sure there is a response about the blue in the comments but its Azurite. It can be worth pretty good money for nice samples…I have spent quite abit of money collecting it and its “commom partner” Malachite. That is most likely an old copper mine as azurite and malachite form with copper. Azurite actually consists of copper hydroxyl carbonate and is found in the upper oxidation zone of copper ore. its formed by water containing carbon dioxide reacting with copper bearing minerals or by cupric salts reacting with limestone. Thats probably way more than you wanted to know about the blue…lol. anyhow hope that helps.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for the detailed response.

[@JF-fx2qv]

I'm late too.

[@dondenter]

At first thought it might be copper sulfate but stand corrected.

[@bobbyforce1957]

Hey, thanks alot

[@AGDinCA]

The detailed response is appreciated by many of us, I guarantee you!

[@GroovySquiddo]

I thought he was gonna say “almost looks like the lapis lazuli you see in minecraft”

[@cmw_0739]

Alexander_Cdn same lol

[@Josh-je2ni]

Same!!

[@Mazuty]

Ong

[@Neo-Kable]

Yeah sames

[@thenovice3602]

Alexander_Cdn I think he purposefully said Afghanistan just to throw us off 😂

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

When I was in the Army and stationed in southern cali, I found a lot of abandoned mines in the training area of Fort Irwin. The local historian from the nearby town of Barstow told us that almost all of the mines (which there could be thousands) were never properly mapped. I subbed to this channel because it reminded me of finding those mines. Thanks for sharing!

[@Marcus_Prather]

The same thing out in 29 palms, we use to ride atv's and dirt bikes and find random caves out in the desert.

[@williamkowalchik572]

George Air base?

[@ManiPureheart]

Nevada is famous for silver and copper. The deep blue mineral is Azurite and I also saw traces of green in the walls which is most likely Malachite. There will probably also be veins of Turquoise in the mine. The Azurite specimens have a fairly good retail market value and , if it is hard material, the Turquise can run several hundred dollars a pound. Based on the canned milk box, the mine was probably active in the middle of last century..

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, there are a lot of silver and copper mines in Nevada! Azurite and chalcanthite have been coming in as the top picks among viewers... Thank you for your analysis.

[@ManiPureheart]

TVR Exploring ... as a gemologist and lapidary for over 50 years, I can tell you the the color, as seen on my TV, is definitely that of Azurite. Calcanthite is a MUCH lighter color of blue. On a side note, we just discovered your videos yesterday, and binge watched for nearly 6 hours. Wish we were younger. Your explorations look like a LOT of fun!

[@gratefulguy4130]

Yes, I have to agree with Mani. The bulbous structure and color made it very obvious it was azurite. Calcanthite would be different color and formation. Looks like there may have been decent specimens in there, usually in a mine that is closer to civilization, anything with a pretty color will have been hauled out long ago, because of what Mani said about the minerals hanging out near copper deposits (such as turquoise).

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, this one is in a VERY remote, inaccessible location and so that preserved the contents quite well. Thanks for the comment.

[@nwe2009]

Mani KZbin cut off the end of your comment! Active in the middle of what???

[@jimmyeastwoodjonnyfleeeast1578]

Copper base gold mine, azurite, bindamite, brichantite, linerite, antlerite. Are possible minerals I could identify as you walked through. Good find.

[@dickjohnson1987]

Chalcanthite

[@patwoodson9599]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing! My Dad was a miner. Killed in a Colorado mine in 1974. I know he would of went in there with you but probably couldn't fit thru entrance. He had his own claim by Darwin, CA in the 60's. Love this stuff!

[@louiscypher7090]

You got set of balls on you going in there alone.

[@TVRExploring]

Well, someone's got to do it, right?

[@AlecBaldwin5816]

krokodil addicts could have been there.

[@rageaholicfilms6556]

I do it all the time not many have an adventurous soul

[@bigd-1-channel514]

My thoughts exactly, so far out and away from any sort of help, BIG BALLS.

[@uncleheffe309]

Scary, I'm the type that would have talked us right back outta there.

[@mikhail2400]

I would be more comfortable working 300 foot in the air than I would be 20 foot inside that mine or any other mine. Ive never liked the feeling of being underground no matter how well it was built. The people who go crawling into tiny cracks in the earth for kicks are completely beyond my comprehension.

[@josephbragg5020]

I very much enjoyed working in the air myself.

[@nulife022]

As a follow-up comment, blue mud and rock (not the bright blue mineral in the video) usually indicates mining of silver, sulfates of silver are blue, like the "blasted blue stuff," the heavy mud the early Comstock miners pushed aside to get to the much less abundant gold, which turned out to be high-grade silver ore. Copper mines usually have a lot of green-streaked quartz and rocks in the tailing dumps. The walls of the tunnels seem to have a lot of blue in them. The mine in the video is probably from late in the second active period of mining in Nevada, from 1900 into the 1920s, judging by the artifacts. That being said, what a great adventurous video - I'm too chicken to go back very far in the old mines, so I watch your explorations with tremendous interest. Many thumbs up!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. Yes, I think you're right about the time period when this mine was active.

[@hiramabiff9138]

Carnation condensed milk was produced since 1899 but took the name Carnation Milk in 1901. The company was eventually sold to Nestle in 1986 who still makes the milk today, but now it is called "Nestle's Carnation Cooking Milk". Cardboard boxes have been used since the 1800s, and it was around the early 1900s that most companies were moving from wood boxes to cardboard, so we wouldn't be able to tell much from that unless someone knows a detailed history of when Carnation Milk started using cardboard boxes. I do know that the graphics on the can changed over the years, either including or not including the torches on either side or heraldry symbol Fleur-de-lis around the top of the can, earlier cans also had the word Carnation in cursive and the word Milk had an outline around the letters, the carnation flowers also had more of a white detail around the edges. Though I'm not entirely sure, I believe these graphics began changing sometime around 1922. Seeing that the can on the box looks as though it does not have the heraldry symbol at the top, but the word Carnation is cursive and the outline exists around the word milk, and most importantly, the torches are present; this tells me the box is in all likeliness from 1924-1925 after the heraldry symbol was removed, later the torches, then the name color, style and flower design was changed. By 1926-1927 the torches and heraldry symbols were gone completely, the name was changed to green in color, but the cursive font and outline around the word Milk remained until sometime in the 1930s; these changes I believe were spurred by the release of Carnation Malted Milk in 1927. In an advertisement from 1922, Carnation encouraged campers to always take condensed milk. "When the coffee's hot, Be sure to take plenty of Carnation Milk with you when you go into the woods on your camping trip. It is as important an item as bacon or coffee. It will keep perfectly no matter how long you are gone and you will have use for it three times each day for cooking, drinking and in your coffee. Just cows' milk evaporated and sterilized, Carnation belongs in every duffle bag". ref. i.imgur.com/NGK6sMc.jpg - Note; the cans graphics do vary slightly between the ad and the can shown on the box, but this is because of the aforementioned changes happening between 1924-1927. I believe it was these kinds of ads which influenced these miners to take it with them, and may also be the cans we saw inside the hut near the fire, though we can't say for sure. I should mention, that I am by no means an expert on any of this and most of the years I provided are based on my own estimates after the little research I had done into early Carnation Milk history and advertising.

[@TVRExploring]

Wow, thank you for the great research on this. Very interesting!

[@jacksparrow-kj2qq]

Hiram Abiff wow

[@Endersgamejp]

@@TVRExploring The miners graphity did say x69x

[@mediaartistree0929]

Hiram Abiff q

[@davidvincent3948]

Thank you my traveling friend maybe some day when I am out at one of these in the east we shall meet and talk

[@theogdirkdiggler]

to set a mill on that location meant every piece had to be brought in on a donkeys back......Amazing, speechless.... fantastic presentation!

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, it is amazing to me that they even brought rail in, but bringing in ore carts and, especially, a mill? That is almost inconceivable given how rough the conditions back there were. Those old timers were tough! Thank you for the comment.

[@_trashvis_]

just randomly popped up in my recommendations, actually not mad. i really love geology.

[@AGumptionProduction]

You get mad if you get recommendations you don’t like? 🤔maybe I should try that!

[@emme6055]

@@AGumptionProduction it's not that literal

[@happywife5644]

I love spending the last 25 yrs in Nevada Desert,weather permitting, we jump on Quads and search mines as a days off recreation. The preservation is as fantastic as the video clearly shows. Be safe Guys..I never explore alone..you are brave!

[@robertlobito6584]

Im i the only one waiting for something scary every time he focus his flashlight ahead? hahaha

[@sarahdiaz266]

Actually. No your not the only one. I'm looking and waiting for the same thing to happen. Ugh. But it Never dose. And I thought I was the only one. Ha, ha, ha. Lol.

[@josephschofield4210]

don’t apologize for slipping it’s ok :(

[@lmao5]

pretty wholesome comment

[@realrickharrison3103]

You fool person

[@Right_Stuffsc]

Thanks for giving us chance to see such beautiful old mine that abandoned for so long.. you are really very brave man. if i were there alone. i would not dare to get more deep inside it. truly thank you man.

[@Askjeffwilliams]

the last cross cuts ...especially to the left had great Limonite in it with copper carbonate ....which means could be Gold and a quick sample will tell you that. If you ever get the chance grab some of that nice red material and screen it through a 20 mesh screen an pan it .you may be on something

[@onewhitestone]

so you know what I want to say??? Com'on Jeffery, letssssgoooooo....

[@Yummypikletits]

Ask Jeff Williams i agree, it looks as if the old miners ran out of funds or their wifes found out.

[@TVRExploring]

Ask Jeff Williams Thank you for that. I was hoping you'd comment on this one...

[@tanksoldier9770]

Ask Jeff Williams Jeff and Slim wish you were there on this trip TANK

[@ickn2005]

lt puts a smile on my face to see you here.

[@williambramhall446]

My father, was born in 1918. He logged and mined. Told me stories of his experiences. Awesome.

[@PhotonBread]

I have no clue why I watched this but genuinely not upset I did

[@Matt_10203]

Nice profile pic

[@steampog]

I took my Glaucoma medication and started flipping thru YT. Not disappointed. That Azurite is gorgeous, probably worth some freedom bucks.

[@PhotonBread]

MattDSTNY thanks man

[@chadwrankle]

Same

[@ChillinWithBrody]

Oh and that blue stuff is where Heisenberg hid the last of his product.

[@9WEAVER9]

I do believe it's azurite, a copper based mineral.

[@rapperc18]

Thanks for taking us on that journey! Beautiful country and a beautiful mine!

[@HintOfLogic]

You're like 20 ft. into the mine and I'm already having a claustrophobic panic attack!

[@amandahudson431]

Ditto!!

[@angelofembers8271]

SAME !

[@raymondrace4837]

I agree with the others, and he is alone !!!

[@comfortouch]

Wow, you got 20 feet? There's no way I would have stuck my head into that hole!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Awesome mine! Finally - a site that DezDan and his crew haven’t ransacked yet - or conducted a bat study at. The axe-hewn posts in the structure looked old-school. Quite a find! That blue color in the mine was stunning. The drone footage was also a great inclusion. Can’t believe you transported that drone all the way to such a remote location. Well worth it, though! Great video, Justin!

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, it is great to be able to visit these (relatively) virgin sites... This wasn't a big budget operation and so they didn't have a lot of mining equipment to see, but I doubt those brilliant blue chunks would have been inside if this site was visited more often. And it is definitely cool to see stuff like the axe-hewn posts, which would undoubtedly have ended up on someone's campfire in a more popular spot. Haha, I can't believe I transported that damn drone all of the way out there either! Given the effort I made, there was no way I wasn't going to include some drone footage even if I had never even been able to get it off of the ground.

[@ADITADDICTS]

Exploring Abandoned Mines and Unusual Places What he fails to mention is that as soon as his motorcycle tire was aired up and he was full of fuel, he shot off like a cannon ball not even looking back to check on my progress! I barely had my bike outta the truck when I realised he was gone! Jeez!

[@olivei2484]

ADIT ADDICTS Might as well stayed put and drank all the beer. Nice find.

[@ADITADDICTS]

olive w Now that would've been the best thing if I had brought any! 😣

[@edleatherman861]

Exploring Abandoned Mines and Unusual Places ii

[@johnbrownlee7623]

Good job on the video, sure like the drone shots.....Like to see more........................JB.................

[@chrisboyack12345]

You make the best mine videos, I am always stoked when a new one comes out.

[@MrJacksaces]

I second that.

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks, guys... I really appreciate that. Seriously.

[@thedrifter2790]

“That almost looks like the Lapis Luzuli-“ You see in Minecraft? “-You see in Afghanistan.” Oh... Heh.

[@TVRExploring]

LOL!

[@hyper550]

I was just ab to comment this 😂😂

[@obtusemage2262]

I was hearing the same thing.

[@ClaíomhDClover]

boomer moment, but we'll let you go

[@MatejJurac]

It is Cyanotrichite and Malachite

[@shawnmoore1988]

The blue mineral is likely crystalline Azurite, a copper mineral.

[@shubeedoo]

If it's crystalline it might be cobalt as well

[@shawnmoore1988]

@@shubeedoo that's a possibility, or it could be covalite.

[@studiokohl1]

Looks like azurite

[@robbibrown9536]

Its Chalcanthite!

[@jwnagy]

I concur

[@danmiller6051]

I love it when I see you on a bike. That's how I went to most of the hundreds of mines I've been to. In fact, I used to say that "if you can't ride there, it ain't worth goin'", which is of course not true as many of the mines you go to have to be hiked to. One of the reasons was I could cover so much ground on a bike and it was so much fun riding. Great videos. as usual.

[@TVRExploring]

The bikes are a phenomenal way to get around, to be sure... Fun and effective!

[@davidcummings2494]

Dude, I admire your bravery. But be careful making treks like that alone.

[@577buttfan]

Was he really alone,in the description he said (we)and (dirt bikes) so :)

[@huntereury1585]

he wasnt alone he had god with him

[@Arandomperson_online]

Especially snakes and spiders

[@billotto602]

AMAZING video ! Wow. I'm not clostraphobic (sp ?) but there's no way I'd go in there. Also I read a bunch of comments - so many knowledgeable people giving so much information ! Way cool. Thank-you ! Stay safe please !

[@DesertDogExploring]

It looks like linarite or chalcanthite. The first is a copper-lead sulfate, the other is just copper sulfate. Both hydrous if my memory doesn't fail me. I would have had a field day picking up samples for my collection. I've never, ever, ever in 25 years found it in a mine. It's very nice looking. It might also be azurite, but usually I come across that as very thin encrustations on hydrothermally altered rock. This looks too different (azurite being a copper carbonate, but the rocks I'm seeing in the video don't convince me that it's a carbonate). The gypsum reinforces my thoughts about it being a sulfate mineral. Either way, beautiful and something any rock nerd would appreciate in their collection. :)

[@TVRExploring]

It is the first time I have ever seen blue like that underground outside of Afghanistan and, as you know, we've been in a fair number of mines now as well. So, it is definitely rare. Given the suggestions from you guys, I'm leaning toward chalcanthite based on the pictures online. Either way, that blue is pretty stunning. It's amazing the colors that nature can produce...

[@ayjay749]

Thanks for the interesting info. Could do with a "rock nerd" describing the geology and mineralogy we can see on all these sorts of videos!!

[@theogdirkdiggler]

amazing blue.....interesting to see inside a mine.

[@TVRExploring]

Seriously, Ay Jay, I can't even tell you how many times I've wished I had a rock nerd with me while underground at these sites... Ha, I wish there was a way I could livestream these from underground. I'd just shut up and let a geologist watching on the outside narrate for me!

[@olivei2484]

Looks like Copper Sulfate. It should dissolve easily in water. Need to get you a flaming appartus and you would have an easier time with the metal identification. Kudos to your locating service.

[@brainclerk4431]

TVR Exploring thanks for sharing your adventure it was truly captivating , and by not playing music made it a far better real time experience for us all . great work keep um coming . Warning .... dont poke around unless you have a buddy with you because a cave in and dig out aint no fun ( if achieveabe at all )

[@outdoorenthusiasts3175]

I found a mine similar to this one but there was minimal decay and full of echoes. Not sure I could have braved that one so thank you for sharing this!

[@scottystiffchicken]

We were at that mine around 2001-2002. We brought back a eight inch by fifteen foot pipe that was comprised of flat stock wrapped and riveted. I later turned it over to a mining scholar/collector. The old tin shack is timeless. Recently I’ve bought a high end metal detector and wanted to get back up there to see what’s in and around there. The area down below, there’s several bed springs that are under trees and it makes me curious as to what may have fallen out of miners pockets. Good vid!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much for the comment... Does the mine look much different almost two decades later or does it look pretty much the same? That's interesting about the bed springs out in the trees. I wonder if the miners were cowboy camping out there in the summers? It seems impossible that you'd be able to fit several miners inside of that tin shack... Any idea what the pipe was used for? I wish I had had more time to look around this site, but we were feeling the time pressure because it was starting to get dark. As it was, we had to ride back in the dark most of the way anyway, which wasn't much fun.

[@scottystiffchicken]

It was January but it was also a late winter so not much snow. I did not go in the mine bcz 6’6” 280, doesn’t fit well in tight spaces lol. The pipe was from the makeshift stove in the tin cabin.

[@TVRExploring]

LOL, well, 5' 10'' 160 didn't fit so well inside of that mine either! That's cool about the pipe... That certainly reinforces the impression of this being a budget operation. Thanks for responding.

[@Lou.B]

Curious about that blue stone, Scotty! Pick some up and see you on eBay?

[@Standingearth]

TVR Exploring - Do you think that the miners would have been living in tents? That would explain the bed springs found under the trees. I've seen some old photos of mining camps from the late 1800s' into the 1920's and they show tent camps that men were residing in.

[@leosrule5691]

OMG.. Thank you for posting this life-risking adventure.!!!

[@Void3.0]

I find these types of videos so fascinating, nice find

[@CornishMineExplorer]

Turned out to be one awesome mine, I had a feeling of a small scale mine too, but it surprised me how far it went! That bad ground was really bad as it goes, don't even sneeze near it! Hope you got loads of that blue rock, it looked amazing in the video! I'd be filling my pockets with it! lol That's the beauty of these out of reach mines, laid untouched for many years, a real proper explore!

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, I was quite glad that conditions inside of the mine improved (for the most part) once I got away from the portal. I wouldn't have been too keen on this mine if the conditions in the portal extended all of the way through it, to be sure. Yes, those blues were amazing... You're absolutely right about the advantages of the remote mines. I believe that if this were a mine that saw many visitors that all of those chunks of blue would have disappeared a long time ago.

[@stevejquest]

An old copper mine. I was not disappointed. Thank you. :-)

[@goldviper5280]

The bright blue mineral is Azurite and if you look closely, the green material in the walls is Malachite. I prospect in AZ and will find the minerals in certain parts of the desert. My back yard is full of these minerals that I have collected.

[@001desertrat3]

TVR Exploring -- GREAT FIND ! -- After closely examining the photos , I have to agree with others that the ''Mystery Mineral'' is either Brite Blue Azurite , Chalcanthite , or Linarite . -- P L E A S E , when you find unusual Minerals , grab a Sample Specimen for Identification , it doesn't cost much to get it identified and a lot of places such as the State School of Mines , State Mineralogy Department , State Bureau of Mines , or the Mineralogy Department of a large Museum will do it for FREE . -- If you can pack a Drone into these extremely remote locations , then you can certainly pack out a Sample Specimen for Identification . Trying to 'second guess' the identity of a Mineral from a photograph is haphazard at best if not downright negligent when you have the opportunity to get a Sample Specimen . - < Doc , Retired . Miner for nearly 50 years > .

[@TVRExploring]

The problem is that I already have enough headaches with people harassing me because they don't like mining and they don't like mine explorers showing what is out there (I'm not referring to disclosing specific sites, but to just generally showing people the history that is out there and what is being lost). So, I really have to be careful and not expose myself to the potential to be cited for mineral trespass or something like that because I happen to take an interesting rock from a claim that looks abandoned, but that is actually claimed by someone. I'm sure I'd get reported in an instant by some of the busybodies that stalk the mine exploring channels.

[@001desertrat3]

TVR Exploring -- I seriously doubt that any property owner ( even from a Patented Claim ) would object to your taking a SMALL mineral sample for identification from a recently exposed source , as you're not 'mining' their claim or 'higrading' their orebody . As for the busybodies and the people that don't like mining , if it wasn't for mining we wouldn't have ANY of the things that we have today , mankind would still be in the Stone Age . As for determining whether a property is truly 'abandoned' or is currently under claim , it's relatively easy to do at the County Recorders Office as long as you know the Township , Range , and Section of the property you wish to visit .

[@001desertrat3]

DAMN ! -- Just because he was 'inspired' by your videos doesn't mean that you are personally responsible for his stupidity , ignorance , recklessness , carelessness , and lack of responsability for his own actions and poor judgement . SHEESH !

[@ADITADDICTS]

001DesertRat I tried to sue Justin because he broke my brain but my lawyer Mr. Nibbles said it wouldn't hold up in court.

[@TVRExploring]

It never came to anything, but there is a small niche of people that create headaches for us and that Chuck and I are not particularly fond of.

[@kimlambert159]

Such a beautiful mine!!! So blue and beautiful! Your crazy bold! I wish i was younger and could galivant about like you do! I hope you grabbed some of that LOVELY blue stone!!!

[@katdady67]

Love this type of explaining! And yes the Blue mineral is quite beautiful to the eyes, along with the other multi colored Minerals...But I always seem to study the surrounding area and try to place myself in that time period, just to get a true understanding of what took place and the hardships of life without the modern equipment and tools of today.. To be in such a remote area, it fascinates me how Those particular Miners hauled in all of the equipment needed to operate a mine in the middle of BFE! If the mine is that remote today, I can only imagine how remote and inaccessible it was during operation. Just hauling in the track Rails would have been a excruciating task! I'm sure the good old Mules of that day were the true heavy lifting work beast. Just think how hard and terribly expensive it would be to haul in or airlift the exact same equipment today compared to then. I'm a Relic hunter myself, been Metal Detecting for 25yrs+ I hunt old Civil War Camps, Skirmish sites, and Old forgotten River Plantation sites. Here in the Southeastern parts of the country. After all these years of Hunting, it still amazes me every time I pull a Relic from the graund that hasn't been touched since the day it was lost! I recently dug a South Carolina coat button that a Confederate Soldier had lost during a small skirmish with Union Soldiers. What made that button such a special find was, that it was a Local Button maker out of Charleston S. C. That Button has been on my list ever since I started this hobby. The button was only 3" deep in a place that I and probably a hundred other relic hunters have pounded over the years. Button still had 98% of the gold gilt remaining. Very scarce and rare to find a "Confederate Local" in that shape. And it was located less than a 100 miles of Charleston S. C. In the area I found the button, I have also found a button from the War of 1812. Revolutionary war relics, Multiple Civil War Buttons, Buckles. I've pulled coins from the late 1700,s through the 1800's , including Spanish Reales, one half cent coin from the Netherlands, to pottery shards and arrow heads from the earliest inhabitants in the Southeastern regions! It still keeps me young and always excited exploring old Forgotten History. There's still lots of history out there just waiting to be discovered!

[@TVRExploring]

The old timers were tough! I can't imagine what they went through to get this mine operating... I am particularly interested in how the miners used to live and try to get my mind into how that time period was as well. Sounds like you've made some very nice finds over the years!

[@brianchandler6127]

Your braver than me, I wouldn't have made it through the entrance, good video.

[@TVRExploring]

Ha, I may just be stupid... Thank you for the comment.

[@2Big2B]

So many of you are fixated about the value of that pretty blue stuff. However, in my opinion the real treasure yet to be discovered is the story of who the miners were and the paths their lives led. So, to get past the obvious: it was undoubtedly a gold mine that also had a lot of other minerals including copper and probably silver. Whatever it was being mined it would have had to be portable to cash in on. Given. So that is the WHAT. The WHEN is another interesting fascination. We may be under a false premise that the Carnation box fixes the time frame. Perhaps this mine goes back to just post civil war. Perhaps it had been mined and then rediscovered many years later and reworked. That opens up an intriguing storyline that points to WHO. That is the real treasure. I guess I would start by exploring the context of early local history. Dismiss the notion that this was post 20th century. That is probably a red herring of a whole different storyline. Obviously there had to be some source of supply for food to feed the miners and their mules and the raw materials of their equipment and of course the dynamite that had to be carried in. That is about the HOW. I would be exploring old records of deeds and obituaries to look for the origin of where that place was in looking for the WHERE context of this story. Of course there had to be some place to cash in the gold, but being portable and probably divided between the miners it could have ended up anywhere, so that is likely to be a dead end - but still worth looking into. Intriguing is how many workers and how long did it take to develop this mine. Perhaps it was a group of renegade former civil war soldiers. I smell a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western potential here! I don't believe that a few post 1900's miners could have had enough time to have dug this deep. Instead someone found this mine and found some others to throw in with, and between them providing the investment of funds to buy equipment, the rails, the corrugated metal sheets to build the tool shed - which would have been no small effort to carry in , and of course the manpower to get it all there. It is likely that there were injuries, some fatal. Where would their buried bodies be? Maybe even some buried stash around there, long since buried under natural landslides and such? There is an archeology story here - right down to the working conditions and what to do when you have to relieve yourself after eating some bad food deep inside the mine! Geez. Forget about the pretty blue stuff. I want to know the adventure that brought them there. A relevant documentary, kzbin.info/www/bejne/pp2xlXV-o7djf8k&has_verified=1 is about California and it covers some enlightening perspective of early construction of the transcontinental railway. You will want to roll forward about 19 minutes to see the relevant part of the story. The takeaway is that the Southern Pacific Railroad was a product of four California gold rush flunkies that threw together in creating the biggest swindle conspiracy of the 19th century. On the US Gov't dime that paid them a premium as compensation for hardship and expense of having to route through difficult terrain, these guys deliberately sent out surveyors to look for landscapes to milk this for all it was worth - deliberately going out of their way through high hills and mountains they didn't need to. Another aspect might be that, as flunkie gold rush prospector wannabes they were probably using the funded surveyors to prospect for them too. From the west most of the railroad workers were the exploitable Chinese who were hard workers and able miners - digging coal along the way for fuel and chiseling relentlessly through hard rock tunnels. I bet this activity of cutting an indirect path through the Sierras, Nevada and to Promontory, Utah in 1869 is what brought the miners to prospect and find this remote mine. I bet railroad surveying is the what, when, how, where and why of this mine. Maybe. So, follow the paths of the early railroads. There are some great antique maps online. The Library of Congress is a good example. Combine that with some online satellite imagery and you will probably go blind looking for possibilities! www.loc.gov/resource/g3700.rr000540/?r=0.014,0.157,0.233,0.11,0 (zoom in on Nevada and look at the ridiculous path taken) www.loc.gov/resource/g4361p.rr005680/?r=-0.64,0.094,2.28,1.08,0 (also Library of Congress) img.raremaps.com/xlarge/51874.jpg upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Map_showing_Tonopah_Tidewater_Railroad_Company_line_from_Ludlow_California_to_Goldfield_Nevada_circa_1907.jpg www.google.com/maps/place/Battle+Mountain,+NV+89820/@40.4739622,-117.3433647,147994m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x80a6a4e596bc0cc1:0x55b1a26f2d47e077!8m2!3d40.6421334!4d-116.9342671 Also worthwhile is a lecture from geology professor Nick Zentner, Central Washington University kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6Sli5mIf86bmtk . He explains fundamental geology of gold formation and how to find it that should be required viewing.

[@aBrilliantDemon]

If I had a grandfather I would wish he would be like you. So interesting to listen to and so much information I knew bother about not to mention such good advice given to him to aid his interests.

[@elguapo221]

i was betting on it was your mom

[@2Big2B]

@@aBrilliantDemon ?

[@2Big2B]

@@aBrilliantDemon ?

[@johnrogers9481]

Brian... Yes. I was wondering about the lives of the men who were there. I imagine there are records somewhere about who they were.!?

[@backseattrash9261]

I like how you practice restraint and leave the pretty minerals in place. I used to bring stuff home, put it in the yard, or on the bookshelf. After decades of desert exploration I realize that most relics and minerals look much better in their original location. Unless it’s gold of course, that looks very nice in my home! I once brought home half an air to air missile from a range in southern Arizona -not a very good yard ornament no matter how I looked at it. Absolutely love your videos. Sightseeing underground is the logical counterpoint to exploring landscapes in the sunshine-history, geology, reconnoitering, safe route finding, bird watching....well bat watching anyway.

[@mudfossiluniversity]

At 2:55 there is a rusty post looking thing on the left. That is the ARTERY I think....if it is deep below it should be Gold. Gold goes deepest and arteries is where it collects.

[@mainwarings3]

thanks rog, I was wondering what you would make of it

[@LittleBird777]

Very beautiful minerals, lovely azurite and turquiose, stunning colours

[@mr.bobskirt3296]

i’ve never been interested in anything like this but i saw a video of yours on my reccomended and i’m pretty addicted now

[@lizzymoore54]

The blue mineral is absolutely gorgeous! Please be careful going alone into these mines, although you seem very knowledgeable about mines, it still concerns me for your safety. Enjoyed investigating this mine with you. Thanks for taking us along with you. 😊

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for coming along...

[@elliothuh669]

If you go into a mine alone make sure to let someone know exactly which mine you are in. Incase something happens.

[@backroads_photo_gypsy]

I believe that blue rock is Azurite, that was my first thought when I saw it. What's really fascinating is you may have stumbled upon an unknown area that has that rock. Loved the video.

[@MatejJurac]

could be Cyanotrichite

[@nulife022]

Lots of blue in the quartz, and you're in Nevada, so probably silver from my experience with checking out old mines around Nevada for 20 years. I could be wrong, but it is the silver state after all. Great video, thanks.

[@Gatitasecsii]

Really cool that you're uploading stuff like this. Hope you find something really valuable someday.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much.

[@MrZylix-6]

That could be Lots of Azurite or naturally formed crystals of a copper compound, possible copper sulfate? Either way you should take some of it and test it, see if it dissolves in water, if it does than that could be naturally formed, pure CuSo4. If it doesn't the it must be azurite, and it could be valuable... Good job btw, you should really take a sample of that and the red Quartz stuff too

[@MrTechmoore]

It is what you said, copper sulfate. It will oxidize to a light blue and the crystals will become very powdery at the edges. My samples came from a mine in Lyon County, NV. I brought a substantial amount to the lab to use in the electrolyte for copper electrolysis. Worked great.

[@kimberlyevans7378]

No way! He's a brave man. I hate, hate small enclosed spaces, I could never do that. He's brave.

[@bobroberts7643]

If this was a movie this is when it all goes bad.

[@frankbradleyjr]

I was thinking of that same thing. Reminds me of the Movie.... The Hills Have Eye's......

[@chtisponytail538]

Lol ! Totally agree !!

[@gewgulkansuhckitt9086]

The way it goes is the guy hears some mysterious sounds, decides to investigate, then just as he's about to figure out what it is, his flashlight goes out. He whacks it a few times and the light comes back on and the monster is standing six inches in front of him. Then there's screams, the camera hits the ground on its side, and a trickle of blood runs along the ground in front of the camera lens.

[@sevenseven9496]

The Attack of The Carnation-Azurite Monster!!!

[@Tombombadillo999]

Damn, u nuts bro entering that tiny hole in the middle of nowhere. Nice vid!

[@neglect10r]

Your videos randomly popped into my recommended section and I just want to say I love your content. I sincerely love your videos and despite my immense lack of mining knowledge and/or geology knowledge you've still managed to earn a sub from me. Keep at it man!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much. Feel free to ask questions about any mining lingo... They have their own language and it can be confusing.

[@goldking3093]

That is some seriously beautiful mineral specimens. Copper base minerals tend to be blue or green and my first guess was Azurite as others have said but I have a mountain with drifts full of it and none I've seen are as spectacular blue as those found in this mine. If you also have Malachite there, green colored mineral, then you may also have Turquoise and Chrysocolla as well as it's all through my mountain. You have a spectacular find there but my God, with all the collapsed fallings on the ground from the roof and walls I can't help but say you are risking your life to go in there. No GOLD, or any other mineral on the planet, does you any good if you don't live to enjoy and spend it. Do be careful and if you continue to go in there be sure to shore up the walls and roof at least. Obviously you should check for proper ownership and if it's open to claiming I'd do so. Otherwise, you may have some legal problems down the road from the owner(s) or the government entity that has ownership of the land and mineral rights. Finally, thanks for bringing us this great video of your findings so we can enjoy it along with you. Please do be careful if you do return there. Our pleasure isn't worth the risk of your life.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for the comment and analysis of the minerals. Glad you found this one interesting...

[@richardfry2906]

I think it is inappropriate to be bossing people you don't know. If TVR Exploring wants to be careful and take additional protective measures or not, that is his business. Not yours.

[@newton3784]

they do it for fun not a profitable find, and this video has no ads on it either lol

[@giuliom8520]

Great video! Thank you for keeping the name of the mine and its location a secret.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you! Yes, it is important to us protect these locations with anonymity. It's too bad that we have to do that, but that's the world we live in...

[@rchristine369]

Your integrity to your purpose and sharing with the rest of the world is so appreciated. I've loved and collected rocks and crystals, for years. To see them in a raw state with the beautiful blue brilliance was very special. Thank you for giving us the gift of vision of places most of us would never have seen without you. This is my first discovery of your videos. Excellent Excellent work. xoxo

[@jamesziegler9888]

Way cool! You can tell they built the shed soon after they started, judging by how much tailing pile filled in the and flattened out the ravine. Amazing amount of work and labor. Thanks for sharing!

[@_alw_w9951]

Is it legal to take things out of a mine like this cause if it is I would be taking handfuls of that blue stuff

[@wisebad4209]

Adam White same

[@mikepisacreta1364]

Adam White it’s not illegal if you don’t get caught

[@maurice5402]

Yeah noone's gonna arrest you for it

[@franciscocendejas3555]

It's not in the video but I pretty much guarantee they took as much as they could.

[@Jordi47]

@@franciscocendejas3555 wouldn't you?

[@johnhemingway597]

The Mine is just full of very good Minerals and rock, It could be still mined. What a find, good job.

[@worldtraveler930]

How did I miss this gem a video that you've uploaded? Definitely more tunnel than waste rock and I'm surprised not to see either surveyor's marks or drifts or wenzes. Yep, a gem of a video.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, this was a good one. VERY out of the way...

[@ynotwebb1408]

That's an awfully narrow passage for such giant balls. I was waiting for a cave-in the whole time.

[@williamahrens9162]

If the video is up the chance of cave in is extremely low, wifi underground is a beast.

[@kd7kmp]

8:45 Likely slickenside/slickenlines from movement along a fault. 9:31 Probably a mineral called chalcanthite. It's a hydrous copper sulfate. It usually only forms in arid environments (like we have in the western U.S.). I've found it in a couple places in Utah. Unfortunately it typically doesn't work well as a display specimen unless relative humidity is kept low. Very cool video!

[@kingbeast777]

Opal was also Found in Nevada who knows though

[@JustAnotherPaddy]

If you gotta do it, kids, this is how it’s done. Take away nothing but video. Leave nothing but a few tracks. Most importantly...tell no one where it is so it will stay the way it is a little while longer. I appreciate what you do and thanks for sharing this.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement.

[@richardfry2906]

Pglancy71 I think you are right about tell no one where it is. If someone posted the coordinates of this mine it would be only a few weeks before someone goes in with a hammer and rucksacks.

[@gaius_enceladus]

**Stunning** azurite there! Some of the best that I've seen!

[@fenderbender9922]

For a minute I could smell rock and dirt.

[@sodirtythedirty4120]

Me too

[@restoretheearth2829]

Fender Bender ++ Me too!!!

[@calvinsusanwebber3414]

I have had the same thing happen to me only when there sawing lumber in a saw mill film I could smell the sawdust and lumber

[@Xander_Zimmermann]

Me too.😀😀😀

[@wilber19541]

Could you taste it too

[@thra5herxb12s]

Your video description is an amazing story of an adventure that was to take place in a truly amazing part of your Country. I would truly love to visit for a few years and explore all the places I've heard about in songs and films, but it would take more than my lifetime. Thanks for posting this.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, I far prefer the wild parts of the US to the "developed" parts... Fortunately, there are still some wild parts to be found. Thank you for the comment.

[@techydog7854]

5:59 Nope...6:40 Nope...7:00 Nope, nope, nope. I'm not usually claustrophobic but this one is a big nope.

[@TVRExploring]

Probably a wise choice...

[@BeyondLimits]

what an intresting channel! Damn I wish here in Germany they wouldnt secure all the mines with grids. Seems to me that in youre region everything is open and easily to explore (just going inside) ;) Greetz from Germany and thumbs up!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for the comment and the greetings from Germany. Unfortunately, many mines in the U.S. are gated as well. I show the exceptions and we often have to work hard to find them... I have been exploring mines in Italy recently and they don't seem to gate their mines. I have visited some stunning sites over the past two weeks and they were all open - even those next to cities. Italy is a lot closer to you than California or Nevada.

[@Getier2k]

@@TVRExploring but the most of us germans understand/speak english too :D

[@bmell1252]

The “fluffy-fuzzy” looking crystals in the last minute of the video look really cool, BUT it looks like asbestos. You might want to be aware of different dangers from different crystals or perhaps just the air could be bad... I dunno, just be conscientious of that stuff too, even though simply going into those old mines is extremely dangerous, you wild & crazy guy! Btw, The blue crystals were beautiful, too. I thought it was lapis, but I don’t think lapis is found in the Americas(?). Great video! Never thought about these old mines still being around. Thanks... I enjoyed it!

[@acadman4322]

You have balls of carbide steel, my friend.

[@mrluigi9923]

Great Balls of Fire.

[@platformstrange1794]

More like tungsten carbide, extra hard.

[@jacobrogers4619]

Mans got balls of steel not fearing a rock is gonna crush him from above

[@gunslinger11bravo]

I don't know how you walked past all that druzy azurite. I'd still be there going at with pick and shovel.

[@robbibrown9536]

Its Chalcanthite and it's probably a good thing he left it alone it's one of the top most toxic minerals on earth!

[@enchodus]

@@robbibrown9536 As long as its not in a soluble form and as long as he does nt breath its dust he is fine, this mineral is sold for collectors and is expensive.

[@justineatchel7439]

@@robbibrown9536 Chalchanthite is water soluble. Drop the sample in some water -- if it dissolves and turns the water blue then it's chalcanthite.

[@CMoore-rr4ju]

I guess it's safe to say that you're not claustrophobic

[@theshadowbehindyou9631]

Idk if I would have gone inside that one considering the amount of rock fall thats occured and there being no supporting structures inside. Very brave man you are! Lol Thanks for sharing it with us! Epic find!

[@LordFalconsword]

Dude, I wouldn't go down there for a million dollars. Wow.

[@orionstarman]

That's why the guy that does go down there gets two million dollars. :-)

[@thejerseyj1636]

Just watching this was making me nervous. I could not have gone in there. But them blue rocks were really beautiful.

[@aliminingcompany]

It seems a copper ore mine, nicely being taken over by the miners, still in good condition! Salute from a miner from Pakistan ❤❤

[@anzaal]

Amazing adventure, old man. Surprised how far the mine went. I'm guessing the lettering on the mine walls was done with their carbide lanterns, I've done that with my carbide lantern. Thanks.

[@MountainHobbler]

I panicked when he turned around from that 2nd drift and I did not remember his way out.

[@alanmcclure9546]

agreed with all those who say azurite as I lived on a old mine in Hells Canyon Idaho for a while, mostly azurite, malachite, silver, and gold, in that order. geology was almost identical from this adit to the ones of my old stomping ground, Ever get to Idaho let me know. Anyhow,, great share, keep it up, be safe, and always a happy trail!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you.

[@NotWokebutAwake.]

Omg that's freaking azurite!! Dude! Haha...i.would be back filling my backpack!!

[@TheSpidersoftheworld]

I don't play in the mines any longer I had a close call .I went into a cavern entrance explored it for an hour .went home that night went back there the following day .20 ft into the entrance the entire roof collapsed I have never went back since.

[@ladybug5093]

Epic mine! Very interesting. Thank you!

[@amandahudson431]

I am claustrophobic. So that is the biggest NOPE that ever NOPED!

[@angelofembers8271]

Amanda Hudson LMAO ! EXACTLY !! 😂 👍👍👍👍

[@SoI_Badguy]

Check out cave diving videos...

[@toddnolastname4485]

There's a tourist cave where my sister lives. At one point, the roof gets so low you have to crouch to get through. That's where I stopped. I would never be able to go into that cave.

[@nicholasreese6369]

Thank you!!! Really I was so pleased to actually find a video with a cool looking video and title that wasn't some click bait BS! This was awesome and I enjoyed all of it. I'm extremely jealous of you, and would die to find one like that someday. I've found what looked like the opening of a mine while hunting in Utah but it was down a very steep and wooded area but you could see the rails running into it as well as a structure of some sort and we had hiked a long distance to get there but the group I was with were more interested with hunting. After watching this video it's given me the motivation to go check it out!

[@TVRExploring]

I hope you do! And I hope you take pictures and video because these sites are disappearing quickly...

[@piknick111]

@@TVRExploring where approximately is this? Or nearby what part of NV?

[@rawdawgpendants5490]

I would have left with pockets full of that azurite. I found a blue metal i cannot identify.

[@lochinvar00465]

Same. I once came upon a pile of what looked like aluminum crystals. Took one home and found out it wasn't aluminum, it was titanium. Considering the value of even raw titanium, I went back to get a bucketload of it, but it was all gone.

[@neelix3k]

Really well done, easy to follow and your lighting, exposure levels and camera work was spot on. Gimbal? Really enjoyed the video. So happy to have found your channel as well as Exploring Abandoned Mines and Unusual Places. I just uploaded what I hope will be the first of many of my own exploration videos. Maybe the next mine I visit wont have a snake in it! Keep up the great work.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much. Yes, I am using a gimbal and despite just using a battered Sony DSC-RX100 (exploring abandoned mines is really hard on cameras), the gimbal allows for what I think is pretty high quality footage...

[@neelix3k]

Sweet, yeah, it really makes a difference and ups the quality so much! Time to put one on my shopping list! :)

[@TVRExploring]

Once you get them balanced initially, they are super easy to use. If you use different cameras on your gimbal, just write down the settings for each different camera so that you can refer to them without having to screw around rebalancing every time.

[@neelix3k]

Great tip, thank you. I'm using the Canon G7X mkII. Thanks again.

[@TVRExploring]

You're welcome. Happy to help... Good choice on the camera. Don't use an expensive, bulky DSLR for mine exploring.

[@therealmaun8740]

I've been binge watching this channel all week. Lol

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you!

[@therealmaun8740]

@@TVRExploring No prob.👍

[@chadmichael5700]

Have you seen “Them” yet? I know you’ve probably felt “Their” presence, but have you seen them yet?

[@Tyrant369]

Chad Judd who?

[@_tertle3892]

@@Tyrant369 them

[@Tyrant369]

@@_tertle3892 ah them

[@shanemike3070]

That was cool abit scary, glad you came out OK

[@JasonBlenkiron]

New to your channel but had to subscribe...quality vid mate 👍🏻🇬🇧

[@tomharrell1954]

I can not be sure without a sample, but Chalcanthite, whose name derives from the Greek, chalkos and anthos, meaning copper flower, is a richly-colored blue/green water-soluble sulfate mineral CuSO4·5H2O. It is commonly found in the late-stage oxidation zones of copper deposits. That's what i copied off the web.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. Yes, chalcanthite seems quite likely...

[@KremitDeFrog]

some sort of oxidation done to the copper in that mine.. lots of minerals in there.. holy cow.. guessing they closed up shop when the walls and ceilings were caving in.. there was even one section held up by a tree trunk and you pointed out they wrote #10 on the slab..

[@thomas316]

I love your videos but can I make a quick request/suggestion, can we get some close up still shots of interesting seams and deposits you stumble upon? 🤔 I'm really interested in what the different minerals are and there are a lot of knowledge guys commenting, I aleays end up googling at least two or three thing after watching the video and reading the comments. Thanks, look forward to your next video!

[@TVRExploring]

Suggestions are always welcome... I'm working through a large backlog of material now, but in videos I shoot in the future, I will try to spend more time on interesting geological features.

[@thomas316]

TVR Exploring Thanks, us geeks appreciate staring at rocks. 🤣

[@nowthisnamestaken]

Good response to a good suggestion. You never really know what people are into. Some perhaps the way the mine was cut, some the structure of the rock, some the actual rock. Some just any trace of human activity. Some in the history of the location. You just never know if the extra detail you give something while you are already there will be just the thing someone was craving all these years. I love detail detail detail. Perhaps a directors cut for the info geeks.

[@irwinjimenez]

The quality of your videos is absolutely great! Image is very stable so it makes for more interesting viewing. Thanks.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it...

[@mikemills69]

"We cant stop here, this is bat country!"

[@ATBrickscom]

in the very last frame, the white stuff - monoatomic elements, scuffed off as silica, they are what the alchemists are after :-) 10.000 more valuable than the metals!

[@RaccoonNation]

I've been finding this crazy chunky white stuff after an earthquake in Michigan...it looks almost crystalized but powdery in places Could you tell me what it is if I took photos? Google can't figure it out

[@janhoffmannrytter2873]

@@RaccoonNation that would have to be microscope photo and even spe troanalyzed to be sure. Not my department.

[@RaccoonNation]

@@janhoffmannrytter2873I think a person who knows minerals could easily identify this specimen via photos, it is a large chunk of a soapy textured, fish scale/iridescent looking piece that has square shaped Crystal's breaking off of it.

[@janhoffmannrytter2873]

@@RaccoonNation and ofc. the area of discovery, yeah you are properpbly right. I take my words back.