4100 Feet Underground in the Massive, Abandoned Admiral Aaron Ward Mine

We walked down a 4100-foot inclined entry tunnel to access this massive abandoned mine and its subterranean workings. Once we reached the bottom of the Admiral Aaron Ward Mine's entry tunnel, we found many wide tunnels branching off in all directions. During our five-hour exploration of this former silver, copper, and zinc mine, we found one stope that was unbelievably huge and utterly mind-blowing! Couldn't even see across the cavernous void to the other side! We also found deep, flooded areas and bottomless shafts. Various colorful mineral growths and crystal growths appear throughout the mine's tunnels, too. The miners' workshop was still full of spare parts, tools, and other artifacts. Another interesting find was the miners' refuge chamber that would've been used as a survival space in case of a collapse or other major emergency. A freshwater spring deep in the mine provided some of the cleanest and best-tasting water I've ever drank! After five hours of exploring, we decided to call it quits and began the long, arduous hike back up the 4100-foot, inclined entry tunnel to the surface.
#ExploringAbandonedMines
#AbandonedMines
#MineExploring
#UndergroundExploration

[@Porty1119]

Mines like this one, where pyrite or other sulfur compounds are present can have sulfurous gases (H2S and SO2) dissolved in water; please be extremely careful around stagnant pools in these conditions. Breaking the surface tension could liberate a lot of toxic gas that's best left undisturbed.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Porty1119 I was told a long time ago that any stagnant pool of water in a mine is best left undisturbed for the reason you cited. I also heard that flowing water (as seen in this mine) is better than coming across stagnant water. Back in 2008, this mine was reported to have "lethal air" in it by a federal agency; however, I knew that several other explorers had already been in this mine in recent months -- some repeatedly. Once I knew they survived, I knew the risk and danger were diminished greatly but probably not totally eliminated. As with anything dangerous, it's a calculated risk. I do believe some of those other explorers explored the flooded tunnels that were down lower from where Paul and I were. We chose NOT to go down there for the reason you mentioned.

[@Lilo-df6ut]

+Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ Mines that don't have multiple portals (or portals close to each other) still "breath", due to changes in barometric pressure and other climate variables. Just because there's healthy air inside on one visit doesn't mean that there can't be unhealthy or lethal air inside the same mine at other times.

[@paulniblock]

+Lilo 184362 It's an informed risk we take in lieu of a gas meter which is on the wish list.

[@AbandonedMines11]

+paul niblock (stonedagin1) I just ordered an oxygen meter off of Amazon last week. Granted, it won't detect hydrogen sulfide gas which would be the most likely gas in the Admiral Aaron Ward Mine, but it's a step in the right direction.

[@paulniblock]

Awesome!

[@MrTg200]

From an old retired miner: The two tunnels were driven at the same time and are for the purpose of air circulation. Air is forced down one and comes back up the other. The crossovers with walls are made at intervals for the air to flow. As the tunnels progress, these have to be sealed off (called stoppings) to make the air go on to the next crossover. The doors are both for fine control of airflow and an escape system in case one tunnel caves in. You should leave these doors as found, closing it again if it was closed. Otherwise airflow may be lost to the deeper reaches and dangerous gases will build up. Air flow will usually be good even without the fan because of the temperature differential. Excellent video, thanks for posting it!

[@rowdync]

Glad to see you post this. These guys are interesting but are not miners and could heed your advice. Hope they listen.

[@drexel937]

Please Pin this- thanks for your information.

[@brittanylee4591]

Interesting, props to you for doing the hard work of a miner😎

[@thomasmusso1147]

Correction (if I may please). Air is never 'forced' into a mine. It is sucked in, initially by means of exhaust ventilation columns and later via the ventilation shaft.

[@c.martin6326]

you should carry a green laser with you, theyre great for seeing very far and showing depth since you can see the entire beam, you can also see the depth of water with them if it isnt too disturbed

[@Creationsofmyown]

And a rangefinder.

[@jackhughman282]

Corey Martin or one of those laser measurement tools that construction workers use. they're pretty small so he wouldn't have to worry about how much weight he's carrying when he's deep into a mine.

[@Mike-.747]

We have, it works great

[@edstar83]

Great for blinding rushing Goblins as well. Dwarven technology is awesome.

[@ExploringWithJosh]

this is crazy!! how do you guys not get lost inside?? great job guys

[@AbandonedMines11]

Exploring With Josh Thanks, Josh! I was a little concerned about possibly getting lost in this mine if we didn't keep track of the turns we took. However, like most mines, it's basically one way in and one way out. The only mine I've been in where getting lost was a real possibility was the Rachel Lincoln Mine in Nevada. That mine has twelve or more levels with interconnected workings totaling 30 or more miles of tunnels (at least I think it's 30 miles). When we were in there, we saw so many branching tunnels going every which way. Definitely needed to keep track of the turns we took in that one. Thanks for watching and commenting, man! Really appreciate it.

[@robertmccully2792]

+Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ Always mark your trail intersections some how,,, getting lost is scary.

[@joseftrumpeldor6240]

+Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ It would seem to my very amateur exploration experience that it wouldn't be a bad idea to drop a sticklight (aka chemlight) every hundred feet or so, no??

[@AbandonedMines11]

Josef Trumpeldor Sounds like a good idea to me! However, these mines are really difficult to get lost in. As I mentioned in a reply above, there have only been one or two mines out of the few hundred I've been in where getting lost was a real danger. I think my videos and the editing make the mines seem so much larger and dis-jointed than what they really are. At any rate, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@robertmccully2792]

If you have been lost like i have, you realize you need to mark every turn. It is very simple,, you could mark with rocks , paint, sticks. ribbons. count your steps and mark your turns. If you lose your light you are better having counted your steps. While this all take some work,, it also takes away any anxiety about getting lost and makes for a fun time. Also remove your marks on the way back so others do not get confused... One of the easiest ways in a mine is to mark with rocks in the form of and arrow on the ground always pointing back from where you came,, and then just kick the rocks away on your way out...

[@panzerfaust5046]

i love how you guys are actually informed about the mines, you aren't just spouting guesses you are giving accurate terms and precise facts.

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Panzer Faust Thanks, man! I try to be as accurate as possible given my limited knowledge of mining. Believe me, I've learned SO much over the last five or six years while doing this. Glad to hear that others are enjoying the adventures and the history in the videos.

[@foellerd]

Lol, this comment made me think of the "TVR Exploring" video I just watched. Fun to look at but hard to listen to.

[@Dragonbahn]

4100 feet is 1.25 km for those wondering

[@helphelpimbeingrepressed9347]

Or 1249680000000 nanometres

[@helphelpimbeingrepressed9347]

Or 62.12121 Chain

[@GateKommand]

OR 1,366.66666 Yards mate!

[@thevintagerecipeblog]

6.212109 Furlongs

[@Silentc71]

8200 average penises

[@tomhearn5886]

6:37 "turn up volume" *turns up volume* DEDEDEDEDEEDEDEDEDEDEDED that's one loud rock

[@HelenaOfDetroit]

I expected him to find vault 110

[@kradikt666]

FlipFlopGaming or find raiders and a can of pork and beans

[@AlphaFlight]

FlipFlopGaming his vids do make me think about fallout

[@xsharktankx]

I think more about skyrim with the falmer

[@odst1703]

Helena Of Detroit *Gaaaary, Gary?...Ah, Gary*

[@TheSeer101]

It is not funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@miner8313]

Bulkheads are for ventilation, the parallel decline would be the return airway. As the mine develops deeper these are built to force air further down the mine. There would have been a big fan on the surface to draw air through the portal. The pontoon would have been for a submersible pump in the sump. The steel pipe in the floor is a 'rising main' for water to be pumped up from lower down. The drill bit is a 45mm tungsten button bit for drilling tunnelling blast holes. Beware walking up blind inclines! CO collects uphill. Beware of open stopes and old rises, potentially very dangerous too!! Great video, thanks

[@jaymerjaymer]

Miner 83 - someone asked how that 'rising main' was able to be drilled in such a confined area. I don't recall if they showed how much clearance was over head at that point. I like your comments!

[@RRaucina]

It may have become a rising main, but likely started out as a core hole from the surface.

[@bnetolldnataman]

Good advice........

[@RinoaL]

this was quite cool. exploring abandoned mines are one of those things that i doubt i would ever do myself, but who knows.

[@mcxhalo]

Hey I know you I like your vids :)

[@RinoaL]

Alex Martinez cool ^^

[@timbaumann9046]

Very cool. I like how you just went down to explore and not to "remove" items in the mine. Too many ppl these days were just go down there to TAKE... instead of just DOCUMENT. MAJOR KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU THAT WENT DOWN THERE!!! Thanks for doing this for all of us that appreciate things such as this!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for your comment, Tim! Glad you enjoyed this video. Yes, I never understood the need or desire that some explorers have for snatching up artifacts. For example, take a look at the stuff we found in this mine - the old pipe fittings and other odds and ends that were in that one room. It’s all junk. Who would want to take any of that stuff? I know I am more interested in how the mines are laid out, how they were constructed, and the underground geology that is apparent in the tunnel walls and ceiling. The artifacts, if any are left at this late date, are nice to film and document as a bonus.

[@gordonlawrence3537]

In the UK we have abandoned mines in Easington and Hoarden etc near Peterlee that go more than 2 miles out under the sea. They were coal mines but are almost totally flooded now.

[@AJ-qn6gd]

Same here in Kent, Chislet colliery (closed 1968) went out miles under the sea I remember my grandfather telling me about it he worked there until his death just before it closed.

[@kasnitch]

up here we call those mines decline or ramp mines. a 4100 ft ramp is quite short. normally they are thousands of feet longer where I've worked. you are actually no where near 4100 ft depth. the ramp is a decent enough size for small equipment. they get much bigger. I've worked on a ramp that was 25' x 30' and used 4' wide fiberglass ducting. the dev crews busted ass in 12 hr shifts to cycle a 16' round with rebar bolts/screen and services. @8:00 or so, that drill steel and bit were probably for a jumbo that drilled off blasts. sumps are driven into the sides for use as re-mucks while developing the ramps, and then submersible Flygt pumps are installed to continually move water up the ramp to surface , until at some point large pump systems may be installed at the final bottom of the ramp to pump out mine water. depends on the management and depth.

[@jameshenry2457]

kasnitch Yeah...those steels where definitely for jumbos.

[@sergeantbigmac]

+kasnitch He replied to another comment and said that the mine started at the base of a mountain, so considering the height of the mountain and all the land above them, TECHNICALLY speaking they are 4100 feet under ground even if they havent descended that much.

[@paulniblock]

+kasnitch you are correct that we didn't descend 4100' vertically from the portal level. We did, however, follow the decline under a mountain. I'd guestimate about a 2000' elevation gain on the surface over that 4100' decline. .9 miles at a 45 degree angle equals approx 2138 foot elevation change. Add 2000 feet of mountain....

[@seanbrnt]

Sovereign Sentience I know this is a year old but I'ma chime in. Frank tells us in the first 30 seconds that the main path is 4100ft and is angled at about 25°. Given that the path is straight and elevation is defined as a vertical line from point a to point b this relationship can be modeled with a right triangle. Meaning trigonometry is applicable and thus we can define elevation as path length×Sin(25°). So, 4100ft(Sin(25°))=1733ft. I also understand that Frank is under a mountain so if he truly is 4100ft under ground then mtn. height is 4100ft-1733ft=2367ft.

[@AbandonedMines11]

The inclined entrance is located at 7600 feet elevation. The top of the mountain above the inclined entrance is located at 10,000 feet elevation. Therefore, at the entrance to the inclined ramp, we had approximately 2400 feet of mountain above us. As Paul mentioned above, the journey down the inclined ramp involved an approximate elevation change of 2100 feet. 2400 feet plus 2100 feet equals 4500 feet. At the bottom of that inclined ramp, we had 4500 feet of mountain above us. In other words, as my title states, we were 4100 feet underground (actually closer to 4500 feet underground).

[@FletcherCody]

Another awesome video guys. I worked in the biggest Zinc and Lead mine in the world which closed in 2012 after 75 years of operation. It employed thousands of workers on the mine sight alone. Its located outside Bathurst, New Brunswick (Canada). Theres over 400km of tunnel, 3 shafts (Deepest is 4300 feet), and one portal. 14,000 tons of ore was brought to surface daily. The stopes were so big some of them your mining light couldnt make it across. Some stopes were as deep as 800'. After a stope was mined bulkheads were setup at all entrances with a pipe through the bulkhead at the top of the stope which was connect to the main paste line. The waste material from the rock - after the ore was extracted in the mill on suface - was mixed with cement, then pumped down a 16'' pipe from the paste plant on surface down to the empty stope. It would be completely filled to stabilize the mine. If it wasn't for the paste fill the mine probably would of shut down much earlier due to the structural stability . There was also two huges mechanic shops equiped with overheads cranes and concrete floors. The one I worked out of had two big rooms around 100' x 250' connected by a 50' long x 16' wide tunnel. It was something to see. Theres a very interesting documentary on the mine here on youtube. Its about 50 mins long. If your interested search Brunwick Mine Documentary and you should find it. There also a video on here of the demo of the head shaft (about a min long) which was the tallest building in the province while it was still standing. Well i better stop writing here before I have a novel lol. Hope you all enjoy your day.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Awesome comment, Cody! Thanks for the anecdotes! That certainly does sound like one massive mine you were employed in. I have heard about that technique of filling stopes with waste material or cement in order to stabilize a mine. Makes sense when you think about it. Will have to look up those two videos that you recommended, too. Thank you again for a great comment. I’m sure the other viewers will appreciate it, too.

[@FletcherCody]

Yes you should definitely check it out. I really enjoyed it. It’s called “Xstrata Zinc Brunswick mine - end of an era”. If you do watch the documentary I would be interested to hear what ya thought of it.

[@RioDeLaNorte]

This really is a great pleasure to watch these videos, thank you very much that you're taking with us in the world of this adventure

[@AbandonedMines11]

RioDeLaNorte Well, it's certainly is a great pleasure to have viewers and fans like you who watch these videos of mine faithfully. I really appreciate your support and interest. Thank you very much! And, as always, stay tuned because more videos are coming very, very soon!

[@arrowlessknee811]

Be careful! The balrog is sleeping 6:44

[@NotBull068]

Fool of a Took!

[@slateslavens]

drums... drums in the deep..

[@theredneckbuddha2763]

All Ghimli wanted was to pay some respect... LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE

[@melikesleepy]

Do you want orcs? Because throwing a rock down a pipe is how you get them...

[@alipelomiana9505]

😂😂😂

[@BluntsworthTv]

fool of a took!

[@samspence687]

+melikesleepy Drums, drums in the deep...

[@JamesSpeiser]

+melikesleepy first thing i thought lol

[@Toasterman4000]

+melikesleepy a balrog of mordor!

[@alg54]

What some find mysterious and amazing, countless others simply regarded it as "work." Great video. Thanks.

[@curiosity2314]

Nice work Frank and Company, Thank You!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Curiosity You're welcome! And thanks, too, for watching and commenting. Appreciate the support.

[@manonmars2009]

You get my vote for the most educational and the best made exploration videos on youtube.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thank you for your vote! I appreciate the feedback. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment - I really do appreciate it!

[@erynncollier8672]

If the angle estimate of 25 degrees is correct, then 4100 feet down the length of that tunnel puts you guys roughly 1733 feet deep. That is by far the deepest mine you've been in on this channel.

[@hotrodlincolnchannel6266]

I'll bet money some idiot rode the shopping kart down there and broke it/got hurt.

[@HoundoomHeart229]

LOL

[@HelenaOfDetroit]

I thought it was there because a bum was probably living in the mine and used the shopping cart to keep his stuff with him.

[@epretorious]

I've done a lot of exploring around the deserts of California & Nevada and I have NEVER met a homeless person that just "wandered out to the desert" to find a mineshaft to live in - It's harsh goin' in those areas!

[@tonyvarley1347]

eric pretorious LOL

[@Sc0pee]

eric but wouldn't this mine be a great HQ for a bum to spend time in, since it has running spring water? I think so.

[@johnsmart964]

This is a very impressive mine, the size is immense. It is amazing the beauty of the crystals forming from the roof and the floor of the mine. These modern mines are certainly very large, in this area we used to have fairly modern coal mines which were also large, the coal was removed on a conveyor belt but the men were taken into and out of the mine by a narrow gauge railroad, it was the best way to do it because of the distances involved to get to the coalface. Thank you for bringing us this excellent video, it is much appreciated.

[@kristenscott9438]

Amazing work of our Heavenly Father most definitely! So beautiful to see! The beauty of replenishment of the minerals! Great work, Frank!

[@Veldtian1]

7:05 I'm waiting for the Orcs to come storming up from the mineshaft any second now..

[@ostlandr]

I figured when they dropped that rock, they were going to wake the Balrog.

[@strange2uwaterworld974]

Veldtian1 - "Dums, drums in the deep... we cannot get out... they are coming."

[@maxj.2399]

Have you ever thought about drawing a plan about the mine? Where you went, were the tunnels are splitting and stuff so you dont get lost? And how do you not get lost in these?

[@bigfootbailey5257]

That is so amazing all that stuff and those rooms way down there just amazing, thanks guys

[@jimmyrice5317]

Thank you for the opportunity to view this amazing mine.

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Jimmy Rice Thanks, Jimmy! I normally would not enter such a massive mine as this one, but I knew that two separate sets of explorers had previously explored it within the last year or so. And they spent a LOT more time in it than I did! Based on that intel, Paul and I decided to go for it. The risk of hydrogen sulfide gas is pretty high in this mine due to all the water and pyrite. The other explorers, though, had no problems. Had I not known about their explorations, there is NO way I would've entered this mine. At any rate, we got to document a little bit of it in the few hours that we were in there. I'm not sure how extensive the tunnels are or if they go on for miles. We saw no end in sight before we turned around to make our way back out.

[@olesmokey394]

Now thats some craftsmanship man 50 pipes leading to 1 all tied together

[@charlesirby9222]

First time on your channel...really enjoyed the tour, subscribed and gave a thumbs-up too. Reminds me of spelunking with the kids in Calico California and other places 4 decades ago. Once saw an area as long and wide as a football field 10 or 15 feet high completely cleaned out and left separated from collapse by huge timbers...it was unnerving...the kids loved it, so did PaPa! It's easy to see where the iffy parts are with all the minerals showing...will follow more vids...thanks! charlie

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Charles Irby Hey, Charlie! Thanks for your comment an anecdote. Sounds like you saw a really huge stope back in the day at Calico. Thanks, too, for subscribing. Welcome aboard! I really appreciate your interest and support. Just so you know, I upload new content on the 1st, 10th, and 20th of each month. Certainly glad to have you following along in the adventures, and please feel free to ask questions or comment on any video. Believe it or not, I do try to answer all of the comments if I can. Thanks again!

[@CiscoWes]

Fascinating footage, thanks for sharing this with us. Very entertaining. Stay safe in those mines!

[@kennyrogers3919]

This mine is HUGE!!!! Holy moly! Great job on the videos! Love em

[@AbandonedMines11]

This mine definitely is extensive. But it is one that I would never go back into simply because of the extremely high risk of encountering hydrogen sulfide gas. There is a lot of pyrite in this mine along with all the water, and I guess that creates the perfect condition for hydrogen sulfide gas to form. Other explorers have spent a few more hours in this mine than Paul and I did and had no problems, but it’s still a very dangerous mine because of that reason. The 4100-foot, inclined entry tunnel is bad enough!

[@johnathanmartin1504]

I've been looking for a channel like this! You have yourself a subscriber!

[@solorsix]

word

[@AutoDudes]

Man this is so cool, I wish I could explore mines like this. It's so interesting to see everything they used to use and how everything worked. So neat!

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Kevin R Thanks, Kevin! This mine certainly was unique with its 4100 foot long entry tunnel. To tell you the truth, I would not want to go back to this mine. The risk of hydrogen sulfide gas in this one is extremely elevated due to the dampness. I have no idea how many miles of tunnels are in this mine, but I do believe it is quite extensive. One time was enough for me. We only got to see a small portion of the workings, but I was satisfied with that. There was just something inexplicably creepy about the large, wide, modern tunnels AND that 4100 foot long inclined entry tunnel.

[@AutoDudes]

Exploring Abandoned Mines How do you come about finding these mines? I'm on the east coast (South Carolina) I'd be interested in doing some some exploring!

[@evilladollyz7602]

Its amazing to see such beautiful colors in that complete darkness..amazing.

[@furygeist]

Just thinking about all the time it took to dig out all of those tunnels and service shafts and stuff is mind boggling. And it's interesting how the earth is just reclaiming the area dug out with the flow stone and mineral growths, very slowly but surely. Thanks for sharing!

[@AbandonedMines11]

You are absolutely correct about the earth reclaiming the mine slowly. It definitely is!

[@moogily1]

you guys are doing what I've always wished I could do, thanks for sharing!

[@craigbrowning9448]

Hopefully there is a revisit to this one, it would also be interesting to see if one of those tunnels connects with the bottom of the large chamber.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks, Craig! Upon closer inspection of that one huge stope, we don't think those were tunnels that were down there near the bottom. They were just indentations and shadows. There are no plans to return to this mine anytime soon because we are focusing on mines in Arizona at the moment. But things can change! Thanks for your support and comments!

[@MRSketch09]

I accidentally stumbled across this video. Thank youtubes recommendation algorithm.. and that was enlightening and interesting. I mean I've heard about mines.. but never had any clue about how they were set up, besides the collapses, that looked pretty safe, and roomy.

[@richardboulanger3393]

I used to explore abandoned mines when I lived in AZ in the early 1980s. You'd find railcars in them then. Some near old silver mines up around Prescott. I had a fluorescent lamp/light I would use too. Some of the crystalline growth is amazing in that light. Black light really shows them off nicely as well. Might try that in your photography. Stay safe and enjoy.

[@AverageNeighbor]

Amazing how large these projects were and how much material was moved, you should explore some old coal mines in Pennsylvania

[@vladyerus]

you need to take Cody's Lab along with you on one of these adventures :)

[@thetimelords911]

omg yes

[@jayhowie7178]

This is so cool, thanks for putting the video together for us

[@sezzwat5449]

Your videos are fantastic! I have been fascinated with mining since I was little. One extremely dangerous field of work. My maternal grandfather born in 1890 worked in the mines in Centralia, PA. I heard the entire town is off limits now. Frightening how that happened and how its still butning. I just came across your channel by chance!!😊

[@josiahhill4993]

it's amazing you didn't see more hostile mobs down there in all that darkness. :)

[@BrogramFilmss]

+Josiah Hill i was waiting for a minecraft reference.... dont..

[@zipjay]

According to Wikipedia HQ office supplies warehouse went defunct back in 1999

[@Phreekful]

Lost too much money on shopping cart theft...

[@TheFurriestOne]

Looks like a great place to put a vault! Nice fresh water for the vault-dwellers! Thanks for the tour!

[@ZiaMountainAdventures]

Wow absolutely huge mine! Awesome formations like that neon green crazyness! Great adventure I bet that one was a blast!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Yeah, definitely was a big mine. Never had seen an entry tunnel that long! A highlight for me was drinking the spring water that was coming out of the wall. Best tasting water ever! Thanks for checking out the video and for taking the time to comment!

[@RobFarrowATV]

Wow, huge mine! Better invest in an ATV to explore it all! LOL! Great video Frank, thanks!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Rob Farrow You and your motorcycle would have a blast in this one, Rob1

[@RobFarrowATV]

Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ That would be a blast!

[@agwhitaker]

Internal combustion engines make carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide + enclosed area = shortened life span.

[@Chipmunkog805]

Andrew G. Whitaker they make electrical engines now

[@Mike-vi9jg]

Great idea, ATV down the mine. Great way to find the unstable parts and seal it off behind you.

[@gsp21121500]

that was not a raft...the miners built that to hold the end of a hose connected to a pump it was to hold the end of the hose up off of the mine floor so it didn't pick up rocks and other trash which would destroy the pump and also block off the end of the pump hose you have to pump water to the heads of the miner and roof bolters for dust control and you also have to pump water out of a mine to keep it from flooding out

[@epretorious]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing, Greg!

[@pawbiter]

Very fascinating. Thank you for posting.

[@dougp2534]

This mine is AWESOME!. Great find, and another great video.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Doug P Doug, I have to disagree with you -- this mine was NOT awesome. It was freakin' awesome! haha Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for being a loyal subscriber, man. I really appreciate that.

[@PlotwistInc]

Am I the only one who keeps expecting some kind of monster attack?

[@tatooweeny]

PlotwistInc Especially after he dropped that rock down that pipe. I was half expecting beating drums and orcs.

[@NotMykl]

I'm still waiting for a balrog to pop up.

[@jamesboardman2721]

Plotwistlnc HAAHHAHA 😂😂 me too dude I totally was expecting weird nasty monster to come popping out any minute

[@F-4E-58-MC]

@@tatooweeny i know right...

[@ronsmith1364]

@Al mines of Moria scene in lord of the rings

[@firstgoinpostal]

I can imagine hearing a deep,gurgling voice saying"GEeeetttt OOOuuuttt!!!!!!

[@abraxaskabrakas6098]

Vinesauce Joel? Or donkey kong 64?

[@loosingmymemory7]

Your thinking of a chihuahua, wait a minute thats ren and stimpy! why would they be in a mine?

[@gordbauer4525]

loosingmymemory7 BMW repairs 2003

[@stupid_tree7158]

I'm imagining the mines of moria

[@compwiz101]

Wiiiiiiiiiinstonnnnnnn

[@wecanthandletruths]

What an amazing exploration.

[@grandprismatic]

Re-watching binge continues, thanks Frank 5 stars

[@zippolighter0177]

5:20 I swear his buddy scared the shit outta me creeping around the corner like that for a second haha xD

[@IaMoDiNaRy]

Hey Guys! So glad I found your channel...... I would LOVE to do this.. You guys are so damn lucky to be able to do this .. Thanks for the great videos... Just subscribed!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks, man, for subscribing! I really appreciate that. Just so you know, I upload new content on the 1st, 10th, and 20th of each month. Always feel free to comment or ask questions on any video. I try to get to them all if I can. Thank you, too, for your interest and support. Awesome!

[@Mrakellam]

This is incredible, I love exploring mines, but have never found something quite like that!

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Alex Kellam Same here, Alex! This mine was insanely huge! We spent about four or five hours in it but only saw a small percentage of the entire mine. I'm basing that on what other explorers have said, though, who spent close to 16 hours in the mine a year or so ago. I wasn't able to find any maps of the mine online, so I'm not sure how extensive it is.

[@RandyLunn]

You guys are amazing. Thanks for the great tours!

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Randy Lunn Thanks, Randy! Always glad to hear that someone is enjoying the videos as much as you are. Thanks again!

[@MrJOHNEBOB]

did you see any signs of Gollum?

[@OGTripleTriple]

I was thinking the exact same thing.

[@stupid_tree7158]

I was thinking about pippin being a fool of a took lmao

[@almosthuman4457]

The restricted area around 12 minutes looks like a high galena content. Witch means a high arsenic content. Also the large drill head earlier in the video is a steel body with tungsten carbide teeth (nubs)

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Aaron nutter Thanks for that bit of information! Arsenic! Scary stuff.

[@JimNichols]

+Aaron nutter Amazing that you know where arsenic comes from but can't spell which...

[@almosthuman4457]

Shit happens

[@zavatone]

+Aaron nutter Which, son, which. Witches ride brooms.

[@rangermarsh7510]

I've made drill heads just like that one up to 12 inches in diameter. The men keep drilling until the carbide slugs are gone. Then you can drill and add new carbide, about 3 inches long, or weld a new stub onto the end of the used up drill. It ain't pretty but nobody cares.

[@BradenParker]

Great video! Love this stuff! Thank you for posting!

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks, Braden! I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. This mine is definitely quite massive in scope.

[@johnbenz7573]

Incredible mine. I've never seen you explore such a massive excavation. Outstanding video.

[@rustymotor]

Thanks for another great tour, that Spring water sure looked nice and clean, you could start up a Spring water bottling business!

[@AbandonedMines11]

***** This may sound weird, but I kept thinking about the spring water and how it tasted long after we left the mine. I still think about it from time to time. I guess it's like when you eat a very expensive, gourmet meal or drink a very expensive glass of wine, you don't forget that moment and how the food or wine tasted. This spring water was the same way, I guess. Thanks, man, for watching and leaving a comment!

[@joshuaramirez6121]

Exploring Abandoned Mines and Unusual Places yeah spring water has a specific taste. I went on a backpacking trip up in the sierras at about 12,000ft elevation and the natural creek water is a taste you never forget.

[@RRaucina]

@@joshuaramirez6121 You will never forget creek water that puts you on a toilet for 2 weeks. Even at 12,000 feet a rat can crap or die just upstream of your tasty water.

[@TheRebel531]

Aren't you guys the least worried about getting caught in a sudden cave in, or worse....taking a wrong turn on the way out? Do you guys have a plan in place to contact the surface in case something happens, seeing how radio/cell phone comm is most likely useless at some of the depts. you go to? If so, can ya explain it? I do SAR (search and rescue), would be interesting.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Several people always know the coordinates of every site we visit as well as our timetable. If we don't send a message at a predetermined time, they know something went wrong.

[@Frogman6287]

This is the first video of yours I've seen, so I risk asking a question you've already addressed in a separate video, but what else do you incorporate into your emergency or contingency plans? It might be good for someone as experienced as yourself to get some of that info out to others who may be getting into this sort of thing. Personally, I'm pretty curious.

[@robertchinnock8017]

brings back memories of when u worked underground in a gold mine and we use to drive into the mine like this mine

[@juliekeenum2824]

WOW!! Awesome video!! You guys rock!!

[@dangerousducky3777]

Awesome mine!!

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Charlie Pottorf I firmly believe that this is one of the more dangerous mines out there due to how far in it goes and how extensive the tunneling appears to be. The risk of hydrogen sulfide gas seems to be elevated in this mine.

[@geoffmackley]

Awesome !

[@AbandonedMines11]

+geoffmackley Thanks, man! Sounds like you enjoyed the video - glad to hear it!

[@ethandubya21]

Sad to see you stop making these videos, but could you tell me the location of this mine? Maybe just the State and County? Thanks Frank!!!

[@yoshihammerbro435]

Your videos taught me everything to know in a mine.

[@sueishere25]

That was really interesting. You two are brave to go into a mine.

[@jagdishbaldaniya6358]

Amazing. ...

[@jvp3873]

From what I could hear of the "Rock Drop" it fell for 8 seconds lets say. That calculates to be approximately 320m or 1,049.87 feet. Ten stories, that's enough for a chute to open before hitting bottom, were it physicaly possibly to try or prove, which it obviously is not, but it's the same difference anyway, about 1,050 feet or so. GR8 vid, thanks, James, San Diego, Ca.

[@AbandonedMines11]

+James Polloreno Thanks, James, for your comment! Always glad to hear from a fellow San Diegan!

[@rogerscottcathey]

How do you figure? 1/2G*T^2 = height.

[@soggy5854]

@@rogerscottcathey Is that a real formula?

[@jenniewallick4418]

Really wonderful video and mine. The metal supports are really beautiful. The refuge chamber was where the miners were to meet and stay in case of a cave in that blocked their way out. As you said they had doors to seal it up. There was probably an air vent to the top in it. The "growths" made my smile. A stalactite is a mineral hanging like a cone from the ceiling. A stalagmite is the cone that is made on the floor where it drips. Give that a million years and they'll meet in the middle and make a gorgeous pilar. There is so much beauty in a hole with rocks.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Jennie Wallick Hey, Jennie! Thanks for watching and for your comments. Yes, there can be beauty in out-of-the-way places like a dark, damp, cold abandoned mine. The formations in this one were extraordinary.

[@jasonclements1978]

Thank you guys for sharing. Happy Thanksgiving

[@Dont.....-]

the nubs on that hammer drill are tungsten carbide.

[@MichaelDavidCilantro]

Wow this was one super awesome video. I hope you do a part two to this video. Seeing as the shop said shop-1 do you think there may be other shops as this mine is so enormous ??? Yet again another fantastic video :D

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Michael David Cilantro Yes, I would think that there would be other workshops in the mine. Other explorers who were here a year or two before us spent around 16 hours in this mine exploring it. There's a lot more to see than what Paul and I saw on our brief expiration. I just can't seem to find any sources that specifically say exactly how many miles of tunnels were in this mine. Would be interesting to actually find that out.

[@storie2012]

Michael David Cilantrgu

[@gordbauer4525]

Michael David Cilantro BMW 2003 allwheel repair

[@JTSOUTDOORLIFE]

Great video we love watching yall explore the mines. I think I would be scared to explore that far down. We love having great adventures and exploring new to us areas though!

[@AbandonedMines11]

This mine was reported to have “bad air“ in it due to all the pyrite mixing with the water. We only went into it because there were two groups of previous explorers who went in it themselves in the previous year or so. They suffered no ill effects, so I knew that it was relatively safe for the most part. Despite that, though, Paul and I only spent about four or five hours in this mine altogether. Other explorers have spent 8 to 12 hours in this mine. It is that massive! Due to the very serious risk of encountering hydrogen sulfide gas or “bad air” in this mine, I will never go in it again. One time was enough for me.

[@kevin122759]

Thanks for the video. I know about mines but never been in one. Now I know what it looks like.

[@Alucard6921]

Drops a rock down, floor collapses.

[@epretorious]

Sick! :P

[@Osckarre]

Fascinating videos, I couldn't resist I had to sub!

[@AbandonedMines11]

+Osckarre Welcome aboard! And thank you for subscribing! I really appreciate your interest in my videos. Paul and I were only in this mine for a few hours. Other explorers have spent close to 16 hours in it, so I do believe the tunnels go a lot further than what I showed this video. Still haven't been able to ascertain exactly how many miles of tunnels are in this particular mine.

[@illduitmyself]

you need some type of electric offroad skateboard

[@dmusiz]

One of the best videos I seen on KZbin👍🏽

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for your comment and thumbs up. Your support means a lot. Thank you.

[@BigTimeZergRush]

First time watching of the your videos. So yall are just two guys who go and explore random abandoned mines? Sounds AWESOME!

[@wangruochuan]

those drill bit nubs are prolly made of tungsten carbid

[@MacroMachines]

Tuzz Nation They are.

[@thethepete731]

You mean cunston targlide? Wait... wrong channel.

[@MacroMachines]

thethePete actually it's: cuntstain tongueglide

[@donfulton5765]

The water hose was most likely used for steam powered drills. I found similar items in a abandoned mine in the desert out in California back in the '90's. There was an underground river the miners used for the water source and giant abandoned steam engines.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Sounds like you're talking about the Kokoweef Mine and the infamous underground river there! Thanks, Don, for watching and commenting!

[@christripp2828]

Nope water is used to spray down much piles to control dust, also drills are hooked up to water to control dust.

[@RRaucina]

@@AbandonedMines11 Steam was never used for drilling. Got enough trouble with compressed air!

[@mitchramey5052]

You sir, are amazing!

[@metalwitch58]

Pretty cool video. Thanks for sharing.

[@blastar55m3]

The parallel tunnel is called a RAW. Return air way. The main vent fan will draw air in though the portal down to the bottom of the mine and the air returns to the surface via that RAW.

[@hotrodray9884]

ChrisYanicki .... "Rootes" blower

[@TheBogyy]

Exploring abandoned mine tunnels is a very, very dangerous activity. .......

[@sallymcdonald368]

Found this very interesting. Would love to walk that.Cant believe how deep that goes. Thanks for sharing.

[@AbandonedMines11]

+sally mcdonald Thanks, Sally! Yes, it was quite a walk. Almost a mile one-way. This was probably one of the more dangerous mines we were in due to the risk of hydrogen sulfide gas. But we knew two separate groups of explorers who explored it a year apart from each other, and they had no problems. This is why it pays to do a lot of research and to do due diligence before entering any abandoned mine. Glad to hear you found this mine to be interesting. Thanks for watching!

[@bRad-ns6iy]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing 👍

[@AbandonedMines11]

Thanks for watching!

[@American2715]

at 6:46, "Be careful of the sound of drums!"

[@paulniblock]

dude, my legs hurt just watching this video :)

[@AbandonedMines11]

***** Have you seen my wallet and iPhone?

[@paulniblock]

I gps'd them and they are right in front of you.

[@robertonome2448]

Awesome videos! I've always wondered if there was such a *real* exploring-related channel

[@Thebringerofchange]

Thanks for sharing cheer

[@docmccoy1928]

Damn Frank the scope of this mine is hard to imagine. Hell the workshop is bigger than some stopes I have worked in lol. I think the pipe you dropped the rock into was a core sample. It would have been very difficult to pull a vacuum on that to pump water unless it was supply water down to a lower area which doesn't seem likely. After the Sunshine Mine Fire they set up refuges throughout the mine with air and power and they could be totally self contained. This is a great mine to explore, a nice change from the hard rock mines although they are my favorites. We do indeed need to see more of this mine though. This would be a great mine to stay overnight in lol. Be safe.

[@AbandonedMines11]

Doc McCoy Thanks, Doc! I believe this was the first mine in which I've seen a refuge chamber. Of course, I'm not normally exploring modern mines like this one. This mine definitely was a change of pace from the typical smaller mines I find myself in. That pipe into which I dropped the rock had a curve in it not too far down from the top, if I can recall correctly. It went in vertically then curved about eight feet down (or something like that). Would that still be a core sample drill hole with a bend in it like that?

[@5tol3n]

Exploring Abandoned Mines and Unusual Places I would have thought maybe a communication type pipe.

[@christripp2828]

Exploring Abandoned Mines and Unusual Places yes, but likely it was drilled from the surface , did you look above at the back? You will get a little travel in the drill steel when they hit a vug. I had quite a bit of dog legged test drill holes in my drilling career.

[@RRaucina]

@@AbandonedMines11 All drill holes wander and 8 to 12 feet at just 150' is not so unusual. Diameter of hole is a controlling factor. Fracking has exploited this and can control the turn in a pipe all the way to horizontal.

[@cadenmcwilliams8542]

Go 4 minutes and 48 seconds in and look to the top right over that mound of debrie what jumped down then back up right there on top of it 😳

[@AbandonedMines11]

You have a very good eye for spotting that very strange anomaly in my video! That is either Paul’s flashlight or a ghost. I tried to match it up with the motion of Paul and his light, but it doesn’t seem to match up very well. If it’s a ghost, it looks like the ghost jumps up to take a look at us and then quickly jumps back down once it has seen enough. Thanks for your intriguing comment!

[@GeneralArmorus]

Nice catch. Wow this comment was posted and got pinned 3 years after video came out and I'm here 20 minutes after the fact!

[@electrice9259]

reflection off of water

[@snowdropper5879]

light reflection from the camera man

[@richardhouston736]

4:48 for people looking for the timestamp

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

we used to use barrels like that to hold up the intake suction hose for pumps, We also used to have vent doors like those to equalise pressure between tunnels when blasting and when the vents were running

[@davefinney2349]

I really enjoyed watching that. Thank you

[@AbandonedMines11]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment.