The Bonanza Mine: Finding a Skip Car and Descending Down to the 800 Level (Part 2 of 2)

[@bob_frazier]

I'm so glad there are young people fearless enough to do this for the rest of us. Wish you had a geologist with you though.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

I would like to improve my knowledge of geology. Thanks for watching!

[@Secondwindoregon]

Take a black light! A lot of that rock glows in the dark.

[@scruffdog]

@@forgottenmininghistory Is this ion Utah

[@jackguthrie1542]

Thank you for exploring and documenting the extremely dangerous and very hard work that our ancestors did for us! that was a very hard job and harsh environment to work in. A part of history that should not be forgotten!!

[@forgottenmininghistory]

The work these old miners did was nothing short of incredible. It was through their labor that the western half of the United States grew. I wish more people were interested in preserving these mines rather than seeing them as a nuisance.

[@davidhart3133]

People were a different breed back then. Id love to have a conversation with one of the men who worked in a mine like this.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Same here!

[@jayonez137]

100%

[@pimpmysniper]

What I wud do to go back to the late 19th century to an old western saloon bar in a little mining town and spend an evening drinking, socialising and mingling with all the locals including the women! Lol

[@alexanderavgoulas4062]

@Stem Artin they were not pro lgbt. Plenty of stones to carry out Leviticus 20:13

[@dantheman7900]

Great watching! Takes me back 25yrs exploring with my brother all the 1870's gold mines in the mountain country in Victoria Australia. Descending, ascending shafts on ropes, wading through water filled drives, taking down cut open 44gallon drums to place in tunnel collapes to get through and keep exploring. It's a sensation and experience that you can only get by being down there that's hard to describe unless you've done it. Men did it hard back then!!! Thanks for the video.

[@davidjones5062]

One of the best mines I’ve seen presented. Great job and thanks for posting.

[@stevesloan7132]

The Bruno mentioned in that newspaper was being tried for the kidnapping of Charles Lindberg's baby. That paper should be scanned into a computer and saved as a PDF file.

[@mrmeseeks9253]

Such an excellent set of videos (Pt.1&2) thank you for filming!

[@jontrout007]

Amazing mine visit! Great job on the exploration, narration and video. Reports mention the (pocket) mine going to a depth of 2,700 feet. The geology is incredible inside of the mine in the video.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Yes the geology is really interesting. Many people said in my previous video that I should have showed the vein up close. I wish I did, but guess I was more focused on looking for artifacts. Thanks for watching!

[@LionsideDisciple]

Exploration channels are the easiest subs for me to decide on. Thanks for showing us!

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Thanks for subscribing!

[@ralphpatrick3071]

One of the coolest mine explorers ever! Great job!!

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Appreciate the comment, Ralph!

[@robertclayberger4314]

A working mine cart rollin on the rails, way too cool! Was hoping to see you ride it...lol! This was definitely one of the coolest mine explores. So many incredible, museum quality artifacts in one mine. Awesome explore and video. Stay safe!👍👍👍

[@forgottenmininghistory]

I rode it in Part 1. I held the camera while I sat inside. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@ivanlarson7851]

I have one that came out of the Bonanza mine in Colorado. Rolls with little effort. Even have a section of track.

[@gingerbread6614]

Neat mine. Thank you Zavier. You both did a great job. Thank you

[@petergambier]

Thanks for this FMH, it was good and seeing all the artefacts including the star piece, that wonderful ore-bin on wheels, it was a surprise in the 3rd film to see a broken wheel, you'd think they'd be tough like the men who once worked here. I work as a traditional lime plasterer and get such a thrill working on old buildings, finding stuff and seeing how the ancient ones worked. My last job was repairing 15 lath & plaster ceiling panels in a 14th century church in Somerset where I had previously repaired the wall behind the organ when it had been removed for repairs in 2005. Hidden behind the old lime mortar was a Hagioscope, this is a hole in the wall so that a priest can see the the order of service, the altar. I left a time capsule plus my name and the reason for the work and plastered it closed again for the next person to discover some day in the future.

[@jp6614]

I wouldn't want to leave! Glad I found this video!!

[@bighaymish3625]

you really gotta appreciate the hard workers back in the day hats off to them true hard workers

[@HollywoodGraham]

Very interesting mine. Your videos are really good and getting even better as well as your knowledge of mining and history of the mines you explore. Research pays off.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

I appreciate the comment! Yes, research and persistence payed off big time here.

[@qldabandonedmines]

Awesome exploring! That big decline is simply epic.

[@6-kids-uk]

Is this mine in either Boulder, Gilpin or Clear Creek County in Colorado? If so I remember my father worked in that mine in the 1930's. It's not related to Bonanza Mining district in Saguache County. He also worked in a mine near Caribou called the Silver Cross and I think the Caribou mine there. He also mined tungsten mine near Nederland. And gold at the totally diappeared Minnesota Mine which was when my parents lived in Idaho Springs . He worked in the Pennsylvania mine at Grass Valley California. Before the Cross mine was sold in around 1970 he took me on a bit of a tour. Also been down in the Mogul Tunnel in Eldora. I hope tis is the same Bonanza mine he worked in.

[@deepuareekkal9809]

Which metal/mineral they extracted from there.... Very curious to know that..... And also want to know how do they extract that from this raw meterial

[@6-kids-uk]

@@deepuareekkal9809 I believe Tungsten, silver, gold. Gold is or was smelted in a milling process involving mercury vapors which is the sum of my knowledge really

[@6-kids-uk]

As an aside, the first of my family arrived in what is now Idaho Springs, Central City, Ward and Caribou beginning in 1865 ....using modern place names. There are.still descendents of them in the area. Counting back that made five generations who worked down in the mines, generally to make rich men richee.

[@mrj2productions873]

Now that is some serious hard work digging rock ... and that is a lot of rock to dig by hand.... wowwee

[@arandomsystemglitch2398]

This place looks in really good shape mostly like it could be re used after some clean up for the collapses and the main rail could use a repair and etc

[@Theigorsch]

i just found your channel, and im so glad i found it

[@33fastcar]

This is my 2nd abandoned mine video. Part 1 was my first. This is new to me but at 23:02 I almost had a heart attack! I had looked away for a second, when I looked back I saw a bright glowing set of eyes! Then I saw it wasn't even an animal. I was startled by a back pack... I'm new to this..LoL!

[@lostbr0]

Wish you guys would dedicate time to the actual mineralogy of the mines. If I was there I would be taking grab samples as I see many very interesting specimens at every turn. Some of the 'blue' mineral looks almost like turquoise, and those collapsed stopes could expose ore samples containing values. Reminds me of when I explored some mines in New Mexico about 35 -40 years ago. Keep up the great work, I enjoy watching. Be safe.

[@jeremywilliams4381]

Mines like these are still generally owned by somebody. Taking samples of ore is still considered claim jumping and is still punishable under the law. You cannot take out ores.

[@blaneycrabbe3390]

Thanks for the Explore, and thanks for keeping it secret, Everyone knows it makes a difference !

[@donraptor6156]

Secret? Are you kidding? I have been in there! Instead of removing artifacts for museum's they have left the stuff for vandals! Lots of the stuff is destroyed!

[@Glenn-em3hv]

That's one humongous mine and the timbers are huge and under great compression!!! That place could go at any time looking at those timbers in the stopes!!! So many stopes, i wonder just how much they got out of there?

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Yeah, it's a really impressive mine that was very successful in its day. They pulled several million out of here in the very late 1800's and early 1900's.

[@SueGirling68]

Hi, this mine was so awesome for the artefact's you found. There were so many cool sub level's too, that skip car find was unique as you just don't see them much anymore. Thank you for sharing, merry Christmas and I hope you have a fantastic new year, much love. xx 🙏💖🥂🤘

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Yeah, skip cars are a rare find, especially of this size. Thanks for watching Sue. I hope you had a great Christmas and I'm wishing you a happy new year!

[@SueGirling68]

@@forgottenmininghistory Thank you,. xx

[@mineadventures7938]

Can't say that i seen that one yet, maybe one day i will find it, LOL

[@forgottenmininghistory]

It took a lot of searching to find a way into this one, but as you can see it payed off bigtime.

[@mineadventures7938]

@@forgottenmininghistory - that's always fun. I used to use DeLorme Map books back in the early 90s, that's how i found War Eagle in Tecopa

[@zerofox7347]

That sure is a beautiful mine, it's hard to believe it's worked out when you see those colours but hey what do I know! Lol

[@forgottenmininghistory]

I'm sure there's still gold and other minerals left. All the ore we see was probably considered low grade at the time. Just imagine the high-grade they were pulling out when they first worked it.

[@lincolnstovall9471]

Hanging wall, foot wall, back, floor, ribb!

[@alango831]

Even a decline is an incline. Amazing

[@reggiepalmer6157]

Wow that was so cool. What a mind blower to see what these guys accomplished wow I couldn't imagine mining like that.

[@1966cambo]

Amazing to see all the stacked rocks along the drifts and adits!

[@mwrcrft]

Great walk thru

[@triac777]

Very nice finds.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Thanks for the comment, Lars!

[@akawireguy1197]

A fascinating explore.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Thanks for watching!

[@GOWIN8109837]

Awesome colors

[@jdhinckley1954]

Loved this

[@ty5642]

Excellent explore guys!!

[@HayesRanch]

Thank for for Part 1 and Part 2

[@gregoryrizer]

This is awesome thanks guy's for a very cool exhibition

[@kobe0007]

21:00 looks like a modern era can. Impressive that some fellow explorer left all the finds too.

[@boozalooza5285]

I am thinking they might of been using modern era cans as bread crumbs to find their way back? there were a few of these laying around through out the video

[@indraperez1112]

I loved Part 1 and 2 of this video! It was really interesting and felt like a explorer :-D P.S: Xavier really seemed excited with the mine cart hehe

[@Reziac]

I noticed that you could just about tell which level you were at by how clean the tunneling was. Higher up it's all smoothed and tidied up; deeper in it gets rougher and rougher, like they didn't put near as much effort into the accesses, and just got in and out with the ore as fast as they could.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

The bottom levels were damp so a lot of the timbers were rotten. The upper and lower levels were probably done the same. The upper ones just held up better.

[@Reziac]

@@forgottenmininghistory Ah, no, I meant the way the rock was removed. Upper level tunnels, the walls are a lot more smoothed and cleaned up; lower levels more rough like they were banged out any which way.

[@lindasnyder9479]

I hope ya'll took some of those artifacts because in time they'll be gone. That newspaper was just awesome as well as the various coffee and tobacco tins. Wow!

[@raydowley1038]

another great tour of this impressive mine, the huge size of the excavation all done by carbide lamps makes it even more impressive. Happy New Year to You and All

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Thanks for watching, Ray! Happy New Year to you as well!

[@emandejnozka1369]

It looks to me like you fellows are stepping over some pretty RICH mineralization! ==> Especially in a couple of those collapsed stopes! I hope you brought up some samples for assay. I enjoyed your journey == THANK YOU!

[@sctpc]

Looks like they let that Skip Car run free for its last ride.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

It must have been quite the crash!

[@nicksturdivant9430]

Awesome video! Keep them coming love your style!

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Thanks! Glad you like my channel!

[@HappyQuailsLC]

that looked like a pipe cutting sawhorse. I think I may have seen them before, they are metal for use arounding standing water which could eventually soak into and rot the wooden ones

[@eduardoedelacruz2009]

Love it! Very interesting. Thanks!

[@ShadowWizard123]

At 17:51 you can see an antique mine rucksack. Looks to be in pretty good shape. Heck, almost like new.

[@mhzprayer]

It's cool that you didnt take the artifacts so that future explorers can experience the same. That newspaper was incredible!

[@kirkgreenman1386]

Hi, That was amazing. Thank you for the Awesome Video. I hope you guys bring a metal detector and find some gold.

[@MikiBreki]

Amazing mine and video

[@kurtblank6488]

Ohhhh my Gosh. You guys who went down into that mine. Thank you so Much. I loved it. Infact uts so darn exciting. I was up there about three or four years ago. Never found the mine itself but came across two fallen buildings. Hey thanks again. When you go again film it. Do you guys collect rocks and Minerals ? I've been collecting a long time.

[@corcoke]

At 21:14 you can see a high water mark on the supporting timber, don't know if you saw it.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

I didn't notice. Thanks!

[@Rickdegraaf]

This is awesome!

[@samuelgilbert9734]

Amazing mine!

[@zamistro]

Was this mine abandoned because it was tapped out or did it close because of low prices and just not reopened?

[@beedumpling3820]

That bluish vein is probably galena. It is the most important ore of lead and an important source of silver.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Although some silver was mined here I don't think it is galena. Galena usually has a silver or gray color.

[@frankmcknight4275]

all i got was a slideshow of the bonbonza mine but you still did a great job recording it

[@Mike-tv9rk]

That track spacer (23 mins) was probably some sort of tie to stop the rails moving apart when the ore from the chute dropped into the cart from the side .

[@jeffreyyoung4104]

I spotted a pump leather on the floor, in that cutout between the 700 and 800 levels.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Thanks! I didn't notice that. They definitely used pumps for the lower levels.

[@kirk467]

Well you guys are braver than me, y’all stay safe and can you show the collection of artifacts that y’all collect? I’d love to see all the old stuff! Thanks for sharing your adventures and finds. I’m from Louisiana and we don’t have mines here! lol thanks guys! 👌🏻👍🏻👍🏻I’ll be praying for your safety! 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@LaurenOliviArt]

They leave the artifacts down there. They don’t take them 😊

[@Kilo-Mike]

You should go back there with a submarine drone. Thanks for the vid. Very nice

[@brianjones5935]

This is so badass.

[@MinesoftheWest]

Nice job, neat skip car! There wasn’t much elevation distance between the levels in that mine it seems or am I wrong?

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Thanks for the comment! The levels were reportedly measured every 100 ft. along the dip of the vein. The vein's dip is very shallow, probably around 30 degrees, so there's not a lot of vertical distance between the levels. However, even along the vein the levels seem closer than 100 feet apart, so I guess they weren't being very precise with it. Definitely one of the strangest, yet coolest, mines I've been in.

[@MistressNutmeg]

20:56 I was surprised to see the modern Budweiser can.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

We noticed them too. They all seemed to be relatively close to the main shaft. This mine probably recieved more visitors before the main shaft collapsed.

[@workonitm8]

Thanks

[@MardraumGhoul]

Yo dude, keep making these vids! Love the videos and it makes me want to explore something!

[@johnedmunds5136]

Makes me want to ride the Haunted Mine ride at the Excalibur Las Vegas.

[@MrZenwise]

That was awesome! Thank you for that! How do you not get claustrophobic at times?

[@forgottenmininghistory]

I'm so used to it I don't have much claustrophobia anymore.

[@daviderwin9178]

These boys are in shape. It would of sounded like a train coming through if I was filming this. I would of checked all those oil cans to grease myself

[@forgottenmininghistory]

It can be a real workout running though these mines. But the pain is half the fun!

[@ivanlarson7851]

I have an ore car from the Bonanza mine in Colorado my Dad and uncle retrieved in the 1950s

[@kyleagronick9627]

Something black flys at 18:00 right before the cut. Watch in slow mo. Could be parinormal.

[@Complete.cyclepath]

I think that was Xaviers hand ✋

[@MarkHill45]

Great video!

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Thanks for watching!

[@mikesanchez9654]

Apparently somebody else found this mine and explored before you guys got there - at 4:14 there is a Budweiser beer can with a modern pull tab that did not exist back in 1935. Funny how it was not pointed out in the video.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

This mine was a lot easier to access before the main shaft collapsed, which was a couple decades ago. All the cans seemed to be around the main shaft. Why is it funny that we did not point it out in the video?

[@johnhirtle4300]

@@forgottenmininghistory Because it was not of the era of everything else and that it was so far down, indicating someone else had explored there (and been nuts enough to pack crappy beer in?)

[@theodorechill]

19:30 Reaaaally makes me want to scuba dive it. I don't know why but it bothers me theres a man made element that cannot be observed, same sorta vibe I get from the rooms and items inside of the titanic.

[@bryceforsmandrums]

it also sounds like the sound effect when you jump in water in minecraft if you've ever played that LOL

[@Ravishrex1]

5:18 eyes top of the tunnel right side hope it was Xavier

[@jiyushugi1085]

When Skynet takes over this is where those of us who aren't allowed to go to Mars will be living.

[@challenger3989]

The “metal sawhorse” looks like it could also be an end of track bumper for ore carts.

[@papa606]

I could never go down there , tight places freak me out.

[@philipcallicoat3147]

The old guys did most of the work by usually dynamite and shoveling the muck... Loaded up the rocks into the carts and wheeled it out to be crushed and processed... Hard Men....🌹🙏 I had the pleasure of tending the bar in a little Nevada town called Beatty.... Some of the old muckers would come in and have a few drinks...They were a rough crowd... They didn't pick on anyone who wasn't one of them...That was back in the early 80's.... Another life time far gone.... It's 2022 now... I'm old and those guys are long gone...😞🙏

[@bonismith5733]

Guess you've done enough searches that you don't pay any kind of fear that collapse happen when your plodding thru trails like work horses. Too nerves for me, I did enjoy artefacts tho.

[@EDITMODE]

yep all i could think was omg what if theres an earthquake

[@jamesfoley2720]

Some of the golden color in the walls... is that pyrite?

[@BOBANDERSON5150]

Would be interesting if you brought a Black Light next time you explore these mines.

[@Martiz_]

Some still say they are wondering in the mines till this day, riding the minecart

[@Ms_MalRkey]

All this extraordinarily top notch footage of rare equipment and relics left behind, and the comments section gets fixated on a couple of non rare discarded Budweiser tins SMFH

[@AM-yy5tp]

How the heck did they navigate and find their bearings underground? I mean how did they build these multi level tunnels and manage to link them all up? Amazing work from the guys digging these tunnels as they have primitive tools and poor lighting!

[@Complete.cyclepath]

They would just branch out from the main shaft..

[@adirondackErin]

All I have to say is : “I’m glad you’re not my kids. I wouldn’t be able to,sleep!”

[@NUGGETSHOOTER]

WOW, cool, thanks, Arizona?

[@coraclements4562]

very interesting

[@arrrgonot7801]

That vein of azurite was striking.

[@cowboygeologist7772]

Great job showing this mine in two parts. As an explorer and Geologist, this was fun for me to watch. Would love to explore with you some. Only thing, I will not walk in water, climb broken ladders or clawl in extremely tight spaces. What State is this mine in? New subscriber.

[@lucylou9417]

What about the air down there? That’s scarey!

[@OldGriz708]

This video makes me wonder if parents still warn their kid's not to play with blasting caps. My Father grew up in Pennsylvania around the coal mines which would make sense for that warning but he warned me when we were living in Ann arbor Michigan 🤣

[@insertnamehere5146]

something else in that tunnel at 5:18 you can see the refection from the torch in its eyes as it ducks away

[@forgottenmininghistory]

That was my friend ahead of me!

[@wardog6275]

Lol. Modern day Budweiser can at 21 min mark.

[@forgottenmininghistory]

Before the shaft collapsed, this mine was easy to get into. That was a couple of decades ago however.

[@jeffjoy3556]

as a miner myself i can tell you guys that if you keep on doing this type of exploring...you are headed for trouble....putting your lives on the line trusting 100 year old wooden ground support with little to no safety gear...not even a scaling bar...good luck!

[@17industries42]

I am not knowledgeable in this area. What is some safety gear or precautions that could make this type of exploration safe? And what is the purpose of a scaling bar?

[@Secondwindoregon]

I’m surprised they left all that rail in there. It was expensive!