Refining Pure Gold From An 1800s Gold Mine!

I took a trip to Washington state to meet up with my friend Jason at his gold mine from the 1800s. He is reopening the mine and was nice enough to allow us to take a tour and do some mining! We spent the day chipping out gold from the walls and refining it back at Jason's shop.
It was a very informative day of ALL the work that goes into refining the gold we use.
Check out Jason's channel here: ‪@mbmmllc‬
Also, I wrote a book! About living at Cerro Gordo the past 3 years. Check it out: www.amazon.com...
More behind the scenes photos here: / brentwunderwood
Thank you all so so much for all the support and encouragement!
You can see more long form videos on my main channel: ‪@GhostTownLiving‬

[@iichthus5760]

Hardrock underground miner here since 1980. Good to see you getting in and making it happen. Just be careful… you don’t get any second chances.

[@wazzawiseonenew]

Wise words.

[@Mrbfgray]

Especially for $0.50/hr

[@cameronallen474]

​@Mrbfgray I pay money for my hobbies. Atleast he's making SOMETHING xD

[@michaelcheli5842]

​@@MrbfgrayThe riches are in the adventure.

[@Mrbfgray]

@@michaelcheli5842 Yes of course, and YT content in this instance but not for most of us.

[@jimgriffiths9071]

Jason is one of the best guys on KZbin. Glad you two are buddies!

[@owenroche8426]

Such a cool adventure! I’ve been watching Jason’s series of reopening and mining his gold mine

[@MW-nOttawa]

was so sad when the hotel burned down eh

[@BigMac-jr4th]

What is Jason’s KZbin channel called?

[@grahamkyle7465]

​​​@@BigMac-jr4thmbmm you'll find it serching that

[@BigMac-jr4th]

@@grahamkyle7465 thank you! Also found some of his stuff on eBay which is awesome!!

[@chancepint928]

You should keep it! That’ll always be a reminder and it’s your first gold you ever mined from start to finish!

[@Katseye102]

Who would have thought that when you bought this town, the people you would meet?!! What a incredible adventure you have had!! What knowledge you have gained! What friendships you have! It’s a lifelong legacy you can be proud of. Thank you so much for bringing us along!! Take care Brent!! ❤️❤️❤️🥰

[@larrypennell8031]

I was impressed with Jason from the first time we met him on video while he was visiting Brent at Cerro Gordo. He treats everyone with respect and kindness, regardless of their station in life. Watching Jason and Brent work as a team is a wonderful experience. Keep it up, guys!

[@masterofcents.8175]

Dan, Jason and Bret have got to be three of the best humans on KZbin.

[@bigbasil1908]

Dan Hurd is a character lol. He's quite nerdy but he's great nonetheless.

[@SCW1060]

Don't forget about Jeff Williams too

[@jaredsmith4894]

I can very much so agree with this❤❤

[@masterofcents.8175]

@@SCW1060 yea Jeff is a blast..

[@bigbasil1908]

It's not actually Jeff's channel, his skeleton friend is the real channel owner @@SCW1060

[@scottbranch5603]

Great teachers, so many youtubers speak to hear themselves. Jason is so humble and knowledgeable, very interesting to learn from.

[@whitman911]

This is fascinating, Jason and Brent! Thank you for sharing this piece of American history!

[@jodylee8821]

The gleam and excitement in Jason's eyes is so awesome to see when talking about mining gold. You can totally tell he loves what he's doing !! Such a awesome video. I live about 9 hours away from there so seeing a familiar area is so neat !!

[@OGRocker1]

Hey Brent, glad to see your version ....Already Seen Jason's, Chad and Harry's⛏⚒⛏

[@michaelpage7691]

I really like the friendship between all you like minded people. You all seem very humble and enjoy showing your viewers the way it was back then and the newer techniques of mining. Thanks to you all. 👏😁🇦🇺

[@sdnkjohnson]

Wow, that was really interesting. It really opens your eyes on how hard it was to mine and still is. This is history that should be shared. It would be a great classroom presentation.

[@tonyrgnash]

you're both stand up guys, I look forward to future adventure collaborations.

[@America_Yea]

You can have that gold hammered into a gem shape then polished and set into a cerro gordo pure silver ring. A tale of two mines and miners coming together. That would be a grand display piece.

[@petepete2284]

What's really weird is that I started following all you miners of some kind . And now you are all getting to know each other . That's cool. You and Jason are a good fit. Umm. I wonder how well a construction chute would work. They are rugged and light

[@anthonylee2099]

Thank you Jason for taking Brett into your gold mine and go through the process in mining for gold. Thks Brett for sharing with us the gold mining process.🤙😎

[@sprucehouse9]

That was a really cool intro to the mining process. And not only does Jason have a productive gold mine, it's located in an absolutely beautiful landscape.

[@littlejonathorn6860]

What a cool adventure!!!! Who you gonna call, “Stope Busters!!!”

[@paulhoffman6371]

I've seen a lot of Jason at MBMM, great guy to know. With all the wood back to Cerro Gordo, the building continues. The gold bead - a commemorative coin?

[@EchoJulez]

I always like these collab videos with Jason, MO, Brent and Dan Hurd. They should start their own Con; they could call it Awesome - Con.

[@bfd1565]

This video was extremely well done. In the beginning I felt like in was in a movie theater. Awesome content.Good job bro.

[@DansBackcountry]

I frequent the area that mine is a few times a year to go fishing at the adjacent lakes and hunt that area during the high buck hunting season. I've seen the mine but it was only until recently that I learned who owned it. Pretty cool to find out that it's a famous KZbinr that owns it. I never heard back from Jason when I messaged him about it but I did promise not to divulge its location in the email.

[@1a1u0g9t4s2u]

Just this morning my mother returned a shoe box full of photos I took in the late 80's when I was working and traveling in South Africa, the memories it brought back. Your videos and podcasts will do the same for you one day for you. So glad you are documenting your adventure at Cerro Gordo for future generations to re-learn about the history and method of underground hardrock mining. Thanks for sharing.

[@zandeis]

I love Jason he's so knowledgeable and passionate, always a great vid when you collab

[@kevinsullivan3448]

My 1st construction job was as a Carpenter's Helper in the San Manuel mine in... 1996. I spent a lot of time making walkways, shelters, cement forms, and other wood things as needed. I didn't work for the mine, I worked for the construction company that was installing the new conveyor belts. It was quite an experience to have hot water dripping from the ceiling on the 4280 level.

[@haemhorrhoidian]

Massively entertaining yet again Brent 🙂 and now i have 2 superb mining channels to keep up with 😀

[@Tazz-Media]

A coin with Cerro Gordo on one side & Jason's mine name on the other side - A unique one off piece of Adventure - that only the 2 of you (& thousands of us viewers) know it's real history of origin. A great video - thanks Brent & Jason.

[@JohnZBaeZ]

Something like this sounds fun, minus the dust, heat, and cold temperatures.

[@wendyp806]

Wow absolutely amazing! Ty Brett and Jason for showing us how this is done and why our precious metals are so expensive!

[@dbracer]

Really well put together video - Jason's huge, wide-eyed enthusiasm for this really shows!

[@markkwasny9650]

So there is free mill gold AND sulfides in this ore ?

[@MrLandphill]

thanks for always having great content

[@1944chevytruck]

AWESOME! That Jason guy is AWESOME!

[@AkersAdventures]

It’s so cool to see the difference in moisture in the mines too.

[@anotherluckydad]

Great adventures working together on this collaboration. I was looking forward to seeing this.

[@MrBoho7]

Why am i so addicted to mining videos. These are so good.

[@homesteadiswhereyoumakeit9056]

Make a thick wire of the gold and a thick wire of your silver twist them together and make it a ring that reminds you of both stories of the mines, how hard work is rewarding and that it's important to appreciate and learn from the generations that came before us so that knowledge isn't lost and won't have to be rediscovered by future generations. The Internet is a blessing makes finding information much quicker and easier, but real personal interaction like this one between you and Jason are what I feel makes life fulfilling sharing knowledge about what we enjoy with others really makes people connect to each other and the people who passed that knowledge down.

[@adventureswithgoat719]

I enjoy watching both sides of an amazing collaboration. Lol

[@carletonrutherford1799]

20:56 The gleam in Jason's eyes when he's talking about mining gold is nice to see. He seems to really enjoy what he's doing.

[@arcanask]

12:30 dude over here molding the support beam like playdough. Meanwhile Brent having to sawzall his way through the support beams at his mine. What a world of difference.

[@korsi500]

That was awesome. You guys are amazing bringing back the history and appreciation ❤

[@NiburuGaming]

love your collabs with jason and dan. Found their channels watching you and I'm hooked. Keep up the great content! But dont overwork yourself lol

[@Peter-ue2ij]

Idea for the gold. Use that and some cerro gordo silver in a medal / cup for the winner of your running race up the hill to cerro gordo! If you use it in a cup, you could keep it / have the names of winner engraved, start a new tradition!

[@B-leafer]

I think you should make a short picture history of Jason's mine, of him, the ore, chiseling it out, refining it etc and mount that 10g button under glass putting it all in your museum.

[@shaunandsqueak]

I agree! also there is almost a movie in the two miners over the winter..plotting an scheming..

[@chrisroberts8986]

Nice watching you again Brent been in alot of pain haven't been watching any T.V. ..Looks like your still doing awesome things...

[@I.Live4oldcars.prospecting]

Very awesome video. Very enjoyable, very informative and interesting 👍

[@markmckeown5855]

Agreed!!! Watching Jason, Brent, and Harry ( MO) all come together is "stellar " ❤ all you guys...

[@digitalSixer]

Awesome video!!! Thanks for sharing this!!!

[@RyanMartin-wg7gm]

Thanks you guys very nice mineing 😊

[@joezaloga]

This is what I like about KZbin, Different creators getting together as a community making content.

[@oculusangelicus8978]

It's so amazing that just that tiny little bead, firstly weighs 10 whole grams, and secondly is catching up to a thousand dollars or near there. And that bead is pure 24k gold, which means it's soft, and would be susceptible to damage if used in its pure form for jewelry. Having said that, it could still be put into a piece of jewelry, but it would need to be protected from physical damage. I think you should have your gold bead, shaped into a cut gemstone and put into a ring but have the ring designed in a way that the "gemstone of gold" is protected by the outsides of the ring, similar to a graduation ring, but have the sides of the ring up higher than the gem of gold in the center, if that makes sense to you. And, of course, have the ring made from pure Cerro Gordo Silver, so that you can say that "I mined every part of this ring!" a jewel of pure 24 karat gold in a pure Cerro Gordo Silver ring., Oh, and make it a Manly chonky ring, with lots of silver used in its creation.

[@abcsandoval]

Thanks for sharing this. Who need tv with videos like this!

[@xmj6830]

Good for you to catch up with Jason for this great experience.Jason is certainly the guy to spend time with regarding mining!

[@PaquiCamus]

Thank Jason, Brett and Dan for showing the whole mining and gold processing. As Jason said "After everything it ended up to panning!'

[@dodgeit3014]

10 grams off 17 pounds is crazy. Good stuff. After all the videos I’ve watched of Jason you can just tell he is a good guy.

[@robmez]

Excellent once again , Jason know his stuff and comes across as a real Gent ,

[@random22026]

Jason is a mining ace! (And vocally, he sounds just like the actor, Jimmy Stewart! Mr. Smith Goes to Washington State! :D ) 💛

[@charleshartig3247]

Great video Brent/Jason! Thanks. I chuckled when you were panning and the stuff at the pan top is called taillings! Too much Gold Rush show!

[@PaulHigginbothamSr]

I really appreciate you guys. Jason took you in like a brother but you see what happens when greed gets too much and then you find a guy with a rope around his neck tied to a rock at the bottom of a rift under water. So the man wasn't entirely honest about the man going out to hunt. Today he would immediately be tracked down and arrested for murder but then he became a business man and respected in a community. Usually these people keep trying their luck and someone lowers their living.

[@Bazz24697]

Thanks guys great to see the way gold is mined very interesting process in the end of it all 👍😉

[@babyblu5247]

Been following for years from alaska and now I’m living in Washington so I love this!!

[@beryckrobottom7817]

A tiny ore cart made of gold would tell a tale almost lots untold,of a forgotten time of miners down. A mine, shine silver shine

[@grahamfoster9404]

Thanks for the video Brent, could'nt help feeling just a little claustrophobic in that stope .But what an educational experience ,thanks. That man has grown into a good friend for you. Fantastic to draw on each others knowledge.What a beautiful place to be as well, thanks again. Graham ( England )

[@deanvinlove6095]

Very cool adventure!

[@CCaddy]

Jason and those guys sure get around! I expect to see them around the corner in any old wash when I'm out prospecting!!! Hope they have frequent flier miles!

[@jwcinc12]

Jason and Brent is always a good video. Thanks.

[@dchap88]

Let's GO! Always a good day when you post!

[@dennisyoung4496]

That was so kool to see the complete possess from beginning to end. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnhall9609]

What a learning experience you two guys just gave me!! A way different perspective on how bad the old miners had it!! Man hard workers like that don’t come everyday!! God bless y’all two!! I hope Jason strikes it rich, and that you Brent actually find gold in your silver mine!! Great video as always!! Love y’all guys man!! 💯👍👍oh and that piece of gold you can flatten it out and make a rare one of a kind gold coin and have Cerro Gordo or your name imprinted on it, or yours and Jason faces carved into it?? Just saying a coin would be cool???

[@ronaldstarkey4336]

Take it down and get it bronzed... lol

[@TheStillWalkin]

Brent i am watching you for 3 years now. Your videos give me so much joy and relaxation. Through you we can discover a world that most of us never will experience. Take care and have fun. Glück auf! - as the miners in Austria say

[@mattywanders]

Awesome video, that looks like such a good time. Keep up the adventures! PS, I think we need a library update!

[@SaraJean85]

I'm so happy to now see yall together i never thought how wonderful it would b the day I left a comment 4 u to contact Jason to help u with ur ring (I looked to see if anyone else had - and as far as I could see- I WAS THE FIRST)... NOW YALL R SUPER FRIENDS! YAY

[@perfectweather]

Great video, thanks 👍

[@GregoryJohnston77]

You & Jason are HARD working GREAT dudes. Man i cant believe how smart you guys are. Just absolute hard working tanks you two are.

[@JerrycanWanderers]

Thanks Mr. Post for your amazing discovery 😮

[@RoyHolder]

Been subscribed to Jason for a while since I saw him with Dan Hurd, nice to see another angle of the mine.

[@NavyDood21]

I love living in WA and getting to hike through forests just like you see here. I love how here in WA and down in CA are both beautiful places, but for completely different reasons.

[@markroper9269]

Great video! Good to see you guys hanging out!!

[@jesseogden7683]

It's so awesome jason used to work at this mine, and now its his operation

[@Mc-Henry]

Love your videos, I've been following you since the beginning keep up the great content 💯

[@adamskagius6281]

Jason is a PRO!

[@MrDazP1adv3ntures]

Loving the content ! This was excellent to watch and it showcased two genuine gold mining channels where the "Collaboration" was not about the KZbin views per say but more about the process of owning "Real" gold mines and what is still achievable with some passion, commitment and determination....

[@stevenharper9066]

Thanks bro 👍🏻👊🏻😎

[@SandyWolf-]

Definitely cool video Your bead of gold and the video should remain in your museum

[@myreasonforlife.9511]

HELLO right back at Cha Sir Brent!! Still loving yr gorgeous red hair, dig, dig, this was a cool Vija for sure. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🍽️🦃❤ hope it's superb.

[@pinebearclub]

So back in the early ’90s I went into this area and followed that road down to the mine. We found the entrance and went in about a hundred feet as our lights weren’t that good. What an adventure, what an area! So scenic there too. Bryan from Vancouver

[@chaseblood1618]

I didn’t know there was a second channel! Glad it popped up in my feed. I’ve been waiting for this video since I watched the mbmm video a few days ago!

[@jeandorsey7991]

Brent sounds like you have a Zentnerd in your midst. Nick Zentner is a geology professor in Central Washington State University. Nick isn't far in Ellensburg where he lives. He's a KZbinr, podcasts and PBS shorts creator. Definitely look up Nick Zentner and a lot of interesting vids are presented not only props akin to Mystery Science Theatre 3000, but actually was a classmate of mine from Wisconsin. Great guy Brent, like you guys. Keep up the good work and I think Nick can shed even more light on this interesting subject! ❤

[@carliswise203]

Wow!! I could watch Jason’s videos all day! Great stuff!

[@user-bonezstayley]

WOW I just left Washington on my way home to California and I spent a week and a half at different parts of Washington I grew up in Washington for a few years as a kid. I didn't want to leave but I didn't have a choice. Thank you guys for what you do. I'm 61 and not in the best health 😊 I have something that is robbing me of energy and muscle mass and OH well no reason to get down on myself. I'm very happy all the time and I'm dying. Most people might be depressed about it not me. I don't feel unlucky I feel blessed to have lived the way I wanted. The thing about people who are dying gets an incredible view at the next life. Though I am going through a strange time I find ways to make it a positive. This bad period I'm going through shall pass death to the person who is going through it is not at all what it seems except from the person viewing me. Anyway I'm not worried. Life goes on and on with mine being a lonely way and dark way I will prevail somewhere somehow. Holding on to people I know is really hard to do. Dying is the strangest journey ever I have to make the right decision if I want to pull my way out and it has a lot to do with the way I treated people in my relationships and family. The only thing I regret is the people I hurt. Myself dying is nothing but people I've hurt has a lot of remorse and regret. I think the best thing for me is to find the people who I've hurt and I have found them it's so weird and strange I wish I could explain but it goes far down rabit holes. Anyway thank you guy's 😊 I hope I make sense to someone who reads this about dying. Don't worry it's not a bad thing to the person dying 😊 Take care ❤️

[@richardbreisch8049]

Great video with both of you! Just a fine group of men going after the gold! Nice good sized bead for your troubles...

[@NicklasJacobsenDenmark]

HI BRENT. YOU ROCK.

[@KLONDIKEGRAFF]

This adventure you shared with us really seemed to bring attention to (at least for me) the fact that the friendships we form during our journey through life are truly more valuable than one can put a number on. The experiences gained and shared with friends are the flavor of life. And as for an idea I'd cast a dye that would have 2 seperate chambers that you could mint the10g gold into half a coin and the other matching half from 10g of silver from your mine with the word Friendship stretching across both halves making it one coin and on the other side have Jason's company name or mine and Cierro Gordo mine or what you'd choose to represent you with the year. Put it into a nice coin case and into the museum so people who see it can reflect upon friendship just as this adventure you took us on did for me. Thank you.

[@Rethaxian]

You and Jason were meant to be friends. What awesome generous dudes you guys are

[@thebmac]

Been waiting for this video!! awesome adventure in a different mine!

[@FateCarver]

An intertwined gold and silver ring using his mines gold and your mines silver would be really cool.

[@warrenwilliams363]

Thank you!

[@connifilteau2678]

Nice collaboration. Thanks....that is a nice prill of Gold. You can mill it down to wafferthin, just saying to keep its' perfect flattening property in mind. Cheers, love these mining vids....

[@writerdagmar]

This is a great video. Thank you both for entertaining and educating me and many others :)

[@ghosttown2]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@michealklonowski5267]

thank you for sharing the adventure and information