Gold Mine Hidden Along A River Has Numerous Surprises

[@zaboomafoo409]

Greetings from San Francisco CA

[@TVRExploring]

Haha, are we doing this? Alright, where is everyone posting from? I'm posting from Las Vegas, Nevada right now...

[@caseyhazlett7546]

​@@TVRExploring tehachapi ca :)

[@nielsen145]

@@TVRExploring Kastrup, Denmark

[@mjshaft]

Wales UK

[@timothymilam732]

Greenville, Texas NE of Dallas some 60 miles

[@lennardperry5184]

you guys have been on a roll with great videos lately. thanks for the effort

[@nevadits]

What a great little mine this turned out to be! It's always a nice surprise when you realize the adit is actually a tunnel AND "undocumented". I'll be living vicariously through your videos until my next outing so thanks for the trip.

[@stephenmiller5023]

“No matter where you go , you’ll always be there “ huh?!! Pretty frickin cool mine explore in this one . I was floored by the size/ width of that Quartz vein in there along with all that flow-stone. Thanks

[@EraX52]

Imagine what could be down in that flooded winze, maybe an underground train like the one in the Buca Della Vena Mine that you did, or the biggest stope ever, or miners pants. Those were some thick veins and the flowstone was crazy up in that mine. Keep up the great work, TVR.

[@terrystewart2070]

Wow! Another great explore! That flowstone was off the charts! And a completely intact modern drill, amazing! At the end, it looked like there was the remains of an old road where the FS burned the cabin. They got those big a** compressors in there somehow.....

[@brianvalley5223]

That classifier you stumbled upon is like the one I have. Modern appliance. Pretty cool flowstone formations.

[@williamwintemberg]

Cool mine! Love the surprises at the end. One could spend a day or two looking through the ruins at the end, trying to make sense of it all. Thanks Justin and Friend!

[@Dwendele]

As you mentioned people saying you're "walking past gold", which is iron pyrite... Which fittingly used to also be called "fools gold". 😂

[@danielhicks7593]

Just wanted to tell you that I appreciate these videos, thank you .

[@TVRExploring]

Glad you like them!

[@MikeOrkid]

It's nice coming out of an abandoned anthracite mine, coming home, relaxing and watching Justin do another killer explore.

[@thegreenphantom4304]

A recommendation for those interested in geology, the book "Rocks and Minerals" published by Golden Press. It has great 50's era illustrations and is a great reference for a beginner.

[@sierrashere6957]

I have that book . . . Lol copyright 1957

[@uploadJ]

Looks like there might be a copy on wayback machine too.

[@laurencejohnson7658]

You talking about Pough's treatise?

[@jilbertb]

26:09 Flowstone bacon! Very cool place, thx!

[@tyleredwards7162]

I find the large sections of quartz so awesome to look at

[@davegrummett1263]

Great video Justin. I think even I have wondered about you walking past gold before in some of your videos. In this mine with the literal tons of quartz in there, I'm sure there is still some tiny amounts of gold, but who wants to blast and muck what may amount to 5 tons of rock for a pittance of gold. You'd probably find more gold in the river below. Did you ever figure out where the tunnel you entered into exited in relation to where you were? Did it dump you out into a different valley on the other side of your hill?

[@macfilms9904]

That was quite a mine! Quartz looked a little barren? Some dark bands so maybe sulphides? Interesting that they didn't mine a lot of quartz in there, maybe gold values were too low?

[@brentkeller3826]

That pyrite and quartz was pretty, I'd have collected it in a heartbeat.

[@MrShotlighter]

Cheers guys, another fascinating old mine. BTW Jakes "rice paddies" at 39.17 are called "gour pools" - the calcite walls being the "Gours".

[@davidsnider1703]

Fun mine. Beautiful flowstone. Love when a mine has several exits. Boggles my mind the drill and all that tubing left in there.

[@KubotaManDan]

Another awesome explore, the “Gold Rush” era in the Sierras are among my favorites. Hope you have a great year of exploration ahead ⚒

[@leesherman100]

Always the adventure admiring your videos. I'm always impressed with the miners never ending struggle for the quest for gold. Tuco would be impressed! As always, five stars. ***** Many thanks. 👍

[@StarScapesOG]

Wow, what interesting geology! That was a massive quartz vein, but I guess it wasn't very rich in the end because of how much they left... thanks for documenting it!

[@Gunny672]

Foresthill native. Thanks for posting this. I miss Placer and El Dorado Counties.

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Justin, wow what a cool mine, it was full of surprises too. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks, Sue!

[@davec3459]

Another great explore! The compressor looked in good nick and like it'd fire right up again with a bit of effort

[@ralphpatrick3071]

Hell of a find! Should be named The Quartz Mine. Thanks, guy’s!

[@bigtexasprospecting]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing and keep em coming 👍🤩🤠

[@markattardo]

Mines always have interesting things to see. Tunneling through was wild!

[@ericcorse]

Reminds of that early 70's song Quartz on the left of me quartz on the right of me stuck in the adit with you

[@indiver716]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZfWkHqvhr19b80

[@TheSilmarillian]

Australia here, why does your forest service burn things down ?

[@robertlyman9789]

Hopefully to,control over growth, and manage potential catastrophic wild fires that you cannot control

[@randymagnum143]

Small controlled burn prevent huge uncontrollable burns. Keep your backyard clean and free of debris, and it won't burn. california and Canada neutered and destroyed their forestry service, that's why the huge crazy fires, not climate change.

[@floridacracker5]

Some pines only sees after fires as well

[@jilbertb]

They burn abandoned structures for fun! Actually to keep people away from finding the mines I think.

[@TVRExploring]

The Forest Service started burning and bulldozing historic cabins and other structures on public land back in the 70s and 80s. The practice continues today at a slower pace as most of the damage has already been done... The original excuse was to stop squatters and, today, the excuse is our pernicious "health and safety" culture. They add insult to injury by often placing "Protect Your Heritage" signs around the historical sites that they have just ravaged.

[@Driven_Dragon]

Do you guys ever take a metal detector or even a small hand wand detector with you to poke around? Thanks in advance and for the trip with.

[@MinesoftheWest]

Crazy! Never seen that before. Well done guys!

[@RockyMtnGobblers]

It would be fun to see you bring in a metal detector even the small pocket size to check some of the quartz areas for us. Love your videos.

[@dyannejohnson6184]

That flow stone WAS breathtaking

[@w6krg]

When you run into a wynz ( I have NO idea how to spell it) have you thought about a couple of extendable painter poles with a go-Pro and underwater light attached? You might only get ten feet down, but it's still informative. This was a GREAT video!

[@aridcrawler]

Winze* 😉

[@w6krg]

@@aridcrawler Thanks, I always get a brain cramp when I try to spell it... which isn't too damn often!

[@johncorlett3699]

some teams in the uk use ROV submersibles to go down to about 200 ft if the water is clear. not much good tho in remote locations

[@darinday6930]

Sweet find. that was a cool one!

[@DanDeVoto]

Did you go through the back pack that was in the mine to see if it had any pertinent info about this mine?

[@erichaskell]

A question I have often wondered while watching your very interesting videos is this: how frequently, or if ever, have you been in mining tunnels and heard or seen, rock collapsing? This must, at a minimum, be quite off putting, to say the least.

[@aridcrawler]

I was once 800 ft underground when a 6.0 mag quake rolled through and only heard a distant boom. We were 20 miles from the epicenter. I didn't feel it or notice anything shift or rock falls in the stope I was standing in. I wasn't with Justin on that trip, but how I understand it is that the surface waves that we feel above ground are literally just that. They don't affect much if you are deeper below the surface.

[@timothymilam732]

That was s strange setup, especially with all the quartz left in that last bit before they tunneled to the side of the mountain. Must of been hardly worth the effort as much of it as they left. All n all though nice adventure y'all carried us on again. I would ask if you use the internet for all of your research, are if you go to the local tax offices to do it if you find something interesting enough to merit the trip. Are is there a state or federal mining registry that you can look into they're records to do.the deep research if you find something that possibly leads you to believe there's something in the area worth looking into? Stay safe and be well. BTW, how's things going at y'all's digs as it's been a while since I remember seeing any updates on it..

[@mikewinings4120]

I know you hate clambering over all those collapses,but you do it because you love us Justin😅

[@TVRExploring]

Indeed, I do.

[@rickbauer7976]

Nice find! I'm surprised to see the drill!

[@TVRExploring]

So were we!

[@deepbludude4697]

So you would think with the price of gold now ($2,010 per oz) as of 01/17/24 that whom ever owns that stake might want to get back in there, but man I guess when you add the price of fuel for compressor and aux equipment as well as available manpower and probably rules and reg it isnt a worthwhile project.

[@jbrobertson6052]

I was watching another KZbin channel like yourself and I can't remember what it's called but they had a sponsor who gave them one of those small portable ROV it even had a grabber arm maybe you guys can get one because it would have been nice to see how deep and what was there in that flooded part. Really enjoyed the video guys

[@paulcooper9135]

Incredible! That tunnel is a real head scratcher ... What was up the trail you mentioned behind the outhouse by the yellow air compressor? Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@TVRExploring]

That was what I showed at the end of the video... It just went up to where there was that opening to the outside world about fifty feet into the mine.

[@paulcooper9135]

Thanks! Somehow I missed how that location tied in.

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Great Video from a great mine

[@bozonozo]

14:30 Hello from Anderson, Indiana lol I'm absolutely curious as to where that machinery is located at. I want to find out the history on the machinery due to being born an have been raised in this town. Our history is grand but it's slowly vanishing and our city government doesn't care about our towns history anymore. Thank you for the adventures and hope for many more!!!!!

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

That air compressor is ready to run!

[@nhragold1922]

I have an idea after reading the storyline for this as i usually do. Maybe start a sampling program. I been on the hunt for new veins in Tuolumne/Eldorado area. It's not really a lack of talent, most of us keep to ourselves because this world is disgusting and we don't want to get robbed. Hobbyists don't really have the drive or knowledge, and want to just sluice and detect. We're still out here but also for obvious reasons we don't like to claim jump or have conflict in an area someone pretends to own. You definitely have an opportunity to bring some of us outta the woodwork though.

[@RyanHammon]

Hi from Redding, CA

[@rolfsinkgraven]

thanks for another very nice exploring adventure, was very nice watching it, after the previous attack from TY that is, they blocked and slowed down YT very much here in Europe, the fight against add blockers is getting aggressive now, commenting was impossible with a active add blocker.

[@andrewmunchkin7212]

You make the best videos 👊🤓👍

[@djspatrick]

I notice that quartz is seen a lot in your videos. Is gold found inside the quartz or does quartz indicate the presence of gold in adjacent geology? And who burns miner's cabins in the woods? Fascinating video as always. 👍

[@zaboomafoo409]

US forest service started burning and or bulldozing cabins on public land back in the 70s and 80s. The practices continues today at a slower pace since most of the damage has been done already. The excuse was to stop squatters and today the excuse is the obsession for “safety”. The USFS sees no irony apparently when they then place signage telling people not to touch or damage the local history.

[@macfilms9904]

Quartz starts its life as a superheated silca fluid that gets pushed up into fractures & faults - that fluid will often contain heavy metals like lead, gold and silver which will usually settle together against either the hanging wall or footwall- so quartz is a good indicator - but not necessarily "bull" quartz, which is pure white. Prospectors look for quartz veins on the surface, especially if that quartz is stained by iron - they will then usually push a tunnel in under that vein (an adit) so they can drop material down to haul out. So quartz is a good indicator, but not all quartz contains gold in economically viable amounts.

[@kaboom4679]

Quartz and feldspar are the most abundant minerals on the planet . The majority of quartz contains no gold . Quartz veins are also common as dirt , and , most contain zero gold . The presence of iron doesn't change that very much . You need much more than just quartz and iron staining . You need a permissive environment , and even then the likelihood of a quartz vein in that area , containing economic grades of gold , are low . And economic grade is highly variable depending on a slew of factors and conditions to broad to cover . Search for a series of videos titled " ore deposits 101 " , which gives a very good general overview of a lot of details of various types of deposits and the commodities they contain . So , once you are in an area known to have gold , and you find a quartz vein , preferably with iron staining ( the more the better ) , and visible sulfide minerals , you take samples and have it tested . The old timers simply crushed the rock and panned it . If it showed any gold or lots of sulfides , they got a bigger sample and had it assayed . The same approach works today , although employing more modern and precise methods than the old fire assay techniques used since antiquity .

[@djspatrick]

@@zaboomafoo409 That's crazy considering the damage to the trees and wildlife that may be using the structures.

[@hackertheslacker]

Hello from Placerville, CA

[@archstanton9206]

Sure leaving with more questions than answers on this one. Only a couple reasons for leaving that drill in the mine...they left thinking they would be back...they left in a big hurry for some reason. Wildfire in the area? That cabin being destroyed...I agree with your suspicions....sickening...posting from about 20 miles northeast of Timbuctoo Ca....really...LOL

[@karlfonner7589]

I don’t think anybody would miss that drill

[@redlight722]

I can say that we never burned anything on purpose. Now sometimes we had to prioritize things to save. You would be correct then, if you mean that. This structure would be low on the priority list for a wildland fire.

[@gerrybradley8084]

Have you gone into any cold mines just wondering

[@jwfinley7808]

The Forest Circus..

[@Mercmad]

The white PVC has date stamps on it? you can date when work was done using that pipe sometimes.

[@theogdirkdiggler]

It's been ten years now and still going! That " blob " I think is called a lense, I've been known to be wrong, tho. That was a lot of quartz in that " large prospect." they didn't follow the golden rule that gold rides an " iron horse " I can't believe your not at a million yet. Fantastic Document as always. Thanks for doing the work so we can sit safe on our couches and be safe and entertained. I think these guys, sick from busting their asses just decided not to come back and waste anymore time and money, or God forbid somebody got hurt. Keep up the hard work and great Ducuments, your recording history for children with their heads stuck to their phones. Times have changed! Thank goodness for you digital pirates ☠️

[@theogdirkdiggler]

It looked like more silver than gold

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much. I really appreciate you being with us for so long... You're one of the originals! Yes, I believe that you are correct about the lens. It's sad what screens have done to our society, no?

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

Nice find!

[@jakegalvin8509]

Crazy to think they did this all by candle light... the old miners never got to see the mines like we get to see them.

[@slimwantedman6694]

Good evening from Southeast South Dakota

[@goldcountryexplorers8332]

Fantastic video

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much. Hope all is well with you...

[@IBRAKEFORBEDROCK]

Someone sunk their dreams of finding lots of gold into the old mine. Lost everything

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, it was a fun one to visit, but I agree that it must have been unprofitable.

[@jackprier7727]

Okay--drill-find is a masterpiece, and the wildly thick white quartz is a shockingly rich target to follow. Musta not been rich or it woulda been all stoped-away-

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Great video. Hard working old timers

[@repeatman]

Cool mine!

[@jamesligon5732]

it would be cool for you to take a hand held lidar to map these tunnels!

[@RussellNelson]

33:08 If it's a pencil in a mine, it's a mine pencil!

[@Mercmad]

no,it's mine!

[@TheSlimej]

The miners had to process the rock..the gold is locked up in the sulfides. It's not free mill gold, but there is certainly gold in those pieces. There are many types of pyrite that are mined as "ore". Chalcopyrite is occasionally mined for the gold content, not it's copper or silver in some places.

[@danielsasboot4466]

Looks like alot of it is "bull". Maybe they were looking for specific contact zones against the fault. Like blobs of mineralization. Pretty interesting deposit.

[@paranoiia8]

Its weird mix of old and new... but some of those "new" elements could be from around 2000... that was 24 years ago :D Its like I often find my self saying that something from 90' was just few years ago... hell no, it was almost 30 years ago -_- God damn time fly so fast....

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

Makes me wonder what you would say if you actually saw a big air compressor ? Like one with a 36 " to 58" diameter intake pipe !

[@TVRExploring]

You would think this one was big as well if you understood where it is located.

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

@@TVRExploring Nah, been all over the USA and a few other countries working on air compressors over 40 years- pretty much have seen it all

[@dyannejohnson6184]

My goodness!…that hole encased in water is scary…imagine if it was milky or had a false floor

[@phillipschmidt3942]

I wonder what water and air sample reports would state for that mine?

[@ronbarnhardt5201]

Sure did a lot of drilling to only leave the material behind?🤔 Thanks 👍 Show me your nuggets 😄 I spent many years in the Motherload of Cali. Love those forgotten places. Use to do a lot of dredging on the American.

[@davebarns1]

Cool mine mate

[@patprop74]

30:00 Maybe they hit a mini mother load and decided they were retiring and left it all behind.

[@JamesReedy]

28:31 2/3 of the way up I think I saw a glint of gooooooold!

[@jjskn93]

0:31 is it me or does the adit look look 2 eye sockets, complete with bridge and nose hole?

[@larrysfab1776]

Have you thought about taking a metal detector into some of the mines?

[@johnkranz4004]

Very KOOL advancer

[@renegade44040]

Maybe the guy who owned the mine, working the mine, fell ill, got hurt or died suddenly?

[@Doc-zg3xm]

In reference to the burnt down cabin and the comment " we all know who does that" prior to that you said the forest service is responsible. Is that correct and why would they do that? Seams like a risky way to destroy some history?

[@Cobra50Jeep]

Ive worked for the FS for 18 years, we don't burn down structures. My guess is some homeless person was living in that building and started a fire to keep warm and it got away from them.

[@Doc-zg3xm]

@@Cobra50Jeep Thanks for the feedback.

[@ernestwalker5173]

Is there gold or silver in flowstone?

[@VE3UET]

It is sad, in the Cobalt camp, vandals burned a lot of the head frames and core shacks in the 1980's

[@TVRExploring]

Yeah, you hate to see it...

[@cosmicpatriot]

Nevada city CA looks like my backyard

[@nielsen145]

my theory, is 2 different mines, that meet eachother on the 2nd mine, hell its a tunnel now. look like it was reworked multiple times

[@RussellNelson]

"caught up to my friend". Why do your friends never have names?

[@leighsayers2628]

I call it criminal to destroy and burn history ..total disgrace . Great video ..great vision ..makes you think you should save these things in old mines that have a great chance of being destroyed by these people .. From Australia 🦘🦘🦘

[@adambatchelder4121]

I know exactly where you where, I actually know what happened to the cabin and for once it wasn't the fs.

[@jamesligon5732]

I am sorry but who burns down cabins?

[@davegillman6296]

Why do they burn down the cabins

[@jeffmonroe9766]

From Utah cold an snowing

[@robertlyman9789]

Looks like an old hit or miss motor next to the tractor

[@rossbinder3010]

4:10 should have checked the pockets on that jacket !

[@charleswesley9907]

A metal detector help help find gold concentrations in the quartz wouldnt it.

[@tinytattoomike7943]

It would be ok with me if you took that drill to use in your mine

[@LawnMower-hu9pw]

Is your camera upside down or is just me