Miners' Underground Library In Unique Mine

All mines are unique, but some are more unique than others… This abandoned silver mine is one that falls into the “more unique” category - and I’m not just saying that because of the underground library. And, truth be told, I often enjoy these memorable, but smaller mines more than some of the much larger mines that lack the “personality” of these mines.
That was quite the collection of reading material from the 1930s, no? It may have been hard to tell in the video, but there was a thin layer of dried mud over the magazines on the ground. So, there were actually MANY more there than it initially seemed. I didn’t notice it either until I started peeling back the layers and was then quite impressed. This is a rough estimate, but there were probably at least a couple of hundred magazines scattered about in that unusual square room. It really was an underground library and I’d love to know the story behind it.
Yes, obviously, someone was working this mine more recently than the 1930s... However, I checked and it is not presently claimed. That’s very common. These abandoned mines see bursts of interest when commodity prices increase or technology improves. This often produces some surveying or prospecting activity and then the mine is abandoned again, awaiting the next upcycle. I don’t know how old this mine is, but, given the history of the area, it almost certainly dates back to the 1800s and that date we saw underground from the miner’s graffiti written in carbide may be accurate. So, this mine has seen many cycles.
A report I saw indicated that this mine produced almost $2,000,000 worth of silver. Considering the historical price of silver, that is a staggering amount of silver…
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All of these videos are uploaded in HD, so I’d encourage you to adjust your settings to the highest quality if it is not done automatically.
You can see the gear that I use for mine exploring here: bit.ly/2wqcBDD
As well as a small gear update here: bit.ly/2p6Jip6
You can see the full TVR Exploring playlist of abandoned mines here: goo.gl/TEKq9L
Several kind viewers have asked about donating to help cover some of the many expenses associated with exploring these abandoned mines. Inspired by their generosity, I set up a Patreon account. So, if anyone would care to chip in, I’m under TVR Exploring on Patreon.
Thanks for watching!
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Growing up in California’s “Gold Rush Country” made it easy to take all of the history around us for granted. However, abandoned mine sites have a lot working against them - nature, vandals, scrappers and various government agencies… The old prospectors and miners that used to roam our lonely mountains and toil away deep underground are disappearing quickly as well.
These losses finally caught our attention and we felt compelled to make an effort to document as many of the ghost towns and abandoned mines that we could before that colorful niche of our history is gone forever. But, you know what? We enjoy doing it! This is exploring history firsthand - bushwhacking down steep canyons and over rough mountains, figuring out the techniques the miners used and the equipment they worked with, seeing the innovations they came up with, discovering lost mines that no one has been in for a century, wandering through ghost towns where the only sound is the wind... These journeys allow a feeling of connection to a time when the world was a very different place. And I’d love to think that in some small way we are paying tribute to those hardy miners that worked these mines before we were even born.
So, yes, in short, we are adit addicts… I hope you’ll join us on these adventures!
#ExploringAbandonedMines
#MineExploring
#AbandonedMines
#UndergroundMineExploring

[@nonyabiznus5416]

There was an Abe Moss who lived in San Francisco in 1910. He lists his occupation as “Miner”. If this is the same Abe Moss, he was born in 1865 - making him 21 when that graffiti was made.

[@devinb5937]

This is not true at all

[@jamesmihalcik1310]

Pretty cool explore. That recent purple cord and some hand tools date from around 1995.

[@ralphpatrick3071]

Like you, I love old reading materials and miners graffiti. Sheds a personal note on the mining activity. Another great explore!

[@alanluscombe8a553]

So I know nothing of mines but have seen the graffiti in other videos my question is is how do they know if it’s really old or if someone just sprayed a date on it? I saw some from 1917 and I want to think it’s true but I doubt it somewhat

[@chrisk181]

That drift with the wood and caution tape, connects to the tunnel you were walking down at first. You looked down it.

[@Porty1119]

New Mexico School of Mines is still around as New Mexico Tech, and it retains a mining program. My mother-in-law has a mining engineering degree from Tech.

[@elonmust7470]

neat

[@robertquast9684]

Always nice to see unmolested mines

[@MsSurigirl]

What a curious mine! Nooks and crannies, magazines worth reading -- then and now. Interestingly shaped drifts in some areas. I love the 'uniqueness' -- not very 'cookie cutter'. Thanks! Very cool!

[@timmc49]

Very cool mine! The 1930s Hearst Cosmopolitan magazine was a big bonus! And it will be interesting to see if anyone familiar with the current workings or is actually doing the new working contacts you or comments on this video. Please keep us posted.

[@olspanner]

On this occasion it felt as if I were right there with you. Perhaps because of your excellent camera work and narrative and influenced somehow by the mine itself. Indeed a unique experience. Thank you.

[@JohnCompton1]

My wife to Brenau which is shown in the advertising at 21:04. It's a liberal arts college for women (though I believe they are accepting men now.) about an hour north of Atlanta in the foothills of the Appalachians. Right down the road is Dahlonega, where in the 1800's there was a national mint established to coin the gold from the Georgia gold rush which lasted from 1829 to the 1840's. Talk about 7° of separation! Wonderful video and those unmolested mines with all there historical bits are treasures. Thanks so much .

[@archstanton9206]

Another outstanding mine. Was surprised at the size as well. The magazines were very interesting, as were the "custom" ore carts...but unused?? as always, lots of questions. The turntable was something I don't ever recall seeing in any of your trips.

[@uwillnevahno6837]

This is the 1st mine w/a turn table I can recall seeing on the channel. Am I mistaken?

[@murrayadam8576]

Just amazed at the adventures you share with us. Thank you, be safe!!

[@Steven-vo8tk]

Looked like someone restored the rail and put modern carts in maybe planning to reopen the mine. Great video.

[@ZILLION4EVER]

see description: its unclaimed..

[@davidisonyt]

I love the long explorations like these, 33 minutes! That new looking can at 25:22 might have given the date that the mine was more recently worked.

[@jefffleming8103]

It truly shows you are history junky and love what you do and showing other people that would never have a chance to see for them selfs. You put in a tremendous amount of time and effort 👏 Keep up the Great videos and be safe . Also how's your mine coming I know it's a lot of hard work . Jeff from Rancho Cordova 👍

[@Ed_in_Md]

I agree. You could spend a long time going through those magazines. Fascinating.

[@unclejohnbulleit2671]

Man THIS is what I think of when I read a fantasy novel with a mine in it! A well maintained mine, nice and dry and pretty stable, with the dwarves food still on an underground table.

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Justin, it was really cool seeing those ore carts, first time I've seen one that tall and thin though. A nice explore and not messy lol. Thanks for sharing, much love. xx 💖

[@mechanicman8687]

Always outdoing yourself, another real interesting explore. Your are the most interesting mine channel!! I thank you. Please keep up the good work and can’t wait to catch your next…be safe. I’ll e waiting!!!!

[@---bs8dp]

You put way more faith in these death holes then I ever would

[@bobgaysummerland]

You walked into a DRY mine!!!

[@TVRExploring]

It does happen... Sometimes.

[@bobgaysummerland]

@@TVRExploring It’s very rare though. Had to be refreshing to walk instead of slog. Great videos..

[@ZILLION4EVER]

@@bobgaysummerland the dust however... some really dusty section back on the lower level wow!

[@Askjeffwilliams]

looks like someone is working that mine ....nice home made ore care ...looks like fault gouge ...... those cross cuts look like they are cut into a basaltic dike ..... its the beer that made Milwaukee famous ..... good job sonny Jim

[@johnbrownlee7623]

it is most excellent.............

[@memberHD]

at 28:05 you can clearly see a plugged in lead. Someone is working it

[@TheRockgremlin]

This is one of the most unique mines I've ever seen. I appreciate your close attention to detail ~ especially when you get a good close zoom in on the minerals. Thanks for the excellent work - keep it up!

[@richardwarnock2789]

That one is very cool thanks brings back memories my dad rebuilt mine carts he did some mining and grandpa was a coal miner as well!!!

[@williamwintemberg]

It looked like some of the sections were hand dug. Love the old magazines. Lots of old and recent activity. Very Interesting mine!

[@OutdoorAdventureTV]

Most of the time when I find "reading materials" underground, it's usually in a side drift that was used as a bathroom. And yes, some of the "reading materials" will have brown streaks. 😧

[@elonmust7470]

oh my god those magazines are cool!

[@KubotaManDan]

Another Great explore, ancient magazines were a wow effect.

[@paulcooper2897]

Wow! That mine was pretty cool! Definitely bigger than then outside made it appear. Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@JustAnotherPaddy]

Best rail to date I think. This mine is very photogenic and also has all the features you wanna see in one mine. Well….except a sketchy placer level with an inner tube.

[@tyjomello]

One of my favorite ones yet. It's as if team knowledgeable enough walked in the a bit of gear the could go right back to work

[@kyletomorug6780]

Gorgeous mine, and gorgeous day.

[@johncos1068]

This one must be well off the beaten path. No one has come in and taken/trashed everything.

[@bufordpusser279]

Have you explored all the Sierra has to offer? I havent watched in a while seems like your doing Nevada mines these days. Great work as usual keep it rollin and stay safe.

[@mikewinings4120]

There was so much fault gouge in that drift,I don't blame you for wanting to skedaddle out of there,be safe,love the videos!!

[@gothicbuzzsaw]

That beer ad even in its deplorable condition is still collectible

[@TheSWolfe]

Nice. Thx 4 taking a moment to peer into a lil' literary history while down there. Lots of mud in an otherwise dry enviroment Looks like maybe the mine has flooded in the past. As usual, I'm a sucker for sparkly rocks, gonna hafta start doing some research = always helps to know what I'm talking about. Lol. A good wknd to u!

[@wiretamer5710]

By the artefacts in the tunnels, it looks like someone tryed to make a go of this mine in the last 20 years.

[@mobiltec]

Great artifacts in this one.

[@rolfsinkgraven]

Thanks very much for another great explore loved watching again.

[@MarkTChristy]

What was the primary ore in there. Those pictures of the mineralization is awesome!

[@CornishMineExplorer]

Great looking mine to explore, lots of minerals in those rocks, no wonder they were following those lodes. Did like that custom ore cart, reminds me of one we got in a local mine, 2ft wide and 4ft tall, does the trick of squeezing down the narrow old levels!

[@johnmercado263]

Awesome channel buddy. Great video. Have you been in any mines in wickenburg or aguila arizona?

[@patrickblock2477]

Hand split to, that's talent

[@myfavoritemartian1]

Looks to be an operating mine, or someone appearing to do assessment work to get it patented.

[@Porty1119]

Unfortunately there's a moratorium on new mineral patents, but I agree. This mine doesn't feel abandoned.

[@TVRExploring]

Read the description below the video...

[@robertsnyder5149]

Dlo to the lack of a large tailings pile versus the amount of tunneling, the otr must have been pretty good.

[@stevebaseley]

Amazing what an interesting mine bet you could of spent hours looking through them old magazines its really nice to see a mine with so much stuff left there great video thank you 🇬🇧👍

[@martincotterill823]

Great video, very interesting mine

[@Notellemkrik1776]

This is really neat to see this thanks for sharing. Enjoyed 👍😀

[@gregerisman211]

The drift you are looking down at 6:11 appears to be the same one you're looking down at 3:06

[@dronelandscapes8775]

Nice one Justin, thanks for sharing.

[@Qusin111]

at 19:24 sad to think everyone in the picture is long since passed on or are 110-120 years old

[@ChurchOfTheHolyMho]

I had joked on another channel of a drift heading to a room with vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, Italian marble statues, and a miner in a Hefner-esque smoking jacket discussing his riches from the lode. Reading your title, I was wondering if you'd discovered the library room - with books in mahogany bookcases, candlesticks, and a billiards table from aforementioned millionaire miner... LOL Those magazines were indeed interesting.. A glimpse into the thoughts and concerns of pre-war USA.

[@davidmicheletti6292]

Again one more very interesting mine.

[@philliphall5198]

Looks like they are going to open it again and in great shape

[@xkillzstokos8729]

When do you ever find in our cart never been used in a mine that’s a first! Wow mind blown 🤯

[@zardzewialy]

That all looks like it's mint condition, wow. Are You sure it's abandoned?

[@caseyhazlett7546]

Awesome video keep it up!

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Nice find on the magazines down there

[@blackmonday738]

Ever Find any cool stuff yet? Man if those men could talk today, Love to hear there stories in deed. Stay safe guys.🤙

[@johnjimjohnston]

it looks as if it is still being worked

[@nedyah151]

Yea fairly new lumber on that ladder

[@TVRExploring]

Read the description below the video...

[@theskepticalnegativist1004]

It might not be claimed, but deffenetly some one is active in this mine, the bucket marks in the bottom of the or cart is a couple of weeks old, max. Check back on the clam in a month and you might get a different answer.

[@butchkaminsky9470]

Would like to know what was minerals were mined out. We have nothing like that here in Chicago. Underground railroads yes, mines not so much.

[@ianmeggsmackenzie3085]

Bit late 2 Nd time watched still enjoy your vids buddy / nice clean mine keep at it 🤪🐿

[@streaky81]

Ooh, core drilling is fun. That time when everybody finds out if they've been completely wasting their time or at least somebody is getting rich :)

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Thank you for this wonderfull Video The mines looked as someone is still working there . More the First one than the second I like it Take care stay healthy Yours Frank Galetzka

[@dyllan6303]

Aahhh the serenity

[@DFDuck55]

Interesting. Obviously old. Late 1800s graffiti, late 1930s magazines, 1950s graffiti. But the electric cords looked modern and those ore carts look like they were freshly painted then never used. Very little dust on them, and the first one you could see where two 5 gallon buckets had been sitting in it. One modern looking shiny beer can. And the ropes and stuff near the portal looked fairly recent too. As Sonny Jeff said, it looks like someone is working it.

[@ericscarburry8637]

Great video! San Marcos academy is still in business

[@danmiller6051]

It makes me tired just to think about all the hiking you did when you could have just driven up that nice road.

[@cannibus78]

Amazing!!!

[@AGDinCA]

21:23 - "Few Doctors Die of Diabetes" was one of several full page ads put out by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of New York. They covered a bunch of topics, but especially diabetes. Diabetes was a big deal back then (as it still is, of course). But, guess what? This life insurance company had the solution, by addressing just 4 easy conditions! Condition 1. Proper diet. Condition 2. Insulin as prescribed. Condition 3. Exercise. Condition 4. _Cleanliness_ LOL 😂😂

[@gingerbread6614]

Great video. Thank you.

[@handbyl]

A great mine - loads of historical "texture" and a bat to boot

[@WootTootZoot]

12:34, is that a blasting cap next to the pick ?

[@oak699]

Did you grab a bucketfull of the stuff that was in the ore bin outside and pan it? Best way to find out what the last crew was mining.

[@mossyhollow3732]

We'll be sharing a shot of the NM School of Mines ad with them. Now it's called NMT.

[@casedoumasr656]

Great adventure and exploring. Love magazine's the article's but most of all the business adds of the areas .p.s. love the reprint catalogs Sears Montgomery wards just examples.

[@ericcorse]

I'm not sure which I find the most interesting the different rocks or the magazines.

[@ericrolland9092]

At 34:10 it looks like a shadow ducks around the corner. I’m sure it is just you, but kind of cool effect

[@AGDinCA]

It was probably his exploring pal, Andrew. 👍

[@cndream1]

What was plugged in to the red extension cord ????????

[@chet2201]

My Dad and Uncle graduated from N.M. SCHOOL Mines Petroleum Eng.

[@SydneyRadio2UE]

At 1:31 it looks like the BLM took a grader and smoothed the access road a bit? Is there a lot offroad traffic in that area?

[@ennova9745]

Doesn't seem that old, like they're just late for work xD Always wonder history of them, like why did you stop? Health? Money? The vein run out? Wish the walls could talk, the stories that some of these mines could tell.

[@jasondownard7623]

What was the red rope for?

[@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST]

magazine say Oct 20, 1938. . my birthday is Oct 20

[@ZILLION4EVER]

1938? :P

[@garymckee8857]

Schlitz is my beer of choice too bad l can't find it anywhere. Thanks.

[@OdySlim]

Awesome Buddy! Regards from Ody Slim

[@brendacolter368]

I always wondered how the minors could go that high when you don’t see any way we could.

[@cheryldavis5228]

The wood bracing that you see in these videos are called stulls and serve different purposes....some are bracing to hold up walls and ceilings (the ribs and the back) and many others are put up in pairs (or even several, in runs) to provide support for planks to stand and mine off of. As the miners work up in making a stope they keep building these to work off of as they go higher and higher and, eventually, when they had removed all the ore-bearing material in what we now see as big, jagged open areas they'd remove and reuse much of the wood in new areas that they started working in. Sometimes they'd leave some in place as needed bracing to hold the rock up/back etc. Also some of the english miners who came over here called the ones that were left "tells" as, if you saw some of them slowly starting to bend, you'd know that Mother Nature was trying to tell you something! Miners never wasted anything....too much work to haul stuff down from the surface when they had it already at hand. They worked hard enough as it was..

[@brendacolter368]

@@cheryldavis5228 Thanks for the information. You made a lot of since.

[@seanknecht4075]

That was probably a restoration job somebody grabbed it half-assed restored it brought it back do harm no foul I guess nice to see that somebody was Elise want something to survive for a while

[@robertsnyder5149]

Is this claim active? The chain on the loading shoot isn't even rusty.

[@janblake9468]

Ha. My nephew currently works at the New Mexico School of Mines.

[@haagsratje69]

just like minecraft you can find a pickaxe in mines, nice!!!!

[@garycooper7666]

Thanks for sharing

[@johnbrownlee7623]

That mine is so big, you could make 3 videos....Do you think this mine is Still in Production?..........JB........

[@johnbrownlee7623]

Thanks...........

[@expert8997]

Every time you say "bad ground" I get a little pucker. My background is in automotive and communication electronics, and bad grounds are a heap of diagnostic trouble. I admit, your bad ground is more frightening than mine!

[@hotzenplotzcrewsiegen1839]

nice video keep on working

[@williamdovey9971]

I see you like rail but I think echo in mines would be a good feature too ? Only saying, cheers .

[@donnasilver940]

These videos are cool.

[@1aview]

What was sitting in the ground next to that pik?