Gold Mine Hidden Away In Forest Paradise

[@scottjailynn]

Thats a G506 1 1/2 ton Chevrolet military truck made back in the 40s

[@johntbrusklll727]

During the war years, the military trucks were produced by the hundreds of thousands in Detroit by various manufacturers. All being the same basic truck just being a Chevy or a Dodge etc...

[@Ty-tie_FTW]

That's very cool. thank you andrew for posting this information.

[@glennwall552]

Stovrs from way back are worth hesps these days just saying

[@JG-mp5nb]

@@johntbrusklll727 They had all kinds of uses; fire trucks, light duty tow trucks, etc, etc..

[@JG-mp5nb]

Flow stone or septic system Uric Acid salts from the house above?

[@ralphpatrick3071]

Those mines, especially the first one, almost looked alien. Lotsa neat stuff lying around. I saw a paper towel dispenser in that kitchen. Maybe there since the 60’s? Did your friend make out the car model down below? Interesting as always, thanks!

[@TVRExploring]

I don't remember what he said about the model of the car... If memory serves correctly, it was from the 1930s or early 1940s.

[@TheGreatestJuJu]

That house is what horror story’s are made out of

[@workonitm8]

One of the nastiest mines inside that I've seen. Outside was more interesting.

[@mikebroughton9337]

Have you taken a God detector and run it outside of theses mines to see what they may have mist in there dump site

[@Ed_in_Md]

That’s a Kalamazoo Stove Company stove. Company was founded in 1902 and went out of business in 1952.

[@jroysdon]

Came here just to say that. The top of the stove says "Kalamazoo Stove Co," and the bottom says "Kalamazoo, Mich" where is was manufactured.

[@SteveandSusiesHomestead]

@@jroysdon Awww .. you came here just to show your an A**

[@thatportlandguy8593]

@@SteveandSusiesHomestead Your comment makes zero sense. Also, it's "you're", genius.

[@Jdalio5]

@@thatportlandguy8593 your

[@Askjeffwilliams]

very cool find ....looks like they pulled the head to rebuild it but never came back ..... second Bunkhouse with windows intact ....wow and an old stove too ......what a find ....did you see that Biscuit cutter by the sink ..... its in great shape and no vandals too .....keep that one hidden ..... Gold also wears an Iron Hat ( Gossan ) ...you really should start sampling the mines as you explore as we have seen multiple places for deposition....

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

Pretty sure Justin has said he has no interest in staking claims, nor collecting artifacts, just documenting them before time, or BLM, makes them inaccessible. Nice to see you commenting here as much as you do. Say hi to Slim for me!

[@hawaiianongu-lol2703]

Mr Jeff Williams you should join them and start sampling the area and find some gold

[@cschexnayder2517]

I see you also saw that biscuit cutter!

[@theogdirkdiggler]

Thats a new one Jeffrey .... I always heard from oldtimers " gold rides an Iron Horse " .

[@kenneely7899]

FYI In the kitchen to the left of sink is a square die for cutting threads on a pipe or round stock.

[@Captaraknospider]

The red spray paint says to me someone plans to re visit that claim

[@billmckay]

Newspaper looked like it said "Monkey Jockeys" so I googled that. Turns out they had monkeys ride racing greyhounds back in the 1930s. Huh.

[@TVRExploring]

That's awesome...

[@LV_Potter]

The newspaper scrap at 28:20 , "Several Meetings For Dividends Set" is from the San Francisco Examiner, 29 Jan 1933

[@evanscreekbrahman7511]

Wow! This one has it all, plenty of age, it's off the chart w/ relics and considerable sketch factor too! 10/10

[@davidbaysinger3381]

Kalamazoo stove!

[@Qusin111]

100% and clearly readable

[@Jdalio5]

Those stoves can sell for $25,000 restored

[@myrrhavm]

That little home could have been a Sears house kit. Circa 1904-1940. Thanks again .

[@CowboyCree63]

It seems a lot of the mines you've been in have spay paint markings, even though most mines don't look like they have been worked after spray paint became a thing in 1949

[@JustAnotherPaddy]

Somebody plans to come back. Survey marks. See them a lot in Justin’s vids. That plastic bucket says someone’s been picking around the quartz seam

[@impressionsprinting]

I really appreciate it when you say it doesn't look like it goes anywhere but I'm going to check it out. The explorers on other channels don't check it out, which, as a viewer is disappointing and leaves me wanting more. Keep up the good work.

[@theogdirkdiggler]

Justin is the best, safest, and most thorough documenting our lost history the government is destroying under the guise of "safety" .

[@graydonjones6912]

We the people are not allowed to work a mine because the oligarchy doesn't want us to prosper , they want it all for the wealthy pigs of the world

[@blurboards1]

Kalamazoo Stove company, Kalamazoo MI. what a cool site, looks like its rarely visited. That Miners cabin was next level, a fireplace, kitchen, running water, screened patio, and a soaking tub, these miners were living pretty comfortably, I mean aside from being miners lol.

[@TVRExploring]

Exactly! It looked like a pretty good life to me!

[@parkerrowe8902]

You have been finding some gems lately. Thanks for the detailed rock shots.

[@archstanton9206]

That old Chevy was very interesting. Probably safe to say a lot of the materials for that facility came down there on it's back, the old stovebolt 6 chugging away. The odometer looked to read 30ish thousand miles. That cab was essentially unchanged from about 35 til 39 in the civilian world, but the military could have used it longer. Sad to see it sitting there. The car looked like a mid 30's sedan...could be newer, not older though. That was a large operation at one time, at some point, the boss said to the lowest guy on the seniority list, "I had a lawn mower brought down here, do something with the damn weeds around the buildings will ya? " To be able to worry about the weeds ya have to be living pretty good. The CP compressor in that building was very cool. Sad to think today people only know Chicago Pneumatic as a cheapo harbor freight brand when it has such a storied past. Fascinating place. makes a guy wonder what shut them down, the crummy rock making it too expensive to recover or did the gold peter out?

[@sirmonkey1985]

the newspapers you can see the years 1925(something about a loan) and then the year 1945.. so maybe it was a family operation after the war given they recycled damn near everything they possibly could.

[@gtfkt]

My theory for the lawn mower is they brough it up there for the blacksmithing operation they had going on.

[@brucevanderzanden9638]

Very nice explore of the 2 adits and the support facilities. Thank you very much for sharing this with us Justin. Keep up the great work. Stay safe and healthy please!

[@ketoandy4209]

It's impressive to see the effort and expense they go to for what they know or assume will be a big payoff. All that concrete and equipment hauled in. And those living quarters are no simple lean to.

[@General_Confusion]

That stove is a Kalamazoo Monarch model from about 1907. Made by the Kalamazoo Stove Company, Michigan. "Kalamazoo Direct to you"

[@painedinks]

That's not a hitch on the old truck, its just the 40's version of the "club". Back in the day you would lock that around the nearest tree so nobody could steal the vehicle😂 man that thing sat there so long a tree grew inside that hitch! that's crazy! Lol

[@MsSurigirl]

I am amazed at how much equipment is in and near these old mines. Jeez, the time and effort to bring all that up there. Mind is blown again. Great old truck, and the bunkhouse/home was nice!

[@LolPepperGate]

Lot of iron, equipment and junk still there! Impressive.

[@001desertrat3]

@TVR Exploring -- Justin , @11:57 - that's what I call "Rock Snot" , it's dissolved organic matter from the forest floor above the mine that has percolated down through the soil and is now dripping into the mine . If you touch it , it is soft and squishy and will easily break off of the Back and go splat when it hits the floor . @25:11 - inside the Fireplace , that's a Double-Walled sheetmetal Sheep Herders Stove . In A&FP - Ep. 23 - the Cabin that I show to Gly originally had a cast-iron Pot Belly Stove which got stolen and replaced with one of those Sheep Herders Stoves , and eventually that was stolen . @34:14 - that narrow 4-5 inch wide Stope may have had a thick seam of Clay Gouge that contained finely divided Gold particles ; that might explain why that part of the Stope is so tall and narrow . I've seen occurances like that in several mines (Clay Gouge containing Gold) . --- < Doc > .

[@valkokir]

Sitting on the bed of the truck is the cowl and front axle for an even older Chevy truck, I believe. 1929-1932 or so. The cowl is sitting firewall down on the bed. Identifiable by the oval dash insert shape and the hump for the inline six. As many have said, the military truck was built civilian and converted to military.

[@stephentisdell2698]

That is 1 cool place I’d move in & live there. Squatters rights. Lol

[@Boga217]

Don't necessarily even have to squat. Mining claims can be used for recreational use as well. Get a decent truck..basic tools home yard and mining and go for it. File your claim and move in. Now I'm sure there are limits on time spent there/not there but heck get a good camper and find another claim or 2 and go start digging a hole for the heck of it. Make a bunker instead of a mine but using wood 😆

[@davidbaysinger3381]

The building looks very similar to many of the old houses i used to paint in Morenci Arizona in my youth.

[@bob_frazier]

Hey, that's one hell of a mine you got over there!

[@harrickvharrick3957]

I am amazed they already had pressure resistant flexible tube (2:43) in those years. Though it is often quite amazing what kind of tech already is being used on a pro level long before general public has ever heard of it.. I would think that there's quite a few things among what we got to take a look at early on in this video that would still be worth something for collectors, to restore, maybe some museums would love to have some of that.. (although at the moment it has been a difficult time ~ let's hope it quickly will become better times again!)

[@alansmith4734]

39:15 Plastic 5 gallon buckets were first made in 1967. My mind is confused, seeing that bucket, but I did see some white PVC pipe out on the waste pile! Cool find!

[@gtfkt]

Looks to me like this mine has been operated, then shut down, a few distinct times in the past.

[@TVRExploring]

@@gtfkt Yes, exactly right. That's very common with these old mines...

[@chamonix4658]

also the plastic milk jug in the truck cab

[@fredfarquar7679]

I can't help but wonder if that cable-tied rock came down, they tried to remove it, but in doing so the entire back fall down and in essence killed the mine. Very good explore!

[@alexb.1320]

That was my thought, and given the plastic buckets in there, if somebody was working the mine later, trying to make it safer. Alternately, if they had to abandon operation for whatever reason and intentionally pulled that rock to block access to the pot of gold to ensure it would still be "theirs" when they got the oppertunity to return.

[@chrisandersen5184]

From the heavy equipment to the stove, an era when manufacturing pride was displayed by the city names they bore. ....Obviously made in USA....

[@LawnMower-hu9pw]

The Flathead engine is interesting

[@ADITADDICTS]

Call me crazy but my spidey senses are telling me there's another adit around there. To have a mill building that big there's got to be more workings about.

[@zaboomafoo409]

More like 3 .......

[@aaronkeeth651]

call me ADIT!

[@ADITADDICTS]

@@aaronkeeth651 Wut up ADIT?!

[@aaronkeeth651]

@@ADITADDICTS i been calling you for days...... you no answers

[@ADITADDICTS]

@@aaronkeeth651 damn it sorry a. Aron I'm into another phone so call me again and if I don't answer call me right back I'll pick up.

[@olivei2484]

23:06 looks like a biscuit cutter. Great old truck, Im guessing wwii surplus

[@nicksws6]

Kalamazoo Stove 1902 - 1952

[@chrisackerley1842]

Justin - did you notice @ 20:08 that a decent-sized pine tree is growing up in the center of the hitch on that old truck! I'd say that's pretty good evidence it hasn't been moved for a while!

[@MikeOrkid]

I can understand leaving the structures behind but the equipment and that old stake body. This might be one of my favorite videos so far. Plus the scenery is perfect. Awesome find, Justin!

[@garywheeler7039]

Maybe it is far enough from civilization too.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, this is a special one, to be sure!

[@kevinholland4156]

I'm curious; I have watched a lot of your videos and mines almost all of them have fluorescent paint on the walls and painted up into the adits. Would that be from a geological survey of the mine in recent days? I have also seen plastic surveyor's pink tape in the mines.

[@richardwarnock2789]

Nice Place Definitely some fine Equipment left there there's more cause there at lease Ten years showing must have been getting some Au!!!; )

[@donaldpowers3314]

No disappoints here at all. Some museums would love those OLD compressors. Maybe leave a plaques. And some details of the mine. I would like 80 ft of that rail.

[@sampointau]

And the bunkhouse was used much later, the paper towel holder next to the sink is late 1970's!

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Forgotten and rotting away history gone forever Thank you for documenting this fading away mines Take care greetings from Germany Yours Frank Galetzka

[@jennodine]

I kept waiting for them to discover the bones of the guy who lived here pinned under some collapsed debris.

[@craigmize4395]

Have not left a comment in a while but I watch all your vids . I really wish you could document the mines in Gold Hill Calif. that I explored as a kid in the '70's . They are just south of Coloma towards Placerville , I think they built houses on the hill the mines are under, door knocking ?

[@TVRExploring]

I've looked into that area and couldn't find any mines that were still accessible. Like you said, everything has houses on it now... Thanks for watching the videos!

[@volktales7005]

Pretty cool! Loved the truck and the house was amazingly intact. Good to see lots of artifacts, and not vandalism. Amazing that old truck still had its glass in place. Sketchy mine!

[@CowboyCree63]

That first adit doesn't look nearly big enough to warrant the size of the old mill that the foundations alluded to.

[@sampointau]

And the Army serial number can probably be looked up on one of the WW2 military vehicle sites.

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Justin, so many old parts of machinery rolling down the hill, it's kind of naughty really that they just left it all there to rust. That first adit wasn't sketchy at all was it 😁, jeez that has to be one of the worst adit's condition wise that you've filmed. That old stove at 23:30 had the words "Kalamazoo Stove (K)", then below it had "Kalamazoo Mich", that was one cool old stove resting there, a shame it was left to rot though. The second adit was way more interesting, although I did like the rusty stalactites in the 1st one, this 2nd one was better in a way because of all of the quartz that was in it. A very interesting explore all told with lots going on and tons of artefacts everywhere, very cool. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx 🙏💖

[@davekauffmanjr2069]

that chevy had a civilian dash so it is a 40 or up to early 42,they didnt start the military dashes until 42

[@adventureinventors]

In Boston we call those "cah pahts"! I would be sampling the heck out of that place given the extensiveness of it.

[@jamesfohare]

Thanks again Justin another good one, Miners they really did go to some extraordinary lengths to get gear into some impossible looking places even as late as the sixties- seventies a lot of the machinery we take for granted now was just on the market or it hadn't been invented . That truck brought me back, I drove an old 48 International flatbed with four forward and two back no sincro, you put your foot on the gear stick to hold in gear it was fun driving it around a big mine site. I started work in 62 and where no such things as Backhoes or Bobcats most machines where tracked a bit like that old converted steam shovel you found up in the Sierras a year or so back. Thanks for the video I still enjoy watching them. Cheers.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. Sounds like it would have been quite an experience to drive that truck!

[@leehilton9932]

Another awesome find guys!!! I know my work week is half over when i got your notification. The lawnmower is kind of weird, guessing they thought they could use something off of it or they actually had a grass issue. The Chevy truck is from WW2, the original deuce and a half (two and a half ton) early 40s. From the looks of the different stuff/junk layin around those mines were worked multiple times throu the years. Yall stay safe out there.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, many abandoned mines are worked off and on over the decades as owners, technology and commodity prices change...

[@rolfsinkgraven]

A great explore, amazing finds outside, still in reasonable shape, except the bunkhouse and the first part of the mine, but still a very nice find.

[@fxw]

Nice find :) I like this episode!

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Ever look at the rock for gold. I know I would. Great video

[@craigmize4395]

Oh and P.S. you and your friends have huge ball bags going into some of the places I've watched you go ! Vids are great

[@SydneyRadio2UE]

Sitting on the stove, it looks like an empty carbide can at 23:41.

[@volktales7005]

I think that car is actually a late '40's Studebaker with suicide rear doors. Edit: In the shed where the compressor is sits a dashboard from a 1951 Studebaker Commander. Likely from the car pushed over the bank. Wonder if they used the engine from it for something else on the site. The compressor uses what looks like a much older six cylinder engine...

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for sharing those details.

[@troyandog8749]

I think the door handles on the car id it as a Champion. Commanders had v8s starting in 51.

[@davekauffmanjr2069]

Hercules engines were in alot of trucks back in the day,military trucks of WWII and many mack trucks,plus i had that same wheeled aircompressor in my plumbing company.

[@chet2201]

Wanted to fill that 5 gallon bucket with Rusty Quartz. Today's Times appealing Setting to live and work old mine. Satellite internet just like out at Ranch. Great Job just remember you cant do everything. But you do a Great Job Documenting remote pieces of History. Thanks for the Tour.

[@Mercmad]

almost 45 years ago i worked for a guy who had a collection of WW2 vehicles including a little Chevy like that . it would have been ideal for that type of work but the very best would have been a GMC 6x6 2 ton with a winch. The grill and front fenders were designed to be made by outside contractors with little or no automotive experience during WW2.

[@jegr3398]

I sat down and pressed play and before I knew it, 43 minutes had gone by. Very interesting video. Enjoyable to watch, and a cool mining site you've discovered.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. Yes, this was a special one, to be sure!

[@bob_frazier]

Thanks for spending some time with the various mineralizations.

[@TVRExploring]

I do try...

[@DanDeVoto]

At 28:03 there are two dates that are visible on 1945 and 1931 one had to do with a coal company.

[@markcantemail8018]

At 9;45 I would call those Sierra Mine Moths ? That was a Nice House at one time ,and yes i liked that Truck . Thank you for the video .

[@ericcorse]

I agree that looked like a forge hood. I wonder how much further that second adit went that was a lot of infrastructure for those bores.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, I wonder about that as well! There was also that winze though and a couple of smaller adits up the hill...

[@RageKage1776]

Just officially hooked two dear friends on your channel. As always amazing video work. Stay safe and keep on keeping on!

[@TVRExploring]

Awesome! Thank you very much.

[@barrybarber4924]

The stove was Kalamazoo Stove company...Kalamazoo, Michigan...The company was in business from 1902 to 1952

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Amazing, not unlike what we used to find in the Big Sur area before it was made a protected wilderness and more people decided to explore. Prior, unknown and untouched. What a great find. Hope it survives to age and crumble gracefully.

[@AmalgmousProxy]

That looks like a claim I'd like to retire on...

[@0BRAINS0]

I would think that must of been pretty rich in gold for someone to live literally on top of the claim. I'd be taking samples and going around the whole area with a metal detector.

[@AmalgmousProxy]

@@0BRAINS0 Actually, after re-watching it I don't think they did very well. Maybe initially and they built the house from that money, but there's signs the mine ultimately did not pay off and the mining operation ran out of money. The first indication to me was the use of a cable to movie a fallen boulder. Why would they do that? Just drill it, bust it up then cart it out. The use of a cable tells me at that point their actual mining equipment had failed and was unusable. The broken down flat bed is the next indicator. That's a vital piece of equipment. Then was the use of rail to build a lean-to, rail would have been more valuable in the mine than for a make shift shed. I think they found a small vein of gold, went all in hoping for a big payout and came out broke. Later, someone had it surveyed, (explains the plastic bucket and spray paint) they weren't giving good news and left it to nature.

[@0BRAINS0]

@@AmalgmousProxy only way to truly tell now is to take samples and go through the area with a good gold /metal detector. I'd bet you'd fine gold all around that house aboveground.

[@AmalgmousProxy]

@@0BRAINS0 The spray paint tells me someone did that already.

[@0BRAINS0]

@@AmalgmousProxy obviously, whoever has been to that site has stripped the cabin of all copper,faucets and anything else of value.

[@VendettaProspecting]

What a cool mine site!!

[@General_Confusion]

I'm still trying to figure out who would carry a lawn mower out to a gold mine. Maybe they hired a gardener.

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

Probably intended to use the engine to run equipment? Same reason you find vehicles missing their straight six or sometimes V8 engines that were cannibalize to run equipment like air compressors.

[@gtfkt]

They most likely brought it up there for the blacksmithing operation they had going on. Lots of scrap metal laying around.

[@garywheeler7039]

Maybe they wanted to keep the grass down for fire control reasons.

[@bebeandjohnnotsonomadiclif5287]

Looks like the 1902 Kalamazoo wood cook stove. very nice.

[@zerofox7347]

Imagine going in that tiny gap between rock and a hard. Place literally and it's for the mine company!! I would love to know the incentives given to miners? If anyone knows??

[@aaronkeeth651]

it's a paycheck for me (pro tip..... don't look around to much)

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

20:23

[@TVRExploring]

Yep!

[@djini707]

Thanks for this explore! Love that Chevrolet truck with 60k on it, you geeked out on it like an old car buff!

[@mikehetman9899]

Amazing find! Never before have I seen the outside of a mine so well preserved and the inside crumbling. Usually it's quite the opposite.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, the outside was better than the inside on this occasion!

[@stefaneisenring2533]

Great Video!

[@NGaMineFreaks]

Great video as always! Thanks for inspiring me here in North Georgia.

[@markattardo]

You sure struck artifact gold! That was phenomenal!

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, this was a special one, for sure...

[@Seat1AJoe]

Always a pleasure

[@bob_frazier]

My Grandad worked a coal seam right under his house, he could reach up and bang on the floorboards as he came and went. 1940's West Virginia.

[@TVRExploring]

That's amazing!

[@jamesjustus6568]

That tin circle with the green wooden handle near the sink in the bunkhouse was a biscuit cutter. I've got a similar one of the same vintage we use in our kitchen.

[@efo1358]

What! This is just left abandon? What! This is history of the moments in California! 🤨🙏❤️

[@meboyd7796]

What was on the second floor of the house. Go to 29:20, sure looks like 2 stories.

[@garywheeler7039]

The attic looks empty, the area you see in your time stamped pic is due to the sloped ground on the lowest edge, its just a walled in crawlspace. Keeps the critters and wind out.

[@mechanicman8687]

Real awesome explore! Stay safe keep the adventures coming!!!

[@jmarsh3347]

That timbering: pillars of mush.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, they were!

[@alohathaxted]

Looks like a 1950 Dodge Windsor. Looks like a Dodge Power Wagon for the truck.

[@worldtraveler930]

Are you referring to the one that said Chevrolet?

[@alohathaxted]

@@worldtraveler930 you’re right its a Chevy G506. Thought from the dash that it looked more like a power wagon.

[@AmalgmousProxy]

Actually, after re-watching it I don't think they did very well. Maybe initially and they built the house from that money, but there's signs the mine ultimately did not pay off and the mining operation ran out of money. The first indication to me was the use of a cable to movie a fallen boulder. Why would they do that? Just drill it, bust it up then cart it out. The use of a cable tells me at that point their actual mining equipment had failed and was unusable. The broken down flat bed is the next indicator. That's a vital piece of equipment. Then was the use of rail to build a lean-to, rail would have been more valuable in the mine than for a make shift shed. I think they found a small vein of gold, went all in hoping for a big payout and came out broke. Later, someone had it surveyed, (explains the plastic bucket and spray paint) they weren't giving good news and left it to nature.

[@JohnCompton1]

I was almost disappointed you found an adit to explore! Thanks so much for letting us hang out with you for a bit.

[@paulcooper2897]

For the amount of infrastructure, it looks like there should be more adits or something ... maybe that flooded winze went somewhere... awesome explore in nasty ground... thanks for sharing!

[@TVRExploring]

Well, yes, there's the winze and who knows how far that other adit went past the collapse?

[@RussellNelson]

4:03 bedframe on the left. I used to have one just like it.

[@ronniecardy]

I would pull out the old air compressor get it going again

[@3mate1]

Any way of finding out how much Gold was taken at this mine before shutting down?

[@ricktell7454]

Kalamazoo stove co., Kalamazoo, michigan

[@Davidautofull]

KALAMAZOO STOVE CO..... KALAMAZOO MI the stove at 23:30 do you think the red line at 38:33 might have at one time been a continuous straight line and the rocks moved that much?

[@SteveandSusiesHomestead]

Thank you

[@larrypursell2336]

Part of house built mid 1940s. Some remodeling later. Probably lived in till mid 1960s or 1970s. I had remodeled houses from that era. Truck mid 1940s. Dad had one.

[@outdoorfrenzy]

Where’s the tree at?! I’d love to cut it up for cedar planks!