The Abandoned Mine As Fallout Shelter

[@joshjablonicky171]

Glad to see you out making videos and exploring again. I still can't imagine exactly what you've gone through with your parents and all I'm pretty sure you're looking down on you knowing that they raised one hell of a good son.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much.

[@tinytattoomike7943]

I hope your wife and sister in law are doing well also

[@BrainsofFrank]

I’m all for having you go back with the climbing gear and check the rest of this cool mine. I’m glad to have your content to watch again. I’m sorry you had to take the break for the reasons you had to

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you, Frank.

[@jarvislarson6864]

I second the notion!

[@MinesoftheWest]

Neat! Interesting to see this one again. It was one of the first ‘desert’ mines I ever explored, 9 years ago!

[@TVRExploring]

Oh, cool. I didn't know you had been to this one... Did you go down the winze?

[@theogdirkdiggler]

Did you leave the light on?

[@MinesoftheWest]

@@TVRExploring Nah, I was nowhere near that level yet lol

[@georgeyamamoto453]

37:54 the old cement bag is from the former Cowell Portland Cement Company located in what is now Concord, CA. They marketed Mt Diablo Cement as one of their products, so you are correct that it is the same Mt Diablo near Walnut Creek. I actually live in Antioch and was surprised that you are familiar with the area. The plant's 244 foot smokestack was a visible fixture marking the old town of Cowell until it was demolished in 2009.

[@Shawn-qx1ln]

Thanks for the adventure! The Peavine mine outside of Reno was also surveyed for shelter use. Unfortunately, it's on private land. After some reading and talking with someone informed about the mine, it had some major collapses due to uncontrolled water. It looks like the owner may be trying to gain access to it from a new location.

[@adrianwarner8686]

So nice to see you out exploring, it always makes my day when you post a video. I really appreciate all the time and effort that goes into archiving these mines, thank you. I am also always secretly hoping for you to find another totally lost mine, when you found that one a while back it was the coolest thing I have seen in years.

[@RussellNelson]

13:25 "strap rail peeled up". Yes, that is what strap rail does, unfortunately. The Clifton Iron Mine (both strip and shaft mining) Railway in the northern Adirondack Park of NY had wooden rails with iron straps. There was a separate road over Huftle Hill which was constructed with gradual grade to haul ore out using oxen but the railway was better. It was built right after the Civil War, when iron was priced and prized highly. It closed within a year or two after the railroad wore out. It was reopened during WWII with a different railroad and different road, and was worked for about ten years. So now this old mine site has four rights-of-way into it, all of which are visible on the NY LIDAR.

[@nowthisnamestaken]

Good info. Thanks for sharing!

[@brucevanderzanden9638]

Nice explore of the mine Justin! Thank you for taking us with you.

[@paulcooper2897]

That was a lot of mine for a rather unassuming portal. Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@rolfsinkgraven]

Well that was quit a interesting big mine, nice crafty woodwork lol and that rock you threw down went right through that floor by the looks of it, good luck roping down there.Thanks as always Justin for another great explore, hope you are ok.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. Yes, I am doing well.

[@napalmholocaust9093]

You're not entirely wrong. All birds have teeth, well a tooth. The eggtooth. And a few, possibly the hoatzin included have teeth. The actual distinction is if the tooth has a root, the tooth has no root but its in a pocket or it is a projection of the jaw, or in this case beak.

[@janblake9468]

In the eastern Mojave Desert, there was an old, large gypsum mine that had been made into a Civil Defense shelter for 2000 people. Huge piles of 1963 dated supplies inside. In the 1990's, I recovered some of the supplies (cases of boxed survival crackers and 17 1/2 gallon water drums). In 2003 the mine portal was destroyed and covered by the gypsum company for liability reasons.

[@TheDamageinc81]

Know the name of it? Maybe someone has it filmed on KZbin. Doubt it though ... I don't even think KZbin was around in 2003.

[@janblake9468]

@@TheDamageinc81 The US Gypsum mine company town was called Midland, and it was their Victor Mine. The town was destroyed too after it was closed in 1966. I drove around the town about 1965 when it was still active. A large gypsum processing plant was there as well.

[@HoytClagwell6407]

​@@janblake9468 someone tried to burn that stuff. I think I was in there after it had been sealed.

[@jackprier7727]

I used to explore the Mary Mine (Silver Peak, NV). Went 4 times, for hours, never saw all of it, and being high on the hill, there was little decay (WW2 magazines laying about). There was one stope with about 60 cases of survival crackers stacked in it-

[@brannancloward]

Awesome video. I don't know what they were thinking... Having 500 people in there would make for a cesspit from hell.

[@TVRExploring]

It would've been awful...

[@westho7314]

Especially 500 ignorant wannabe fast food fed survivors, Omega man never looked so ridiculously lame..

[@colorbugoriginals4457]

The air will be 35% farts within the first 72 hrs

[@LegionOfShrooms]

I wouldn’t mind running those trailings again seeing how old that wood looked.

[@josephhoward4679]

Nice to see you guys out exploring. Another great explore in this mine.

[@mattwalker4264]

Hi Justin, I hope you're doing alright mate. Another great video. I'm really glad that you're back out and about again :)

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much, Matt.

[@johncarold]

Hi Justin WOW that is a big pill of waste rock. I think that the writing says past 4ft from this ? at Stout stamp Nov 14. I'm not sure. Yes that's a drop, a assistant is nice also that they can carry all the heavy stuff. Thanks Jake for forgetting the ropes. LOL well next time. Thanks again for the video.

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

I've been thinking about you all. Hang in there. Prayers for peace and success and strength to you all.

[@ronbach6453]

Look at the Greenbrier hotel in West Virginia. It is 12 hours from DC and it was intended to house Congress+. Back then it was a given for there to be hours of warning of an inboud missle attack.

[@myfavoritemartian1]

Those pieces of wood across the tunnel are called "Stulls". They do not brace the Hanging wall from the foot wall. (As you said, they are for scaffolding). I see the iron running along the side of the Quartz vein, meaning it was a good place to look for gold. Good video!

[@patdenney7046]

I’ve been in this one but I don’t explore like you do thanks for your hard work!

[@richardbidinger2577]

That mine was huge. Great video.

[@volktales7005]

Thanks. I enjoyed that exploration, hope you can get back there and check out that winze.

[@davegrummett1263]

Thanks as always Justin. Nice solid looking little mine both in content and rock and great video. Even though there may be lots of barite (baryte) left you'd need rail car loads of it to make any money. From what I could see it's only worth between $195 and $350 per ton so you'd need literally "tons" of it.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, seems like a tough way to make a living...

[@davegrummett1263]

@@TVRExploring Now if there were tons of gold, silver or any number of other minerals more valuable than barite still left in that rock then somebody would be mining it I'm sure. It's like uranium mining where I'm from. There's still uranium to be had but it is hard rock mining deep underground and just too costly to make it pay.

[@westho7314]

These days it's much easier to mine for hobby horse fantasy viewers on KZbin. I live in an old silver/lead town at the base of the now infamous Cerro Gordo. The short changed intellect or gross collective ignorance of most these mine & ghost town explorers leaves a void that can't possibly be backfilled. Actual History of manual mining and those past & present with illusive dreams of wealth has been oddly portrayed to the general public through these social medium platforms is always hard to comprehend. Having a history of mining in our family most men never made it past 35 or 40 the ones who did could hardly breathe and were resigned to alcholism, Uncle Chewey lost his legs at an early age in a mining accident and lived to the ripe old age of 80. His only regret in life: not getting an education & having to go down that shaft in the first place..

[@FranzillaMane]

That was a very interesting mine. All sorts of cool things in there. Thanks for another awesome video man! Can’t wait for the next adventure.

[@mattearly1133]

Cowell cement was located between Concord and Walnut Creek.

[@lh6551]

I wondered if I'd been to this mine before, the outside looked awfully familiar and then I recognized some of the graffiti. I only explored a small portion of it so you just added to what I have not seen. Never underestimate a waste rock pile, isn't that the truth! Thanks for posting this, I hope you're doing well and make a return visit.

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

How do miners dig an ore chute from one tunnel to another and have it line up? in other words how do they survey in 3 dimensions without being able to see?

[@nnnnnnnnnick5557]

That's what I have wondered too lol. Back in the day, even now would be tricky

[@gavin5363]

Do you need to get one of those Bosch laser tape measures😎You can point it wherever you want and see how far it goes

[@tyrelgoebel5379]

Could you look closer at some of the survey marks in theses mines with the pink and orange markings and ribbons? I'm a land surveyor by trade, and surveying under ground seems interesting to me, it's something I've never done.

[@TVRExploring]

I'll try to do that in future videos. I don't post the videos in chronological order of when they were filmed though...

[@tyrelgoebel5379]

@@TVRExploring Thank you!

[@lincolnstovall9471]

Mine that keeps giving and giving!👍👍👍 Thanx !!!

[@Jack-ne8vm]

3:50 When earth wants to move, those timbers mean nothing. Plenty of earthquakes between Topaz - Mono Lake - Tonopah. I'd stay above ground in that area. The Gov't probably mapped the mine & it may be on file somewhere in a civil defense warehouse.

[@aaronkeeth651]

it's there to make the miners feel better. .. boost productivity

[@davekreitzer4358]

Very cool , interesting mine ! Be neat to rope down that deep one , and explore the upper stopes for more levels !

[@robgandy4550]

In the last couple years, with all us stuck, thanks for showing us the world. (Underground places too) Many thanks!

[@lowrybrock8272]

Howdy!! Thanks for the new one! Hope you’re doing well brother!! Always enjoy your videos. Really enjoying the ones about the mine you guys are working on. Got a question, what voltage are you guys running into the mine? Take care!!

[@aaronkeeth651]

480

[@AUMINER1]

@@aaronkeeth651 What is your plan for milling ore? Is you plan to mill yourself offsite or send to a toll mill in NV? Is your head ore free milling or sulfide ?

[@lowrybrock8272]

@@aaronkeeth651 thank you. Just the geek in me was curious.

[@TVRExploring]

We're a long, long way from worrying about milling yet... We're still just mapping out the ore body with core drilling. Given California's rules and regulations, it seems likely that ore would have to go over the mountain to Nevada though to be milled.

[@AUMINER1]

@@TVRExploring yes, it's a long term plan indeed. Every ore is different and often takes some time to tune an effective recovery process. I can put you in touch with some good people that know how to do it the right way, if you want to tackle it yourself or farm that part out, I know both. Milling is the expensive complicated part, but where you make or save the most. Hopefully you have some geo reports and historical records to guide you . Yes, CA will be a challenge, but there are some new thio leach formulas that are completely safe and easy to permit. (basically plant fertilizers) "Eco gold X" is just one. Are you core drilling yourself ? I'd love to see a video on that if you feel like creating one. There are a lot of videos about mines, but not any of small scale mines actually working, except for the large corp ones. You would be the first and only to show the process complete start to finish.

[@davidkurzdorfer6402]

Hopefully you guys can return soon. Explore the downstairs apartment if ladders gave away means no ones been down there in decades you guys will be the first so cool and exciting hopefully soon

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Justin, what an interesting and intriguing little mine, I wonder if that other adit to the right outside has any continuation to this mine or if it was a separate entity. Either way this surprised me too as to how extensive it was and it got a bit strange in the lower level as far as where each drift lead and how it was all mined out. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx ❤

[@TVRExploring]

We checked the other adit to the right and it only went back a few feet... Yes, the main one definitely exceeded my expectations in regard to size!

[@kaydoneierdam1204]

your are so fortunate i have a thing for abandoned mines as does everybody on this video i live in montana which means theres a small window to explore such becuase of winter and water levels.... i explore as many as i can in my area and i love it. i love seeing you guys working your own mine that is my dream to do that one day as well. keep up the fun and good videos

[@wlong1794]

I Live in missoula, wya? i need a new exploring buddy.

[@OdySlim]

Those glasses you found look like Miner 49er's. Awesome video. Regards from Ody Slim

[@Adamius_]

Just a curious question. In some of the mines there are "modern" markings ie someone used a spray can. Is that because there has been workings in recent-ish times or has there been propsectors there to check more recently?

[@haphazard1342]

Unlikely to be workings, but possible. Probably either someone come to inspect/sample in the hopes of finding a productive site, or explorers with a less "leave no trace" attitude.

[@Adamius_]

@@haphazard1342 yeah, it can be seen in this video to but also in others and i have wondered about it

[@TVRExploring]

They are survey marks or where samples were taken. In this case, those are from the early 1980s, but they can be older. The dry, desert conditions and the absence of exposure to the outside world mean these marks are preserved for many decades.

[@Adamius_]

@@TVRExploring also thanks for making the videos and sharing with us. It is always enjoyable but for those who came in to your subs more recently do you have a video where you explain the terms like addit" etc. Did a bunch of googling but it would be nice with a "noob" video for us who are only in it to see you slosh through is cold water and muck.

[@donwarrant5134]

My wife and I took a tour in a gold mine near Oatman AZ, and they used a black light to show the gold suspended in the quarts vain. Have you ever thought about taking a black light when explaining old mines?

[@richtyler1353]

Wow can’t wait to see your follow up in round 2

[@TheSWolfe]

Interesting geology/mineralization (I'm still sucker for sparklies). And I finally found my long-missing sister/friendgurl, Jules (or at least picked up another hint of her trail). Lol I told her bout taggin' stuff. Now she's forever a YT ore-chute/pit. What I once would've called haphazard is your creative re timbering. I get method now tho: fill those voids w/whatever's handy, scrap-timberwise?

[@jordanvandekraats6676]

Where are all the rats that live in the rat nests mine explorers pass? Is there simply not enough food that they all die or move to a better home?

[@jellybean9396]

Love the videos but give me terrible anxiety I’m claustrophobic so I tremendously appreciate you bringing me along from the safety of my couch

[@adrianwarner8686]

I am exactly the same Jason. I find these videos so interesting, but even just the thought of going down one myself gives me panic attacks.

[@chrisstaab8028]

Glad to see you back, hope your doing well.

[@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST]

Could it be Talc. . .another great one - I see it's from the Summer. . . How's the fam? How you doin'? Take care of you and yours. . .

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, this was from last summer - just before everything started hitting. I'm doing well. Thank you. Picking up the pieces and doing the things that need doing... The rest of the family isn't doing as well and some, like my father, will never get better. However, I have a strong spirit and a good ability to compartmentalize things.

[@worldtraveler930]

@@TVRExploring May the Great Architect of the Universe watch over you and yours!

[@johnnyo0507]

I have a brown couch that looks gray when photographed. Is the blue rock really as vibrantly blue in reality ? Btw. Glad you’re back and I hope things have settled for the better for you. Cheers!

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, the colors were the same in reality. It was impressively colorful.

[@chuckgibson1274]

The owner of the glasses is probably the mine explorer that the ladder fell away on in the he's in the bottom of the pit

[@garycooper7666]

Awesome stoop to start out with and an interesting win e to end with

[@davidharrison1572]

good fun exploring old mines

[@SteveandSusiesHomestead]

I found my glasses 32:25 .. awesome mine

[@Charles-Darwin]

Due to Govt funds being spent on the projects, miners of tapped mines might have seen this and jumped to the opportunity to "use these useless/vacated places" - inevitably in the end the govt never came to inspect (happens a lot). The funds were claimed as the 'retrofit' project was initiated. They might have just had to make it look like work was ongoing to receive the funds, then shut it down as soon as the hysteria died down or the govt simply forgot and didn't follow up. There seems to be a lot of railroad projects like this; they were started but never go anywhere or are pointless overall.

[@Seat1AJoe]

Awesome show as usual, 100 thumbs up.

[@beepseatsfindingfoodtreasu8756]

That's one to hear up and really get into.👍

[@theogdirkdiggler]

Thanks for the document, thumbs up and watched the commercials 4 ya! Id share but I dont use fb! Wouldn't it be cool if you Jeff, and Mines of the West all got together and did a collaboration?!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much. I appreciate you suffering through the commercials. Mines of the West and I team up a lot. It'd be great to have Jeff in on that as well.

[@stevengill1736]

It looks like the contact zone had some metamorphics (meta, man!😄), but might that white powder be diatomaceous earth? Also, It'd be great to carry a an XRF machine so one could do a quick and dirty analysis of the minerals....i saw one used on one of these channels, and it worked very well. Pretty expensive toy though! But these mines where the faults are vertical have nowhere to go but up and down, and then the incredible vertical stopes....cheers...

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, it's on the list to get one... We have a bad habit of destroying equipment on the mine exploring trips though because we have to do a lot more than one does in a working mine.

[@NaturistGardener]

cant you metal detect in a gold or siliver mine or in open area mybe ?

[@ordinaryaverageguy76]

29:10 Wouldn't that just mean that on 13 Jan only one load was hauled out from this spot? The "one" being just a tally mark instead of part of a date?

[@slimwantedman6694]

Good afternoon from Southeast South Dakota

[@joseordinola7717]

Saludos según las leyeS de ee,un esas minas abandonadas se pueden explotar aún?

[@TVRExploring]

Si todavía tienen mineral que se puede extraer de manera rentable, una compañía minera podría pasar por el proceso de devolver la vida a la mina.

[@_tyrannus]

I had a longer comment written but a crash took it away before I posted it. In short, I was wondering what it would have felt like to families unfamiliar with underground spaces to be pressed into such a place to shelter from the unthinkable. They would have been just as scared as those rabbits that fell down the shafts.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, not to mention their thoughts on what awaited them on the surface when they eventually emerged from the mine...

[@nowthisnamestaken]

"Tough to imagine that the miners in the 1800s would have thought that their mine was proposed as a fallout shelter for a nuclear war in the future…" 1800's miner "Wait, what kind of war?"

[@montanaplease]

Imagine those same minors learning in the future people would be walking outside near a lake in the nice fresh air wearing face diapers 😂

[@robertmckinley2030]

Staying in a mine for an extended amount of time while waiting for it to be safe to emerge from radioactive fallout would be a dirty and miserable existence!!

[@DavidHuber63]

Nice mine, Thank you!

[@joeneighbor]

I was afraid at 31:53 you might awaken the Balrog.

[@brainiac8060]

That chalky material could be diatomaceous earth. It is actively mined in NV and is used in many products.

[@kyletomorug6780]

The Rats went "poop-specting" :)

[@GmanMe]

Somebody lost their eyeglasses at 32:26 was that one of your group?

[@rufusmacck3712]

Makes sense that the Government would consider using the mine as a fallout shelter. Barite blocks radiation ☢️ .

[@paulsleczka195]

Whats all the pink tape ans spry paint about?

[@Jack-ne8vm]

Modern day prospectors eyeballing, probably.

[@TVRExploring]

Those are survey marks or where samples were taken.

[@trevortaylor5501]

Great show! Fascinating stuff.

[@jasontegeler9658]

Do you take a black light on your cave explorations? Back where the chalk was, the jagged rocks....they look like fluorite.

[@ethelana9627]

6:50 definitely a rabbit, look at the teeth and the little ridge of bone above the top jaw

[@TVRExploring]

I'm glad you concur.

[@darinday6930]

Awesome mine! you were cracking me up too.

[@nowthisnamestaken]

30:50 it says "look behind this pole for 4 ounces of gold" Ok, so where is this mine?

[@stephenmills7211]

@ 17:00 are we not going to talk about the more modern bud light can on the floor

[@haphazard1342]

Very curious to see what's on that lower level! Back with ropes next season, I hope.

[@GlobeExplore]

wow beautiful outside and attractive inside.cool find

[@andrewbarker9773]

lol your little statement at the start about the value of assumptions made me think of a now passed away work mate of mine who used to always say "never ASSUME because it always makes an ASS out of U M E " lol

[@tinytattoomike7943]

What happened to Mr Mc Bane I think his name was ?

[@TVRExploring]

He's been really busy and he moved farther away.

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Thank you for the Video The Geologie is very interesting in it Thank you for taking me with you I cant wait to see what is Down this winzezes. Take care stay healthy Yours Frank Galetzka

[@TVRExploring]

You and me both!

[@markerbouy7693]

Spotted an old pair of spectacles on the planks over the winz at 32 minutes and 27 seconds?

[@The2000redrocket]

anyone see the glasses at 32:27/28?

[@zamistro]

It wasn't a rabbit, it was a... SQUIRREL!

[@libertyninja9158]

what kind of mine was it?

[@patdenney7046]

You’re lucky it was nice and cool just rained. When it’s really hot out you can almost bet there will be a snake at the beginning of portals

[@TVRExploring]

We've been in many hundreds of abandoned mines now and have still not seen any snakes inside. Plenty of snakes outside, but never underground. Yet.

[@patdenney7046]

I’ve spent many months out there it’s only at the beginning of the portals they’re not underground I think they’re waiting for the rats to go in and out or after the cool it’s only place I’ve seen them like that they will hide if you make noise

[@danielhicks7593]

Can't keep a good man down.

[@garthmiller6932]

I think you guys need to go to cereal Gordo you'd like it. But there's a lot of open little minds around there that are pretty promising. I think you would enjoy him.

[@gpetheri]

I bet the bloke down that hole wishes he'd left his safety glasses on.......

[@mikehunt8375]

Every mound and hill out there looks like old waste rock piles....

[@libertyninja9158]

would really like to hear what kind of ore your passing....

[@TVRExploring]

Read the description below the video.

[@napalmholocaust9093]

We found out the truth of shelters after they thought they were a good idea. It wasn't worth surviving. That's the only reason it hasn't happened yet.

[@thewolf3889]

7:23 You found a Mineosaurus Rex .

[@curtknutson3936]

You need to go Cerro Gordo.

[@nielsen145]

great mine and if all signs, yourself said, they started below, which means, their should be a portal also to get in, unless its eroded shut due to time, 2nd thing i noticed, i feels almost like 3 generations of mining in there, because it seems at some point it was rehabed also and the sharpe of the tunnel kept shifting also, so originally i would say the mine was properly planned out end of 1800s and start of 1900s, then worked stopped WW1, then they went back in the late 20s or early 30s again and stopped for WW2, properly went back 3rd and final time? again, so the 72 graffiti might not been an explorer, rather somebody checked out if the mine still was viable

[@TVRExploring]

Oh, yes, almost every abandoned mine of any significance will have multiple generations of mining. The mine we're working now is a perfect example of that.

[@nielsen145]

@@TVRExploring one thing i wont do again, last time i did it, was huge mess, but was interrested in the history of one mine, so started to dig after paperwork, only to found out, it was a huge mess, i dont know who scanned the papers, but they were not in order, some pages was not missing, but misplaced with another page from another mine, took better part of 7hours before i gave up. but what i did find out, was interresting to say at least, to was original registered as a tungsten mine, but re registered later as a gold mine with silver as 2nd and trinary was platinum among other things. it was a mine i found through google map and abandoned mines listed or the claim has run out. iam non us citizen, but i interrest in US history, i started when i 14 with american indian wars and around 22 i found my call in ghost towns and mines. iam 35 today. what saddens me the most, is the citizen of the US, not taken care of their own history and in some instances directly destroys it. i come from a culture, where its importent to keep it as much as possible

[@Doomzdayisgone1969]

Fallout 3, New Vegas, 4 or 76?

[@davidsnider1703]

Very interesting mine.

[@garretthuff1905]

The Julie stope, ha! Love it.