Crazy Underground Landscapes Down This Mine Shaft - Part 3 of 3

I often say that we find some very interesting things underground… That statement refers to everything from the strange flora and fauna that we find underground to the vast natural caves. A few years ago, I posted a video of a secret military project that we stumbled across in an abandoned mine (link below if you’re curious):
• Secret Military Projec...
The large science project we discovered in this video reminded me a lot of our discovery of the secret military project from several years ago. You have to admit that it looks wildly out of place to have all of that high tech equipment in the middle of the old timey timbers and rails of the mine, no?
It was a shame to see the damage done by the effort to steal that ore car and it makes me wonder what was successfully looted from this historical site. Given what remains, probably quite a lot!
As a reminder, this was a fluorite mine worked into the 1950s.
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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, we set up a Patreon account. So, if anyone would care to chip in, we're 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 the history around us for granted. However, abandoned mines 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.
I hope you’ll join us on these adventures!
#exploringabandonedmines
#MineExploring
#AbandonedMines
#UndergroundMineExploring

[@greentea7180]

If you google that Hugo Benioff seismometer it says it was made in 1961-1962 and used in the early 60s for a cold war program to map earthquakes and underground nuclear explosions. I'm presuming those long tubes are laser seismometers, early ones too since lasers were only invented in 1960. According to chatgpt the earliest known laser seismometer was invented in 1963 which lines up nicely with the other seismometer, I bet that was some seriously cutting edge 1960s technology down there, only the finest for Uncle Sam lol. If those are laser seismometers they would have sent a laser down the tube, and a sensor at the other end would measure the tiny bounces of the laser caused by ground vibrations. The equipment wouldn't have given accurate data in a working mine, and a recently closed mine would have conveniently had the infrastructure to lower that stuff down safely. Fun nerdy fact I live near a modern super sized version of that laser seismometer called LIGO, they give free tours and I went to one over the summer, instead of measuring ground vibrations it measures gravitational vibrations from things like black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarfs. Gotta say that's one of the cooler mines you've featured, thanks for sharing!

[@streaky81]

I wondered if it was some sort of laser interferometry, but sure laser seismography - presumably it was much more sensitive, and better at showing movement axis.

[@jcee2259]

I was doing Grade-5 Cartography in a cave when an earthquake tremor happened. It made a noise I had never heard before or since. Shaken........... but not stirred.

[@TalRohan]

I always post then read comments ...It's amazing how often I agree with people who have already posted

[@TalRohan]

@@jcee2259 I bet that was scarey ...I heard a flash flood go down a different cave to the one I was in once, that was horrific...I honestly thought I was about to die. we could feel it as well as hear it ....totally monstrous feeling

[@piotr277]

I think taking a Geiger counter with you when exploring old abandoned mines in Nevada would be a good idea, especially the deep ones with Cold War era seismometers at the lowest level left behind near walled off corridors. If they didn't come back down for their expensive, cutting edge laser sensors, I bet they had a good reason for it.

[@dondavis5633]

Great series! Hated seeing it come to an end...as always. Thanks for the great education/entertainment!

[@russ8871]

Found the obituary of Matt Costello he died at his cabin, which was close by and is now gone. He died at this cabin sitting at his table, no cause of death. He was a prospector around the area for 30 years. A simple Google search will pull up what I found. He was either 59 or 60.

[@Flyfish325]

The The Loneliest Grave, Matt Costello was an elderly prospector who lived a life of poverty until he struck a promising claim and and sold it for $1500. Matt celebrated and had many plans on what to do with his new riches. When his friends did not see him for a few days they went looking for him. He was found dead, sitting at his table in his cabin. He was buried by his friends near the cabin although nothing remains of the cabin today.

[@putteslaintxtbks5166]

That makes me wonder if his "friends" decided they had better plans for his new found rices that didn't have his backing!? Or perhaps his "friends" only left $1500 for looks and it had been much more! We may have us an old murder mystery.

[@alanscott3999]

I used a handy dandy inflation calculator and that $1500 in 1926 would be equal to $26,736.69 in today's money.

[@putteslaintxtbks5166]

@alanscott3999 Would that calculator be set on loaves of bread or gold or cost of living or bottles of beer?

[@Inesophet]

My best guess would be that this belongs to Leo Brady seismic network that was installed in the 60's-70's around nevada to monitor the US nuclear tests. As there are no markings on the device itself i would guess it's either a laser interferometer (To work as a seismometer) or some kind of creep detector. In either case, cool stuff.

[@-r-495]

Yep, the instruments and general installation look like what I‘d expect from then. Those glass rods could be tilt meters, they are still in use today.

[@-r-495]

Perhaps an invar strain meter? Those I found look very similar to those glass (quartz?) pipes along the floor.

[@Inesophet]

@@-r-495 Yeah i think you are right, Quartzpipe strain meters look almost to a T like these things.

[@sallycollins2445]

Matt’s death certificate says he was a miner and prospector who died from “heart and kidney troubles”. All family facts unknown

[@AppliedOCD]

Another great video series comes to an end! Thanks for doing and documenting what we all wish WE could do!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the series.

[@brushitoff503]

You share things I'll never see in person, thank you for that experience.

[@charlesvannest2521]

Thanks!

[@nathanwhite8110]

Awesome series, incredible mine! Thanks for taking us there!

[@paulcooper9135]

Nice mine! The grave was very cool! Happy New Year Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@terrystewart2070]

Wow Justin! A truly awesome explore to end 2024, and start of 2025! Can't wait to see what you find next! Thank you. Happy New Year!

[@archstanton9206]

Very good series, thanks for taking us along.

[@-r-495]

RIP Matt Thank you for going on this series and sharing it with us. Yes, those blue/metallic instruments were labelled seismometers but I am not quite convinced that those glass pipes are seismometers. Maybe a form of piezoelectric sensor in huge dimensions? The seismometers don’t seem to be connected to the other equipment, maybe they have a paper recorder inside the housing. The pipes also remind me of those used for incandescent lighting or measuring a potential. Could they be used to measure ionising radiation if filled with a gas or less than nothing (vacuum)? Not going to send you down there again, perhaps other stations have been recorded elsewhere. Interesting! Happy New Year!

[@-r-495]

Did anyone notice a date on the instruments or the electrical installation? To me it appears to be post 1950 but pre 1980. Numerous interesting scientific reports are listed in this publication, next to the curve of graph itself they were interested in other factors like measurable frequencies and velocity and vibrations due to mining and similar things. files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/BureauOfMiningPrograms/BMPPortalFiles/Blasting_Research_Papers/USBM/RI%205968%20Estimating%20Damages%20to%20Residences.pdf

[@-r-495]

Highly likely the contraption with the glass pipes was set in motion and physical events could be measured as a differential to a known state. In those days what they had used more AC electromechanical components and the information they were after was measured using comparative measurement principles. Anyone can find the many documents about earth movements or seismometers in mines etc. pp.

[@-r-495]

The chamber appeared to have been well insulated too. Could even have been kept within a defined temperature range too. That rod may have been something like a sound fork that was kept moving in certain directions and the energy required to do so measured and interpreted. That it was an analog value they were interested in can be deduced from the hi gain amplifier in one of the boxes where that white pipe ends.

[@kadoj]

@@-r-495 laser Inferomneter, apparently

[@wyomarine-m5s]

Found an almost full wood keg of track spikes about 40 yrs ago in a copper mine. They make nice coat hooks in a log house.

[@williamwintemberg]

I sure enjoyed this series. Happy New Year!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. Happy New Year to you as well... Yes, this was a fun one.

[@markhooper5824]

Enjoyed this series guys.👍

[@gmoneypower]

Fantastic video series guys!!!! Keep us the great work!!!!!!

[@mattwortel]

Thank you Justin, that was indeed an enjoyable explore!!!

[@robertquast9684]

It’s nice to see a dry mine where you can see what was going on

[@Steven-vo8tk]

Really enjoyed this mine. Great job!

[@rolfsinkgraven]

A very interesting explore again, and amazing things too see, thnx for all the effort you guys take too film all these Justin.

[@jeffeyman5535]

Dan…Happy New Year. Thank you for allowing us to be “with you” through this process

[@StirlingLighthouse]

It was definitely a Time Machine. Look, yesterday it was 2024 and now it’s 2025. Absolute proof! 😂 Happy New Year everyone!

[@jeffreyjay3860]

My thought also! Happy New Year to All!🎉

[@918hoseman]

Great series. Lots of interesting aspects to this mine.

[@_tyrannus]

Fascinating stuff, and glad to see someone already figured out the equipment in the time it took me to click the notification. A shame about the ore car stealing attempt and resulting damage, they must have given themselves quite the scare to just leave their stuff in place and pack up. Happy new year, I wish you safe exploring and even more awesome discoveries.

[@volktales7005]

Very cool find in a cool mine. Thanks for documenting this and Happy New Year!

[@djspatrick]

This location had a bit of everything. I can't believe people tried to steal an ore cart! Hope you rested up well after this amazing series. Happy New Year to you, your buddies and family.

[@edwardmckenzie3402]

Love all your explorations.

[@leighsayers2628]

Fabulous vision and history .

[@markattardo]

Awesome series. Happy New Year!!

[@WilsonEywlkyutbe-s3b]

Good job. Safe enough

[@mfree80286]

11:00 It's a laser interferometer, pretty simple if you think about it in broad terms. Shoot a laser down a tube at a target, watch the reflection coming back. Location and timing tell you how the target was moving as the reflected beam jitters around. That's... pretty much it. These look direct though, just watching the beam at the target end.

[@davebeckley2584]

Matt got the bejeezus kicked out of him for tinkering with those kids science project so you better hit the road if you know what's good for you. Love your videos and don't let anyone scare you off.

[@Flyfish325]

Interesting “In old mines, seismographs are used for monitoring seismic activity, which means they detect and record vibrations caused by rock movements, allowing miners to identify potential instability risks like rock bursts or cave-ins, enabling preventative measures to be taken before a major incident occurs; essentially acting as an early warning system to ensure mine safety.” Probably used before OSHA which was passed by Congress on April 28, 1971 or the The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, also known as the Mine Act, is a law that governs the safety and health of miners in the United States

[@macfilms9904]

"Deep in old mines, scientists primarily conduct experiments related to particle physics, studying elusive particles like neutrinos and dark matter, as the deep rock shielding protects the sensitive detectors from cosmic radiation that interferes with measurements on the surface" My dad's a pretty famous physicist, so that came to mind. The earth acts as shielding - but some stuff (neutrinos) don't interact with matter, so they shoot right thru all the rock. The best neutrino detector is deep in the ice at South Pole station, Antarctica.

[@davebarns1]

Is your dad’s name Sheldon, by chance?

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

Awsome finds!

[@richardwarnock2789]

Happy New Year!!!; )

[@joebenigni1074]

Matt was an elderly prospector who lived a life of poverty until he struck a promising claim and and sold it for $1500. Matt celebrated and had many plans on what to do with his new riches. When his friends did not see him for a few days they went looking for him. He was found dead, sitting at his table in his cabin.

[@BrianValley-me6bg]

Definitely a seismic sensor.

[@Luminoussound2024]

Happy New Year Justin wishing you all the best for 2025 🥂. Your explores have been amazing from start to finish 👍🏻

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much.

[@DavidTurner-n3l]

Yes you are right, didn't you recognize the flux capacitor?

[@NewArcadian]

Happy '25. An interesting find. I always wonder given the expense of production, transportation and installation, how long systems like these ran before policies or people changed. Hopefully long enough to have fed through some useful results.

[@noeleconomos4773]

Did anyone see the article about the UFO sighting at the Fallen Naval Air Station in the news paper? Time stamp 2:24. Very cool!

[@jcee2259]

I began organized exploration in 1964 with the National Speleological Society. Qualified for life membership with the Wyoming NSS for what I did under Montana, Caves are not man-made and have no light. Mine issues involve the people that make them. My cartography shows what a cave is doing.

[@dennistennyson4540]

Remember Duck Tracy's wrist tv, communication device ? They have those now.

[@frankgaletzka8477]

Happy New year a nice Video Greetings from Germany Yours Frank

[@silo1082]

Excellent videos keep up the good work and stay save. One question for you.seems like there's allways quartz left when there done mining why didn't they take all the quartz.?

[@nielsen145]

well this part. i reconized the mine, because shango has shown this before, not rest of the mine, just this

[@crispy63]

Time machine for sure. Sold one like this one last week.

[@TVRExploring]

Do you have any extras for sale?

[@gpetheri]

I spoke to Matt Costello the other day, he can't believe someone found his time machine....

[@putteslaintxtbks5166]

It seems almost odd that someone tried steeling a cart, but left large amounts of, I would guess copper wiring if $$ was the idea, as a cart would be easily identified as mine theft and isn't it law in Nevada that protects old mines as historic?

[@Angl0sax0nknight]

Interferometry? Just thinking about the angles it’s at.

[@jamisontaylor878]

Happy New year my friends

[@gerardange]

Thanks for all your hard & diligent work in historical research LIDAR maps and boots on the ground on location exploration and filming and endless hours editing !!! Jason! 👍👍👍👍 Thank you!!! Very much appreciated by me and many out there. 🏆 As The Most informative in depth and interesting Mine Exploring footage out there!!! Always looking to see if I recognize any of the places you’ve been in California . But, Nevada is still a open book & mystery for me > with endless miles of mining ! history in the most remote areas… Be safe and very best of luck in 2025!

[@TheHillbillyEngineer]

Happy New Year! that's probably a seismic sensor, but it might be a Tesla Oscillator made to look like a sensor. :)

[@drewpackman2929]

They are seismographs and they look like they are setup to do a vectored sum velocity equation. I think I see one geophone for each axis.

[@SZ260780]

What could be behind the sealed wall ????

[@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST]

Time Machine 😎

[@JamesReedy]

Prob sealed it for better temperature stability?

[@dennistennyson4540]

Some kind of a flux capacitors?

[@hoffbug]

Ocassionally when you are in a mine and its quiet I hear what sounds like a fan or aquarium pump... Is this cooling fans for your lighting?

[@jasonk9779]

Gimbal motors most like.

[@N1ramblerGagon]

Does methane gas appear anywhere in these mines? Do you run into black damp much?

[@redlight722]

Matt was buried with his friends. Did you see any other headstones?

[@TVRExploring]

Not a trace... Just Matt's headstone.

[@spamanator666]

You've found the source of "the murmur"!!! 😆 Or at least one piece of it! Called "the worldwide hum" by some.

[@jaynelson4175]

I thought it was funny they could spell transducer but not floor.

[@TVRExploring]

Haha!

[@TalRohan]

I want to make a joke about the Wong herb company but I best not (advert in the paper) That ore cart must have made a hell of a noise , what a mess. I am surprised at how well it survive the fall though it certainly was well built. Not sure about the time machine but it looks a lot like a laser vibration detector to me, seismometer based but ultra sensitive Fire the laser down a tube to a mirror then measure the deflection in almost photon accuracy....probably not that accurate then to be honest but certainly they are now.

[@AUMINER1]

Matt was an elderly prospector who lived a life of poverty until he struck a promising claim and and sold it for $1500. Matt celebrated and had many plans on what to do with his new riches. When his friends did not see him for a few days they went looking for him. He was found dead, sitting at his table in his cabin. He was buried by his friends near the cabin although nothing remains of the cabin today.

[@peteroliver3408]

I believe his death certificate (NV #26-000392) is on Ancestry, Listed as single, occupation miner and prospector Died May 15 1926 ... COD heart and kidney trouble -burial in broken hill NV, Nothing was listed as to parents or place of birth, I guess just one of the lonely souls lost to history in the vast intermountain west ...

[@Rickristian]

Sample the air before getting down there please.

[@rael6_4wd]

I was thinking the equipment in the mine might be for neutrino detection, but I’m only speculating.

[@kadoj]

That crossed my mind as well, but I don't think so. The arrays they use to do that sort of thing are usually both quite enormous, and significantly deep underground, or better yet, under ice. I could easily be wrong, but my gut tells me it's seismology related, as Justin theorized.

[@rael6_4wd]

@ I agree. It is definitely done very deep, and I believe a special water is used as well.

[@olivei2484]

Yeah, neutrino uses liquid. Cant recall if its carbon tetrachloride or heavy water.

[@rrindsig]

Nuclear blast detector

[@kadoj]

@@rrindsig I suppose you could certainly use seismology detection devices such as those for that purpose, yeah, but I really doubt they had that purpose in mind when they set those up. And they'd probably only work for underground or surface tests (more specifically, those which result in the release of energy having direct co tact with the earth) that far underground.

[@krockpotbroccoli65]

​@@kadoj they were doing underground nuke testing in Nevada in the 60s.

[@lickkermit]

In the classifieds at 3:08 above babysitters is a miner looking for work...

[@kaimunro3817]

Matt was an elderly prospector who lived a life of poverty until he struck a promising claim and and sold it for $1500. Matt celebrated and had many plans on what to do with his new riches. When his friends did not see him for a few days they went looking for him. He was found dead, sitting at his table in his cabin.