A Perfect Abandoned Mine

This is my favorite kind of abandoned mine to explore… A perfect mine like this feels like a time machine - offering a chance to cross a bridge to a world of the past. You see, the “holy grail” for mine explorers is a mine that is so remote or hidden away that it has not been visited since the last miners walked away. Such a pristine mine offers the potential for myriad artifacts to be present as well a glimpse into how the miners lived and worked at the site. An experience like that is lost at the more easily accessible mines that have been picked over by those hunting souvenirs or, as you’ll recall from the video a couple of weeks ago, destroyed by vandals.
There is also a real feeling of satisfaction in tracking down a mine that is so lonely that no else has visited it. Like a successful treasure hunt, I suppose… It makes it special and personal to you, as one feels when being the first to summit a mountain or, undoubtedly, being the first to do anything. Well, almost anything. As such, I prefer a “special” mine like this one to larger mines that may have far more interesting layouts, but that have been picked over or at least visited by many others.
I spotted this particular abandoned mine on a flyover of the area several years ago and had always wanted to visit. However, doing so took a fair amount of planning and preparation as it is located very, very far off of the beaten track and required more than the average 4WD to even get close enough to hike in. So, it took a while to get out to visit this one.
This is what I would label as a high risk/high reward mine explore. What I mean by this is that I only knew there was a mine here because I had seen the waste rock pile. Other than the fact that this mine was extremely remote and isolated, I knew absolutely nothing else. Was the mine caved? Was it eroded shut? To reach this mine, we drove in for a day to get as close as we could, camped for the night and then hiked the rest of the way in the day after. That is a LOT of time and work for a single mine that could have been inaccessible and had no artifacts. Of course, the reality is that we discovered a wonderful, untouched mine. It could just as well have gone the other way though! That is what I mean by high risk/high reward.
Speaking of remote and isolated - This mine is so far out there in the wild that it is almost inconceivable to me how some grizzled old prospector could have located the site and, further, hauled out the mining equipment and materials to develop it. And, remember, I am saying that with the benefit of modern 4WDs, aircraft and other such luxuries of transportation. The old timers that came out to this mine would have done so on foot or on mules. So many questions… How on earth did they manage to haul the rail in there through that rugged terrain? How did they have enough food and water for themselves, let alone the mules? It was as dry as a bone all through that area.
Unfortunately (tragically?), it does not appear to have been a successful mine. The winze and very minor stoping seemed to be mostly exploratory in nature and the abrupt turns inside of the adit are suggestive of miners searching for a vein rather than miners that are on a vein.
On to less abstract matters…
There are those of you that may be disappointed to not know what is down that winze. Well, rest assured, we are too. However, I believe that rock test indicated the bottom and, most significantly, the presence of the windlass demonstrates that no significant amount of material came out of there. Large or deep workings below would have required much more than a windlass.
A thought on the location of the miner’s camp below… It was fairly windy up at the mine and this wind persisted for the duration of our stay. However, just a few hundred feet below the mine at the miner’s camp, there was no wind at all. I suspect that this may have had a lot to do with the chosen location for the camp.
I would like to say more about all of this, but KZbin limits the available space we have to write. Some of you are probably relieved by that!
*****
You can see the gear that I use for mine exploring here: bit.ly/2wqcBDD
And here: bit.ly/2p6Jip6
You can see the full TVR Exploring playlist of abandoned mines here: goo.gl/TEKq9L
*****
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.
#ExploringAbandonedMines
#MineExploring
#AbandonedMines
#UndergroundMineExploring

[@AGDinCA]

PSA: I just wanted to inform (or remind) subscribers that, in order to get the most out of the experiences Justin provides on video, you really should read the narratives he provides in the description boxes. You will find (when available) all kinds of extra details, or special information nuggets, that really add to the story of that particular adventure. Plus, he's an excellent writer. That helps. 👍 Justin - maybe pin this?

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks, AGDinCA, for the kind words and the PSA... I'd throw in that many of the questions asked in the comments are answered in the description as well.

[@brucevanderzanden9638]

I usually the written text before I start watching the video.

[@AGDinCA]

@@brucevanderzanden9638 That's because you are a good and faithful subscriber, and you are, obviously, extremely intelligent. 😉👍

[@greentea7180]

Interesting mine, the Armour and Co veribest beef was a cool historical rabbit hole to go down. The company was founded in the 1860s producing packed and preserved meat. During the Spanish-American war in Cuba they sent what one soldier described as "embalmed beef" because it was so chemically processed, and the consistency was abhorrent so some of it was completely spoiled. Which of course between the chemicals and spoiling ended up giving the soldiers various degrees of food poisoning that went mostly unnoticed because they assumed it was the insects/yellow fever. Extra credit fun fact, Armour and Co also invented Dial Soap in the 1940's. The blasting cap tin can best be dated about 1900-1910, give or take 5 years... Also if you look at the hell graffiti closely you can see "hol" under hell, so I'm guessing they playfully (or not?) named the vertical shaft the hell hole which is kind of funny, maybe it was a nightmare to dig out for nothing? Pretty cool mine overall, thanks for sharing!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much for the great info. Another viewer was able to date the dynamite boxes and match your estimate as well... So, yes, it would definitely seem that the early 1900s are when this was worked. I notice the "Hole" when I was editing the video. So, yes, I think it was definitely "Hell Hole" that was written there. I'd be curious to know how much of a joke that was!

[@johnsmart964]

This is a fascinating mine, a great bonus was seeing the ore cart, it seems a rare thing to see. It was possible that they have removed the rail for use in another mine as I would think it would be fairly expensive to obtain. As you say a lot of effort for so little gain.

[@chrisackerley1842]

@@johnsmart964- Check out Justin's video that shows a wooden ore cart he found in a very remote mine in Nevada. Totally amazing!

[@Ironsja11]

You found a time capsule, untouched for decades! Great job and thanks again for taking us along!

[@TVRExploring]

These are my favorite kinds of mines.

[@MrFcpsitsgepgepgep]

After doing a little bit of research, it looks like Dupont only produced dynamite under that name for 2 years between 1911-1912.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for looking that up. That really narrows things down!

[@napalmholocaust9093]

The purple glass puts it right there too.

[@MrFcpsitsgepgepgep]

@@napalmholocaust9093 Nice, I didn't think about that! I know the turquoise glass was most common but I haven't seen much purple.

[@matthewtracy8744]

No, they started under their own name in 1905. They ran until 1911-12.

[@steveeparsonsjr7929]

Strange I just saw a video showing a box from 1903 for DuPont.

[@TheNimshew]

My grandfather worked for California cap before the depression. They went out of business about 1930. He then went to work for Hercules powder. Mining engineer. Graduate of Cal Berkeley in 1907. Married the daughter of Rueben Rickard, first Berkeley Manager. Also a mining engineer. Rueben died when he fell out of a second story window of their Berkeley home on Bancroft. My great uncle, Thomas and a cousin, Thomas were both mining engineers. The cousin was good friends with H. Hoover. Also a mining engineer and 31st POTUS

[@daveg2104]

Herbert Hoover spent quite a bit of time in Western Australia (and other places, like China) plying his trade as a geologist, and later, mining engineer/manager and entrepreneur/financier. It does appear he did a few other things later in his life too.

[@TheNimshew]

@@daveg2104 Memory is a funny thing. It was Edgar who was friends with Hoover. And, Rueben didn't die falling out of a window. He died on his way to Australia where he was inspecting mines. I have no idea who fell out of the window. Some relative. Probably drunk.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for sharing that... I love stories like that which bring history alive.

[@expert8997]

You manage to provide so much information, it really does make your videos top notch. I would love to do what you do, but I have to admit that I would miss a majority of the details you pick up on. These videos are great, and I enjoy being able to learn something while I watch!

[@clambroth1923]

The purple in the glass wasn't intended as a colorant. Magnesium powder was put into the old glass to combat the iron in the sand so to speak. It kept the glass from turning brown from the iron when it was fired. The magnesium kept the glass clear. When left out in direct bright sunlight over a very long period of time that glass will slowly turn purple(ish) and purple. You can find that sometimes with very very old insulators on telegraph and telephone poles. The dark purple shards indicate there was a fair amount of magnesium in the mix to make it so dark. With large old sulphide glass marbles you will occasionally see the same thing - where the marbles were left on a window sill for years. The deep purple sulphide marbles are very valuable. The very deep purple in the once clear glass is a result of the direct almost desert like sulight at the mine.

[@sofa_king_kool]

In all your explorations, I'm amazed that you always leave the oddities and artifacts you find. It shows that you are a respectful student of History, and I thank you for it sir!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for being of a like mind on that subject... You wouldn't believe how many complaints I get for not taking things from these mines.

[@sofa_king_kool]

@@TVRExploring you're not taking anything away from the next brave soul that ventures there, you're preserving these places through these videos. Thank you for what you're doin man, and keep safe!

[@sofa_king_kool]

My great-grandfather had gone home for lunch from the mine at the time the Milford Mine flooded, sparing his life. Mines mean a lot to Minnesotans, and it's great to see them not lost to time.

[@robertcromwell9736]

Rail removed but very remote? Perhaps there is another mine nearby that it was reused in?

[@RussellNelson]

You bastard! That was my exact thought! You stole it!

[@CallMeAdam2023]

Maybe another level lower or higher on the mountain

[@TVRExploring]

Possibly... We looked all around and just found a couple of tiny prospect shafts in the area, but we, obviously, could have missed something.

[@Ken_in_Wisconsin]

I agree - the rail was likely reused at the next mine. I can't imagine another reason to go to all that trouble to remove it all.

[@christianfreedom-seeker934]

Salvagers. I knew a guy whose uncle or dad was a mine salvager. The company that owns the mine brings in a savager to extract anything of value and then they seal the "hole" to human entry. However not all mines remained sealed!

[@c103110a]

As kids, (~6-10years old), we used to find old bottle dumps and would spend the day smashing old bottles. Lord only knows how much those would be worth today.

[@TVRExploring]

Haha, yes, you probably smashed a small fortune...

[@chrisackerley1842]

When I was 18 [I'm 61 now] I worked for a sand and gravel company that was hired to clean sand out of an old irrigation ditch from the 1800's. After the ditch was no longer used for irrigation, local people used part of it as a trash dump. As we dug the sand out, we screened it to use making concrete. Old bottles started popping out of the screening machine! Beautiful things of every shape and size. Many were broken, but even more were not. Some of them even had glass stoppers! By the time we were done, I had saved boxes and boxes of old bottles!

[@Askjeffwilliams]

that is an old starter bit .... looks like sulfur leaching out of the wall rock in the back of the drift ....wonder what is at the bottom of the winze ....be safe out there

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. It certainly looked like sulfur, but I'm not enough of a geologist to know whether it's possible to see sulfur in that area or not. Given the results of the rock test and the presence of the windlass rather than a hoist, our presumption was that the workings at the bottom of the winze were minor. However, yes, it would have been nice to see for sure what was down there!

[@dirkdiggler1242]

@@TVRExploring jeffs tha shit!

[@dirkdiggler1242]

@@TVRExploring both my fav channels!

[@johnbrownlee7623]

Good call Sunny Jim...............JB.

[@Jack-ne8vm]

Lower a running camera on a rope?

[@alvinosullivan2804]

Nice little explore! That ore car was fantastic! That all felt pretty untouched for quite a few years! Enjoyed the photos at the end. Thanks for the share👍

[@worldtraveler930]

I was thinking that a blacksmith created it at the mine.

[@brandonpayne1207]

I can't believe you found a museum in the forest. The pictures at the end really let me take in each artifact you found. This was a small gem.

[@TVRExploring]

A museum in the forest is exactly what this was... Thanks for supplying that description.

[@keithk5504]

Wow. I believe all who have passion for what you do appreciate the effort and time and money you fork over for us all to be better educated, fill the voids in our prospecting addiction. “Not all of us can just dip out and go mine exploring” but we can virtually do it by you posting your videos. Thankyou

[@davidm5982]

Great video! Mines are sketchy. Around 1980 when I was a Boy Scout we did a annual camping trip to Calico ghost town. We were exploring and found a mine. This area was extremely remote and the mine didnt look to be explored or picked through that much. There were mine cars, newspapers, birdcage, sardine cans, Hercules dynamite boxes...empty. I kept one of the boxes. Its in beautiful condition. It was a very large mine. Wish I could remember where it was...i would go back for sure.

[@danmiller6051]

A simple guide I've learned in my 60 years of collecting dynamite boxes is, first are the notched fitting wood boxes then the nailed wooden boxes then the cardboard boxes. After that the fertilizer stuff. You can see on the sign at the mouth of the portal is nailed. Others can add or correct If I'm wrong, You're still making great videos. Keep up the great work.

[@leesherman100]

Another excellent exploration. The more remote the better. Certainly worth the effort. Great job.

[@feraloid]

What a beautiful setting! Thanks for sharing!

[@wyattlapraim2778]

This reminds me of a perfectly preserved alpine mine I explored. These hard to get to mines are always well worth it.

[@TVRExploring]

I agree!

[@Dave_9547]

You could get dynamite in four strengths, or grades back in the 1950's, commonly 20% and 40%. Then 60%, which was obviously handled more carefully and finally, 80%, which was rarely seen because of it's stability. It looks like this mine has been surveyed twice in the last fifty years or so. The early distance markers were sprayed in a faint orange, the later ones, deeper in the mine were light green. At no point did I see ribbon hanging on the ribs with codes indicating samples taken. It did appear that the ladder on the left side of the winze was fairly modern in construction, with rungs inset into the rails, rather than nailed on top of the rails. '

[@TnTMyers2010]

I saw those survey markings as well. Really wonder when they were done.

[@thewolf3889]

I hope there's a part 2. This one was a great find. Thanks

[@I.Live4oldcars.prospecting]

Wow very awesome mine. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing

Awesome mine. Thanks for the video.

[@MsSurigirl]

Cool mine! Great artifacts, and those thin crystals were beautiful! Thanks, as always.

[@norcalprospecting2809]

Wow! Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I am watching right now, for the third time. This is amazing.

[@SagebrushRebel]

Yes Justin finding a pristine mine is golden. And you really had to work for it with research and physical effort. I've seen over 500 mines since 1974 but I think you found one that no one has been to in a long long time. I tried to do research on Veribest Cooked Beef but no luck. maybe related to Armour products, such as today's Spam. Also did you know that the term "civilian MRE" is connected to Armour's Compleats meal entrees. They are delicious and are available for $2 when on sale.

[@CornishMineExplorer]

Nice little mine there! Nice to see those old timber ties still in place, we see a lot of raw timber in our mines too, just amazing to see it still standing too, the old miners knew what they were doing and how to make it last. Nice gypsum crystals at the back, we see a lot of those too. I noted the green paint from more modern surveying, but glad the people that done it left all the boxes and other things in place.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, many of these practices were perfected in your Cornish mines before being introduced over here... Perhaps the surveyor took the really, really good artifacts and we're seeing the "junk" that the surveyor didn't bother taking? It is very difficult to locate the elusive unvisited mines.

[@rockbottom1969]

That was an amazing video. Great narration and video footage and knowledge throughout the exploration of an undisturbed mine like that. Keep up the good work. Following.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much. These are my favorite kinds of mines...

[@davidhuber9418]

awesome find! thank you for your time!

[@dirkdiggler1242]

Love the stills Justin! TY

[@DaleDuffy]

Excellent video as always, really cool mine, old too....!

[@garybauer7574]

Well worth the hike great mine explored

[@MattyEngland]

Great video, thanks. 👍 👍

[@cheycasters]

Awesome intro story!!! That was well written man. Now onto da show!!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you!

[@OutdoorRob]

Man, you guys are hardcore! Thanks for videoing these out of reach, for me, mines!

[@jimmybritt9537]

Nice find and all that stuff is in really good shape too 😉👍👍🇺🇸

[@davesstuff1599]

I am constantly amazed at how they got all those materials that deep into a mine.

[@Jorakful]

As someone who hauls quite some heavy stuff up and down inside of ships, I guess doing the same in I mine sounds even more difficult. I have mad respect for miners.

[@erniesandberg6688]

Great job, really like your mine tours.

[@vincentrizzi9797]

Excellent share! I love my Arizona mines

[@GoldenNorway1]

Awesome as always!

[@vidzilla1]

Nice artifacts, that mine cart is amazing! Love the old 1800s mine with raw rail cross ties, All very rare finds 👍🏻

[@RockerRed]

Thank you!

[@paulcarpenter2800]

As great piece of history and documentation. It's great to see everything untouched since the miners left. Another great video. Thanks for sharing, Paul in Lower Boddington UK

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks, Paul. These are my favorite kinds of mines to find - a "perfect" mine for me!

[@pappysproductions]

great video. i love the long description as well

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Thanks for making the video

[@daveblackwell180]

I believe the can you found @8.53 is a candle powered lamp, the hole in the bottom is where you poke the candle through ,the can stops the wind from blowing it out, the shiny insides act as a reflector and the string handle keeps your hands from getting burnt

[@johnbrownlee7623]

Thanks for the video...Nice hard rock mine....And lots of kool artifacts still in the mine.............JB..............

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. My favorite kind of mine!

[@johnbrownlee7623]

@@TVRExploring mine too......

[@josephkerley363]

Awsome artifacts up there ... One of your more interesting mines. Thanks for sharing.

[@TVRExploring]

This is my favorite kind of mine.

[@billyazprospector]

I have a pair of those wheels off of a cart. Thanks for capturing a picture of them so now I know!

[@JimmyRJump]

I love how in your clips, everything is either "right here" or "right there"...

[@averageamerican8421]

Super cool video with an amazing mine

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. This is my favorite kind of mine to uncover!

[@averageamerican8421]

@@TVRExploring I have always wanted to find a mine like this however where I live there are not many hard rock mines that are safe to explore.

[@durwinpocha2488]

Found a prospectors museum of a old mine from some 120+ years ago, untouched! All hand hewn woodwork, amazing. Thanks for the tour.

[@impressionsprinting]

Another great video. Lighting, audio, camera speed and angle all on point. Thank you.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much.

[@troylarsen3866]

I live down the street from that town Louviers, Colorado. There was a dynamite plant there for many years and now it's a little town hidden in the trees. It's kind of creepy. Really cool to see that dynamite box.

[@brentseely6113]

I still go to Plum Creek with the dogs. Might have grown a pot plant or 2 near the little brick building that still stands just off the road.

[@TheKrippler]

best mine video I've seen.

[@gingerbread6614]

Thank you.

[@ElementalMaker]

WOW! That addit is absolutely gorgeous!

[@AGDinCA]

I agree! Picture perfect.

[@001desertrat3]

Mining terminology is so confusing . The miners REMOVE ore and waste rock , so instead of an "Adit" , technically shouldn't it be called a "Subtract-it" . LOL .

[@unclejohnbulleit2671]

For some reason this mine didn't really alarm me, I think this was one I could have actually entered ! Not sure why being underground bothers me so much. Genetic memory? My grandfather was a coal miner in Eastern Kentucky in his youth, before he came up to Ohio before WWI and started a new life. Fascinating mine. I hope you are able to find more like this.

[@TVRExploring]

Except for the very last section, this mine was very safe and solid. I'd say this would be an excellent gateway mine for someone harboring grim genetic memories of coal mines! I can imagine that your grandfather didn't regret starting a new life...

[@kylerayk]

The axe-cut timbers at the winze are yet another clue as to the age of this site. Thanks for the detailed, meaningful description above and for venturing in to find this way cool mine!

[@brentseely6113]

On the note of the Du Pont crate found at the portal; I grew up next to the plant in Louviers Colorado (I still go there to this day). They made det cord there up until around 1990. Fond memories of my house shaking them id run to the window to see big plumes of dirt go up into the air when they would test batches of cord. On a side note, there was a sign at entrance to the little town of Louviers that said HELLSVILLE due to how often workers at the plant would get killed in mishaps.

[@scottb7444]

That sign at the entrance was for Miner's to hang there tag so they knew who was in the mine. Miner would remove it when they were out

[@001desertrat3]

@Scott B -- Sorry , NO , that only happens at large operations , not at small one or two man operations . In all probability it was a hand written copy of the Location Notice , so that when the miner(s) went to Town to get supplies , if someone else came along and found the Mine they would know that it was currently being operated and would leave it alone . -- < Doc , Miner for over 50 years > .

[@garycooper7666]

Given the remoteness and difficulty of just getting supplies to the mine it makes me wonder why they chose that spot to dig. It's really nice to see such a pristine mine full of artifacts. I like the stills at the end of the vid!!!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. Yes, it is extraordinary to us where some of these prospectors ended up!

[@michaelrudolph7003]

Yeah, how did they process all the material without any major access? Is it possible they somehow processed it on site?

[@deezynar]

@@michaelrudolph7003 Since it didn't get any bigger, it appears that the mine did not produce any worthwhile minerals that needed to be processed.

[@michaelrudolph7003]

@@deezynar I'm talking about the original miners. They dug a huge amount of material out of a mine in an inaccessible location. My question is, what did they do with all that material? Given there was no road or even trail anywhere in the area, how did they get the mined material out to be processed? Seems almost impossible unless they did it on site somehow. Also, as others have mentioned, where did they even get the water for their mules? So many questions.

[@deezynar]

@@michaelrudolph7003 I answered your question. NOTHING was mined. No "processing" was required. They dug a hole in the mountain and all they found was worthless rock that they tossed in a pile outside. The operation was done on speculation, called "prospecting." It was done in hopes of finding something worth mining. They found nothing that was worth the trouble, so they abandoned it. The thing with mining before core sample boring was developed, is that you would mine an outcrop of worthwhile minerals revealed on the surface and follow it down, but you had no idea what you were getting into. If the outcrop ran out quickly, you'd keep digging because you were haunted by the idea that a valuable vein may be just another foot inside of the rock. Core sampling in a grid lets engineers "see" what's down there, and plan a mine's shafts, levels, etc., before they even start work. Anyway, I have no idea what motivated the men to dig in that spot. It appears that there was no outcrop, and the rocks there don't appear to be a type that harbors worthwhile minerals. To sum up, they went out with hopes of finding something. If they had found any rock that they thought contained worthwhile minerals in them, they would have carried them to a town with someone qualified to analyze them. If they had enough value, they'd get look for investors in hopes of expanding the operation with more equipment. It's possible that they did find something worthwhile, but nothing worth enough to pay for building a road to the place.

[@IBRAKEFORBEDROCK]

Cool stuff !

[@TheNimshew]

Giant was a company town along the shore of San Francisco bay. I recall driving through the town in about 1956/7

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. I didn't know that...

[@frankgaletzka8477]

A fine little mine . If you return you can explore the deeper levels Stay safe Yours Frank

[@f1junky63]

Really good video

[@antremigio2208]

The giant powder co. 1867 - 1912, Hercules powder co 1912 - 1966, DuPont 1802 - 2017. i would guess this mine is pre 1912 to around the 20s

[@brianlrrover3633]

Dupont only made dynamite until 1912 so its probably closer to the first date.

[@markcantemail8018]

Thank you for the Explore you Bushwhackers . Very nice Video . I suspect that the Mine Cart was partially buried or tipped on end for a while . The Handle end looks like it is rusted more ? Somebody retrieved it and pulled it back in the Mine to protect It ? The DuPont Powder box just inside said Hercules, California . It got me Thinking I once Hand loaded a ot of .44 spl using Unique which was Hercules Powder Co . I suppose if i cared to dig I might find out that DuPont owned Hercules at one time ? I once had a Light Green flavored Hercules Powder Box with faded red Lettering in the Camper Trailer . It was soo faded there was no Address or what type . I have to guess that at 9 minutes it said Hell Hole at one time . At least it was not full of Goat Droppings .

[@AdventuresRUs]

Hitting the like button during first advertisement!🤘

[@itsjustme5381]

Dude, if I ever want to visit an abandoned mine I hope you're with me. Your vast experience can make the exploring seem easy, but I know its very difficult.

[@horatioyen256]

cool entrance

[@ronniecardy]

The colors were very good 👍 loved the ore car how they moved was a chore I bet Boxes and cans what a mess

[@rrich52806]

Seen this mine on U tube.. Neat how everyones view add to it!!

[@deezynar]

What was the other channel that showed this mine?

[@Blueredex]

I thought I saw some green spray-paint a few times. I wonder if that is common back then, or if it is from later visitors.

[@AGDinCA]

Given the green vegetation at the winze, I am betting there was an opening to the outside somewhere close by. That would also explain the fly.

[@deezynar]

Rodents bring in juniper branches through the tunnel.

[@AGDinCA]

@@deezynar There was also a considerable amount of mud and a bit of standing water there, too. Could be a natural spring? Or outside access?

[@curtbilyeu8701]

is it possible that they pulled the track for another mine in the area? that cart is beautiful. its so nice when the average person cant get to stuff like this.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, I'm sure the rail was pulled for another mine, but it wasn't one in this area. There are no other mines within miles. The rock in this area was very pale and stands out sharply against the dark green of the vegetation. There were no other spots.

[@kennyrogers3919]

Wow this is the first video that I’ve seen with a complete Ore cart!

[@001desertrat3]

TVR , @21:25 - Magnify your still photo of that Hercules box , on the bottom edge below the ''40% Strength'' is a date of ''1913'' .

[@TVRExploring]

Good spot! Thank you. That fits in perfectly with our estimated age of this mine.

[@beezowdoo-doozopittybop-bo9127]

The reason the wheels on the front of the oar cart are so much smaller is because that oar cart was made for drag racing

[@jw2218]

It raises the back end up on cars so that you’re always going downhill saves on gas. lol

[@mobiltec]

@@jw2218 LOL that's funny...

[@chrisackerley1842]

That was my first reaction - hot rod ore cart!

[@briangarrow448]

Ha! I live across the Nisqually River delta from the Dupont Washington site. It was the main explosives and ammunition depot for old Camp Lewis, now called Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

[@chrisexplores619]

Looks like jeans layin right there all covered in dust to the left when you were showing the labels

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, that was denim.

[@joshuasutherland6692]

Bet they hauled the ore cart up there in pieces and riveted it together using the smithy. It was probably too much to take down all put together so it just got left. They could have easily salvaged the strap rail bit by bit I think.

[@mfree80286]

3:14 Someone had a decent blacksmith, that bit is well hardened ("ding dingading" setting it back down).

[@bruceflaws3213]

Not going to read all the comments, but purple glass was from manganese content. This element was removed from glass after about 1910. Glass partially buried will show clear under earth and pink or purple above ground. In the western US, whiskey bottles were easily dated this way. As a former USFS archeologist (don’t hate me for that, it was a cool job), I found many such bottles in Sierra and Plumas counties.

[@andyamysarizonaadventures5450]

Very cool seeing so many old things still there.No roads or trails to it,that's how we have seen entire old aircraft wreakadge to

[@TVRExploring]

The more remote and hard to reach, the better... I've hiked into one site with aircraft wreckage, but I'm no G. Pat Macha. The subject is quite interesting to me though.

[@bloodybonescomic]

Discarded cans are a great way to date these places.

[@TheHandyAndy]

Have you thought of getting a 360 camera and then use a very small fishing pole and a LED array to lower the camera down in to the winds to see what you can record?

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, but we are limited in how much we can carry and we never know what we will be encountering and so it is difficult to anticipate what we might want in the way of gear. On a day like this, we essentially had room for lights, cameras and sufficient water given the hike in.

[@TheHandyAndy]

@@TVRExploring yah for sure you want to keep it as light as you can. Just wondering if you thought of it.

[@garymckee8857]

Thanks I like the artifacts that was left in the mine and there had tp be a wagon track or some form of road there at one time to transport the minerals from that location and bringing that ore cart there.

[@johnmccallum8512]

Pack mules?

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, they used pack mules. There were absolutely no roads and not even any trails...

[@renegade44040]

Nice mine! There had to be a road of sorts to get that ore cart in plus dynamite boxes. It seems as if the neck of that bottle was removed to make a finger slide for Hawaiian slide playing or some blues guitar picking.

[@chrisackerley1842]

The type of clear glass that turns purple wasn't made after 1913.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. That fits with my estimate of the age of this mine.

[@henryanderson7606]

I am very intrested in exploring old mines and such......how do people locate these old mines?

[@faerieSAALE]

Back in the time when they were mining - I would imagine that they hauled plenty of supplies and materials via mule or donkey and horse to the mine. They most likely brought enough each time to last for months. If the temperatures drop to freezing and it snows during winter at this site - they probably stopped mining for those months. Imagine the issue with having enough potable drinking, cooking, and wash water daily in such a remote area. The living conditions must have been deplorable. The miners most likely were some really rough characters. There must have been a well-worn trail leading to the mine site. Maybe even a good enough trial road that supply wagons could have used. I bet if you google map the area and look closely - you'd find part of it still visible. It is the only thing that makes any sense as to how they got rail and other big heavy items to the mine.

[@robertsnyder5149]

Too bad you couldn't have lowered your Go-Pro down that shaft!

[@richardwarnock2789]

Very interesting mine added bonus can label's plus Explosives box and crimping blasting caps can too!!!; ) looks around the back side of death valley did you run into the bee's then if it is!!!; )

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, I love mines that are "museums" like this.

[@stuffnthingsb.c4043]

Just started watching and loving loving the in-depth information and historical parts of the places you show each episode. Do you guys actually take out samples and test them? Do you do any actual minning like slusbox or pan? Be awesome if you did take a few pounds to crush later on when you find possibilities in some of the great looking ore you and we see on camera. Anyways just thought I would ask if you guys did. Maybe I have not watched enough yet to know. But glad I found your channel. Buy if you don’t you should test with metal detectors and a little gentle pick cause you don’t want that coming down on you. Could always wedge boards to prop and hold up the ceiling well you take your sAmple. Sorry it’s been awhile and wanna get back out checking out new areas and pickin around. I’m inB.C what about you guys? Sorry that was so long of a text. Any just thought I would ask and say hi. I subscribed and I will have video up very soon

[@rolfsinkgraven]

A very nice find indeed, a great cart at the entrance and a very nice mine, too bad about the peed ladder lol crawling down that one would be a risky and smelly job.

[@dabonemarrow5337]

Was that solid sulfite layers where it was light yellowish and you said its soft and no echo!! If so wow, really cool!! Im at awe!! Amazing

[@dabonemarrow5337]

Oh yeah keep up you awesome hobby that no one in the whole world does like you or for why you do it!! Really kool

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much for the kind words. Yes, I believe those were sulfur layers in the back, which I wouldn't have expected. It was completely soft to the point where my boots were just sinking into the floor and, as you heard, there was absolutely no echo at all!

[@rrrrsorry8408]

The California cap company has been out of business for years , it’s one of the more common tins found in mines from California to as far away as Colorado and across the sw states . Most common cap tins are du pont or atlas . They normally held #6 blasting caps which are much shorter than the standard #8’s used today . Having worked as an underground miner for 45 years I’ve actually used both . 40% dynamite is pretty standard back when they used nitroglycerin in stick powder with 60% being the strongest I’ve ever seen used in underground mines and that was normally reserved for extreme hard rock ie granite or hard metamorphic rock . Sometimes it was common practice to prime with 60% and load the remaining length of hole with 40% . Nitroglycerin powder went out of widespread use with the invention of modern emulsion or water gel stick powder and the wider use of ANFO as anfo is cheaper and gives about the same results as 40% .in fact unless you have wet holes or super tough rock anfo is always used even in raise and stope rounds up holes being plugged off with “ Pilgrim Hats “ to keep the anfo from rattling out of the the up holes during blasting. It’s interesting seeing you visiting some of the mines this ole tramp miner has made a shift or two in . Along with quite a few some of my older pards worked in and told me about. One word of advice never assume something is a winze underground! I’ve yet to meet a miner who enjoys drilling, blasting or timbering yet alone mucking out a narrow cramped hole that runs down under there feet ! Unless that so called winze has absolutely no connections with a shaft or drift off a shaft . Otherwise it’s most certainly was driven as a raise / ore pass etc . Nobody likes mucking and gravity is always a miner’s friend when it comes to moving muck. We work smarter never harder . One interesting side note on that power box 7/8” X 8” sticks were normally what was referred to as hand steel powder used in you guessed it holes drilled with hand steel my guess is they got it cheap and used it in jackleg holes b/c the got a deal on 1”-1 1/4” bits or they actually hand drilled . Common stick powder used today is 1 1/8” X 16” .

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for the insightful comment... Yes, we use ANFO and the emulsion in our mine. Some things haven't changed much in mining, but that definitely has. I think it is pretty cool that you have worked in some of the mines that I/we have visited.

[@ziggyz2958]

Amazingly cool! What state is this in?

[@DerekShaffers]

That fly. Totally not an evil omen.