Nature’s Masterpiece: Stunning Quartz In Extraordinary Gold Mine

[@dondavis5633]

A new TVR Exploring video pops up in my queue AND it's more than an hour long? Now THAT's what I call a WIN-WIN!

[@paulcooper9135]

You get Full Credit for the effort of exploring that lower section .... But -10 points for Not opening the fridge!!! LOL Awesome explore! Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@ralphpatrick3071]

You blow my mind sometimes with the sketchy sh-t you accomplish. You actually document a mines every nook and cranny. Thanks, J!

[@nancyroberts5505]

my sentiments exactly. Can't believe what you are willing to put yourself through.

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

Old city water services worker here. You can get a silicone spray that you put on your boots that'll water proof them pretty well. If you look for boots with an attached tongue you can usually get into six inches of water no problem. It only lasts three to six months depending on how much you use your boots. But as you say, putting on waders is a pain! I got it from the place I got my boots. But any camping store should have cans of silicone spray water proofers. Just give them a good spray the day before, get all the nooks and crannies, and you'll be good to walk in surprisingly deep mud. I would work in twelve inches of mud pretty regularly even though my tongue was only about seven or eight inches above the sole.

[@jbawden]

Those lower workings are not for the faint of heart. It's literally fodder for my claustrophobic nightmares. Can't even begin to imagine working that, no way!!

[@raymondnelson6248]

I enjoy your videos. I am following your videos for a few years now. I am in the mining industry since 1993. I was a Sampler and a miner in the South African mines. I am looking at all the sweeps left behind in this mine. When it was measuring time we had to clean the footwall as well, we were paid if you passed your cleaning of the sweeps. Seeing this reminds me of those years. Some of the stopes where i was mining had reef up to 2.1 meter. Thank you for keeping the mining history alive.

[@gerardange]

Echos of the “16 to 1 Mine”

[@lb1448]

Hi Justin, I thoroughly enjoyed your latest adventure. With the level of dryness present, I know that unfortunately the miners were creating SiO2 particulates in the air as they tore through these veins. Hope that some of them didn’t get sick. Here in North Georgia, many families including my own had Dads, Uncles and Brothers who suffered from Silicosis in these Gold mines surrounding Dahlonega. Life happens, eh? By the way, I’ll never forget how amazing your adventure was in that GA placer mine😮 Best wishes, Dr. Lauren ( sorry all, too many words from this old lady)

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. I'm glad that you enjoyed this one... It immediately became one of my favorites. Yes, the miners that worked in the 1800s here would have had a pretty grim time of it. They had a rough life.

[@glennbrown1961]

The 4 connected 8x8s were probably an anvil stand! G'day from Tasmania

[@johncarold]

Hi Justin, WOW ! That is a ton of quarts still. I guess it didn't have enough gold per ton to keep going. This reminds me of the 16to1 mine with all the quarts. If I was 40 years younger, I would like to pan that river to see what I could find. Did I hear GOLD ? lol. No, not serpentine, I hate that stuff. Squeeze through that ? No turnaround, I can't believe they were working in that. Thanks again, Justin, for taking us along with you.

[@Ian_P]

Those cave pearls 28.20 are very interesting. Thanks again Justin.

[@milwaukeeroadjim9253]

I've seen them before in a Whales mine on the Lost Mine channel.

[@oxskirra]

Sporty factor level 9… this was above your usual riske undertaking. Quartz gallore is not doing this site justice. Please be safe as always and thank you so much for bringing us along for this epic explore. I do wonder what the different minerals are in the colored flowstone formations

[@my81shovelhead]

Great mine love all the quartz .thanks for braving through that climb and those lower workings.

[@archstanton9206]

One heck of an investigation into an incredible mine. Thanks for taking us along. I cant help but wonder how much gold is still down there, and will it ever be worth the effort and cost to recover it.

[@65peterbilt]

very cool display of the flowstone ,thanks for all you're hard work!

[@StirlingLighthouse]

Your content is always so good. I’d love to see an assay on some of that quartz. Thank you for these great videos 🙏

[@richardbrobeck2384]

What great video guys!

[@kadoj]

Whoa dude. The whole floor in there was cave pearls some of which formed into cubes. Friggin wild . What a phenomenal mine

[@rogergriffin9893]

Wow, just wow! Thanks for showing everything.

[@StuShoots]

Awesome video and full credit to you sir!!

[@alexduran6742]

Much respect for "No unfinished business".

[@frankgaletzka8477]

What a amazing Video. Absolute great stuff. Thank you for all your work and risk Greetings from Germany Yours Frank Galetzka

[@mikewinings4120]

Another great one,thanks for showing us,keep em coming😊

[@rolfsinkgraven]

A very interesting and beautiful explore with a few nice cliff hangers, literally at the start with that hanging slab and the last part were would gladly send my MIL into because i am a coward and would not dare lol A great explore Justin.

[@nathangibson3264]

Epic explore! The end of that was sketchy to say the least! Can't wait for the next one!

[@loyalkuhn5778]

Wow, I'm a bit blown away. I don't think I've seen such a huge mass of quartz in a mine before. A lot looks like bull quartz and maybe that's why the mine is abandoned. There are some nicer pockets where there is iron staining and sulfides but overall, the owner must have been unimpressed with the low yield. A mom and pop outfit might be able to squeeze a living out of the pockets but overall the beauty and the flowstone is just awesome.

[@wsjessee68]

Now thats a Damn GOLD mine$

[@janddmaurer7334]

You keep that up and one day, we just won't get any more videos from you. Stay SAFE.

[@samuelgilbert9734]

Crazy big chunks of quartz! Thanks for sharing it with us! Getting out must have been quite a pain!

[@MichaelDebalski-mk6bt]

Another great video always enjoy coming along on your adventures !

[@hoffbug]

Wow.. There is a ton of quartz in there still! Thanks for going the extra mile on this one. Hope the knee is OK.

[@beardy4831]

@1:02:20 that looks like a drinking water can with a nice brass pour spout on the side. With all the think layers of quartz in this mine I wouldn't be surprised if there's still lots of gold but maybe some other factor caused it to not be worked. Economics of the time, or maybe worker shortage due to war or something. Today probably nearly impossible to reopen it due to permitting issues. That ladder looked pretty new though, like someone was in there recently extracting those pockets of large quartz crystals.

[@scottharmon1573]

Great stuff as always Justin

[@jayrunyon7750]

You do good work. ❤❤

[@brushitoff503]

Um, Way up there on the Sporty Scale? Just a tad mate! Wow! It would take days to write an appropiate response. That was Nuts! Beyond Sketchy! Glad you filmed it though. Can't fake that! Cheers for nearly 10 Years as a follower. Brushy.

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks, Brushy! I appreciate you being with us from the beginning... I have a special fondness for those that have been along for the whole ride.

[@brushitoff503]

@@TVRExploring It's been a journey for sure, I probably said it before, just to be certain, sorry for your loss of your mum. Not one to say much. Cheers.

[@rh5563]

Trout fishing in that spot would be amazing! What a beautiful place. 👍👍👍

[@qldabandonedmines]

Awesome work Justin! Monster workings.

[@TVRExploring]

This was a great one... Very sporty when we're on that lower level at the end though!

[@qldabandonedmines]

I'm still watching. Its getting pretty hectic 😂😂😂

[@krockpotbroccoli65]

Thats an impressive amount of quartz, but most of it looks quite barren of mineralization, which would explain why they left so much behind. Awesome exploration!

[@aaronpeterson385]

Let’s do a drinking game, take a drink every time you say quartz. Lmao. Love your vids, keep up the good work. You do what I cannot. I’m old and broken. I have been in a couple of mines here in Colorado. The one that I remember the most was i think was a copper mine. Went to go into the adit and as soon as I touch the top of the audit it collapsed. Yep I was done after that!

[@RockyMtnGobblers]

I would love to see you either come back to this mine or another gold mine and bring a metal detector. I bet you find a piece of gold, that looked like a very productive mine you were in there. The stats on these mines would be very interesting, like years worked, and tonnage taken out.❤❤

[@chriswenberg4823]

Great work Guys!

[@markattardo]

Wow, so much to see!! Hope the knee is better.

[@MikeOrkid]

This is the closest hard rock mine I've seen that resembles an anthracite mine. Super rad.

[@markhooper5824]

Another gem of an exploration. Very nervous for you though I must admit. Superb job by you guys again.

[@wsjessee68]

Total Payday right there! ⛏

[@waynebaker8973]

Very cool.

[@scottrance-im7xz]

I'd say you've really pushed forward the exploration in a very unstable section with so much loose material and other hazards . But I totally get it , I've love mine exploration and have since I was a kid quite along time ago with some unfortunate situations that came to pass , but you have exceeded expectations in this video for sure

[@Sanjosebuddha]

Wow haven't seen quartz veins that fat since your 16 to 1 mine video! Were the veins in 16 to 1 the fattest you've seen? Either way this mine is impressive, surprised I've never heard of it. Is it just me, or does the hanging wall rock in the antler stope look a lot darker than the hanging wall in other sections?

[@RageKage1776]

Just amazing! The veins are absolutely massive! Ive been enjoying your videos for, must be close to a decade now!, man how the time flys. Thank you for sharing your amazing adventures Justin!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for being with us for so long! You have been here since the beginning!

[@MooseBurke8881]

Ive been here since the beginning of it and your one of the best mine explorers on here as well dammit man watch going into those sketchy places that was some sketchy shit in their now too stay safe and ill be waiting for the next one now ​@TVRExploring

[@TVRExploring]

@@MooseBurke8881 Thank you for being with us for so long!

[@stanbatchelor810]

Really enjoyed this one Justin. I could see the structures when i went through the main road about ten years ago but the spur road leading to it was totally gone where it crossed the scree slope. Was always curious about it

[@kellyjackson6881]

That deer antler shovel was very nice

[@TVRExploring]

Not a typical find at a mine!

[@uwillnevahno6837]

39:49 there's a former racing legend by than name, now deceased, lived in a city at the base of The South Sierras. He would have been 20 something at the time of the graffiti. 48:55 someone was up there as recently as 2005. Acorna's World (2000) and the Clinton book (2005)

[@-r-495]

J. Graves was there too.. If that guy had just left a notebook, you‘d be the first person I‘d give it to 😊

[@bret354]

at 48.09 old solar panels there's more later as well

[@landlocked4771]

Wow , super sketchy , can't believe you did that. But as the video shows you made it out, thank you for all your effort always a pleasure watching. Man be more careful .

[@c3h84ever]

With those giant quartz veins everywhere , wouldn't that still be a profitable, viable mine?. That is some seriously good looking stuff!

[@TVRExploring]

Quartz does not automatically equal gold. Some quartz is barren or does not contain enough gold to make it economical to extract.

[@ShastaTodd]

I am always curious why, after all the work to open underground access to the mineral deposits these workings and often a lot of infrastructure are just abandoned, often while still viable resources appear to still be available?

[@mikeford963]

Would be interesting to see if that quartz is truly barren or if the numbers just weren't high enough to continue mining? Might be worth sampling to see where it's at with todays gold values.

[@TVRExploring]

The old timers really skimmed the cream off of the top in many cases. A lot of ore that they didn't bother with would be economical now. The crushing rules and regulations are what is blocking many small mining operations from being resurrected.

[@mikeford963]

@TVRExploring Damn red tape eh!

[@supermanacf]

You have balls of steel, jesus. That ending area was sketchy as fuuuuck lol.

[@diamondtman]

Justin I know you don't have the mineral rights but do you ever take samples and test them? Thank you for another wonderful trip.

[@lb1448]

Hi diamondtman, of course, I am not answering on Justin’s behalf, but somewhere in my foggy memory I recall him once saying that he does not remove any minerals from mines. Now that’s integrity…Best wishes, Dr. Lauren

[@beardy4831]

As the other person said, Justin made clear in an older video that he does not take samples or artifacts.

[@Yogi_Bear69]

Hey. Love the content. I'm wondering if it would make any sense to have a small camera drone to go up or down areas that have rotten ladders etc? I feel like this could add to these videos but if you know why not to do this I'd love to hear that as well.

[@captaincrunch5878]

The loose quartz rock on the floor should have good samples EZ Pickings...

[@BrianValley-me6bg]

I'm glad you're doing that and not me. Enclosed places give me the willies.

[@TVRExploring]

Check out the last part of the video - that section at the end was extremely sporty.

[@nhragold1922]

Please just once sample that quartz vein 😂😂😂

[@landofstan246]

That bus is one for Vice grip garage.

[@SteveandSusiesHomestead]

Yikes that end was sketchy at best . Thank you

[@milwaukeeroadjim9253]

Been watching Jason at Mount Baker mining. He found some rich ore that had free gold. The quartz had a black mineral ribbon and iron (rust) and where all 3 meet there was visible gold. Never seen as much quartz as in this mine. Be careful. The last bit of explore was a sketchy

[@muleskinnermining8661]

You should see the thick quartz vines in the 16 to 1 gold mine. Absolutely incredible.

[@greenfeilds...1]

at $2600/oz do some of these mines get reworked because they might now be worth taking out the quarts that was not worth takin out when gold was $200/oz or can these not be reworked due to environmental reasons?

[@bryanlong1363]

Those surface video shots look real familiar, but I could be mistaken. Some sketchy, mine exploring, not for me kudos.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much, Bryan. Your generosity is immensely appreciated and helpful. You are not mistaken on the familiarity of the surface. And, yes, that lower level was definitely sporty at the end...

[@dennistennyson4540]

In your opinion would it be worth the effort to work this mine again ?

[@TVRExploring]

Without knowing the assay results, it is impossible for me to say. I will observe though that with the rules and regulations of today, it is very difficult for a small scale mine to be profitable.

[@ShastaTodd]

I am also curious about the fluorescent orange spray paint markings and flags. Were these from survey crews (USGS?) mapping the tunnels and remaining resources?

[@TVRExploring]

The government has not done any mapping or surveying of mines for many decades (except on the surface in preparation for destroying them). The underground markings are from sampling done by geologists working for the owner of the mine or the claim.

[@charlesbritzman501]

You’ve always said “gold rides an iron horse” but it seems it most often rides a quartz horse.

[@hunnybunnysheavymetalmusic6542]

I wonder if the level of ore enrichment is currently high enough to be economical to be mined now that gold it over $2500/oz

[@TVRExploring]

It certainly is closer to being economical now. However, you still have the crushing rules and regulations to contend with. It's very difficult for small scale mining operations to run profitably.

[@macfilms9904]

Those lower workings would seem like they would have required a haulage adit that led outside as there doesn't appear to have been any infrastructure for hauling ore& wasterock up to get it out?

[@TVRExploring]

That was our thinking as well. The assumption was that that lower level led to a lower adit because, as you correctly observed, there were a lot of ways for ore to be dropped down, but nothing indicating a way to bring material up. So, the best guess would probably be that the portal for the lower adit was covered by additional waste rock from the main level.

[@redlight722]

Only one cart for all of that work? Where did the rest go?

[@sierramountainsrailfanning2114]

Was this one n hlthe sirara mountains l? Just looking at the thumbnail

[@DeweyBlanton-c7s]

So a dumb question, would any of those quartz veins have visible gold or would it have to be crushed and processed?

[@TVRExploring]

Visible veins of gold are always possible, but they are rare. Far more likely that the quartz would need to be crushed and processed...

[@Erik-ms9wt]

Okay someone please explain how tunnel straight down that far through solid rock? I mean there's rail going straight down it. I get they blasted the rock but still how did they haul it straight up. Crazy

[@IHUTCHI]

Great adventure! But i have to tell you, I was not really interested in you moving past that very last bit with the clump of rocks over your head. That was WAY too high on the sketch factor! But yes, i do give you a ton of credit for running it all the way out. Next sketchy section is definitely not your turn to explore though.

[@erichaskell]

In the early seventies my boss told me " You have got to know when to punt". The sketchy areas are yelling this.

[@TVRExploring]

It's good advice... I really hate unfinished business though.

[@stuckoutwest5169]

Do you think there's much in value in that old mine to be worth getting it back running?

[@thomasdurant7907]

Composting toilet there, posibbly incinerator. Fascinating information I know.

[@mysterycrumble]

you REALLY don't like unfinished business!

[@TVRExploring]

Haha, no, I really, really don't. You know me well.

[@canadianpopeye8066]

Lots of gold left there. I think alot of these old mines are closed due to todays heath and safety standards.

[@TVRExploring]

The crushing rules and regulations are certainly preventing many of them from being reopened.

[@johnsemeniuk8230]

Y'know, I'm curious. In the Lower Workings, towards the sketchier section that was falling apart, did ya spot any drill holes that would indicate which way the level was blasted from in relation to what you came down to reach it?

[@TVRExploring]

You know, I don't recall seeing any down there. Indeed, that would have been a good clue about that level.

[@johnsemeniuk8230]

@@TVRExploring Dang. Overally cool mine, nonetheless. Considering how much quartz was up top, makes one wonder how much is down the flooded stopes and beyond that final blockage. And where all the water on the lower workings are draining to.

[@FastRoperN4]

I think one of those dates said 46 but that wouldn't be right due to war boarding if I'm not mistaken. When you say it doesn't assay out well or be profitable would that be different for today's prices?

[@TVRExploring]

The old timers tended to skim the cream off of the top. So, what they weren't that interested in could quite possibly be profitably produced today.

[@Crowdog1234]

Lay that little deer shed in the flowstone!

[@kypparmstrong2775]

Is it constantly testing ore that guides the miners digging? They chase the vein in places and leave it in others.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, frequent sampling will avoid a lot of heartache from wasted time, effort and money chasing unprofitable quartz veins.

[@alexreifschneider4332]

The old stuff was slower and more inconsistent.

[@livinglikarockstar]

what would you say was recovered from that huge quartz deposit, largest i'd ever seen actually. 25%?

[@TVRExploring]

It's impossible to say without knowing how far those quartz veins continue to run. Obviously, there is still a significant amount there though!

[@thomasjones1778]

1:00:07 you walk by a box and I think you were focused on the cart down the drift. What was it/?!?!!?

[@TVRExploring]

Just a piece of wood... Not a box.

[@wsjessee68]

Fucking hell man! That's $$$$

[@thomasjones1778]

1:05:17 looks like a bottle cap on top that rock.

[@SharonMorin-c2w]

Those white things that look like "tic tac" or "teeth" are from my understanding, "cave pearls". 🙂

[@sirmonkey1985]

bet your guys assumption of another adit by the bridge is probably right. it's just buried under all the waste rock from the upper workings.

[@christopherconner9014]

Do you ever see gold in those quartz veins?

[@HowItWorks1]

There was still so much quartz left. Is it because it didn't contain much gold?

[@TVRExploring]

The old timers tended to skim the cream off of the top. So, what they weren't that interested in could quite possibly be profitably produced today.

[@dereksmith1803]

I've never understood why most of the mines that you explore have so much ore still in them that they just left. They've already spent the money and labor to mine it. Why don't they finish the job and get some money out of it before they pack up and leave. Unless the mine has been deemed unsafe, why walk away from it leaving money behind?

[@DaRock1]

War Production Act closed down all the gold mines during world war 2

[@lorrinbarth1969]

Gold is where you find it. Quartz can contain gold or be barren. In a mine the two may be 10 feet apart. Anyway, mining is expensive and the ore has to pay.

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

That antler, along with the burnt stuff in those pockets, makes me think of someone doing rituals down there. Could be a superstition miner, wiccan or even the dark stuff. They would put the stuff they are offering on the spoon like tape and then dump it into the fire. Or there was a dear that somehow got into some tape and then shed it's antler in that mine ... People are weird, never forget that lol

[@TVRExploring]

We see some interesting things underground...

[@seldoon_nemar]

You should really carry a lighter or matches to show air flow on camera If I rember right you have a multi gas detector so anything flammable would alert, so hopefully this suggestion isn't too dumb Also, have you seen MBMMLLC and his mine? It might be fun if you stopped by next season, He's got some seriously good looking ore coming out of the wall and he's trying to drift over to an existing raise to cut about half his travel out 24:19 "It's pink so you can't read it" LMAO what?!