Uncovering Fantastic Rockwork By Copper Miners

[@michaelcoker3197]

I've following you for years on YT, and you are still the best.

[@abdcontractingltd]

They clearly had the best of the best craftsmen working at this mine. I always admire the way they built the pre shoots and timvering supports

[@zerofox7347]

I agree wholeheartedly with the notes you wrote under the title. I'm just glad someone is doing it without damaging equipment and stealing machine makers tags ect. Thanks for your hard work and dedication my friend 😉👌

[@rdamp2374]

At 3:40 you can see the burn mark on timber from the miners head lamp when loading ore.

[@garycooper7666]

Thanks for the explore I'm amazed at the skill it took to create that open stope

[@sampointau]

That burnt area near that strange shelf arrangement may've been where old boxes of dynamite has been burner off. The shelving may've been storage for boxes. I have seen it in old mines before where old dynamite has been burner off like that, I mean before the days of gelatine suspended nitro glycerine, gelignite, dynamite was made up of sawdust soaked nitroglycerine. Burning it was the safest way of disposal, it wouldn't explode but the fumes were nasty so burning it where a natural chimney existed to the surface was safer than trying to transport shock sensitive old dynamite out of the mine!😎

[@timothybarham6374]

Great craftmanship with the iron gate holding back all of that ore.

[@kricketflyd111]

Amazing seeing all the malachite and azurite all over the walls, and that beautiful colorful vein.

[@kricketflyd111]

We appreciate every sound you make. We are also listening for what you are walking on. TY. your Number 1.

[@ABANDONED_UNDERGROUND]

It's awesome that you linked up with Boxy on this trip! Cool mine!

[@TVRExploring]

Most mine explorers are pretty cool and I enjoy connecting with them... Someone doing mine exploring will have a certain set of personality traits that, I believe, acts as a pretty good filtering process for people I'd enjoy hanging out with. Am I making any sense? It's really late here and I'm tired anyway. Probably shouldn't be responding to comments or I'll get myself in trouble... You look like you're getting into some pretty good mines! New Mexico has been on my list for a long time.

[@ABANDONED_UNDERGROUND]

@@TVRExploring I totally get it! I've connected with some local guys with the same interest. Two of them are geologists, and it's nice to get input from professional rock hunters when they're able to go. I've also connected with some other mine exploring KZbin channel operators, but have yet to do an exploring trip due to scheduling conflicts... You, along with Mine Explorers are great examples of how to video experiences of underground exploring. I've kinda been slacking getting out exploring, due to this whole Covid thing. I've shared a map on one of the groups on social media a while back of this massive mine here, and Boxy jokingly said "I might have to make the drive," lol. Since there seems like there's more shutdown time here in NM, I'm going to get out to more places and share them before it's back to reality. If you ever decide to come out this way, let me know! I've seen that you've been all over .

[@TVRExploring]

@@ABANDONED_UNDERGROUND I appreciate that. I'll hit you up if I make it out there...

[@ABANDONED_UNDERGROUND]

@@TVRExploring it would be my pleasure.

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Justin, Wow that was one amazing, huge ore chute at the 5:35 mark, it showed some really nice carpentry. Oh my and I thought I had seen the most impressive part of the mine with that chute but then you enter that opened out section aka "The glory hole" and wow that thing is amazing and huge too. Thanks for sharing as that was one of the better mines, for features anyway. x

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

Ooh, not seen more blue outside of the copper mines of Cornwall. Preddddy!! Wow, rare to see a gate. Your in 'ore' of it....every pun intended lol. Impressive open stopes.

[@ericcorse]

Boy that carpentry on the lower level was pretty nice as were the colors throughout the mine and then came the "hole". I had no idea of the size till your compatriot was in the scene. WOW.

[@001desertrat3]

TVR -- Nice explore , thanks for sharing with us . @ 14:22 - great sound effects from that old door , perfect for Halloween . Lol . < Doc > .

[@stevenhigby3512]

Always great videos enjoy watching.

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks 👍

[@williamwintemberg]

Very, very interesting mine!

[@JohnCompton1]

I have always wondered about the clogged ore chutes in the mines you document, in particular the gold and silver variety . Is that viable ore choking the chute or is it just a case of natural settling? Another great video as always. Namaste!

[@iowapanner2223]

Amazing room!! Really helps to have people in the shot for perspective. Thanks for another incredible video!

[@ProspectorJosh]

Glorious indeed.

[@TVRExploring]

We were impressed, to be sure... I've been working on the RAD video for the past few days. I underestimated how much video I shot and actually had over six hours of video! So, editing that down has been really tough as there are a lot of gems that are painful to cut out. The "B Sides" on that trip would be gold! I can't wait to get back out there.

[@ProspectorJosh]

@@TVRExploring whoah!!! Six hours is insane! I'm also working on video but only dealing with 45 minutes of footage. Goose is also still working on his RAD video, he is using new edit software and you know how that is, lol.

[@glennjudd2467]

Very interesting mine ! Hay I saw the mouse ! These mines are always amazing !

[@vidzilla1]

Thinking two level shelf at the end of that adit was for dynamite, keeping it off the ground. Thanks for the tour!

[@TVRExploring]

That is definitely a possibility... Thanks for coming along on the tour.

[@richardlovins6222]

Very cool I can’t wait for you guys to show the other parts of the mine ✌️👍👍

[@gingerbread6614]

That is very impressive. Copper is very pretty. Love your info down below. Good job.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you! Always glad to have you enjoy a video... In my experience so far, nothing beats the copper mines for colors.

[@StarScapesOG]

All that green mineralization is probably what they were after. So much of that would indicate a huge amount of copper ore... just amazing. Wish I could visit it!

[@TVRExploring]

For them to carve out the ridge like that, yes, it must have been quite valuable!

[@belleange590]

I love the color of the stone with the copper imbedded.

[@TVRExploring]

The copper produces some fantastic colors.

[@SteveandSusiesHomestead]

Wow what a great one...Thank you very much

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks for watching. We were impressed by it!

[@brandonpayne1207]

😂😂😂 "...it is hard to say that with a straight face sometimes." At least you acknowledged the elephant in the room. But seriously, it is GLORIOUS!!!

[@simontay4851]

Thats an entirely different glory hole.

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

Hello🙋‍♀️ I enjoy your videos. Have a great day.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you! You too!

[@dogsarebetterthanpeople4603]

The area that burned. You said that had heavy air flow from above. Ladders all the way to top at one time? Thoughts on wildfire at surface level. And caused fire all the way to bottom. Just an idea. Another cool mine Justin. Thanks for taking us there. Thw mineral formations were neat to see. Thanks

[@dogsarebetterthanpeople4603]

Any way to contact you by email?

[@TVRExploring]

The area that burned seemed like an ore pass to me. So, I suspect an ore chute was in there that was burned out rather than ladders. It may have had ladders as a manway, but the rock in there didn't look too friendly for that. The opening this connected to was in the underground workings of the mine above. So, the burning was vandalism rather that something with a natural cause (such as a forest fire). You can email me at [e-mail].

[@BrianSmith-gp9xr]

Are the beams old growth timber? They must be well seasoned. I want them!

[@rolfsinkgraven]

Big mine and big timbers oh and a big glory thingy aswel. impressive place.

[@TVRExploring]

The engineering and craftsmanship at this operation was definitely top notch!

[@larrykluckoutdoors8227]

Thanks

[@garymckee8857]

What years was this mine being worked?

[@RealNickTheCoolest]

I’m a simple man, I see a tvr video, I hit that like button. You should bring some long rope and tie your camera up and fish it down some of those drops to see how far down it goes and what’s down there.

[@simontay4851]

Are those blue bits in the rock the copper ore. How much copper ore is left or has it all been extracted.?

[@jonesfactor9]

Really cool shot at 20:28

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. It was hard to film that space.

[@issachunt3159]

I really like your video style and I'd love to see some of these mines some day - but if you want to see a BIG mine, with a 'person for scale', go look up Aberllefenni/Foel Grochan in Wales, UK.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for comment. Why do you assume that I haven't been there? I'm a British citizen and lived in the UK for a number of years... My fascination with the copper mine in this video came from the craftsmanship involved in sculpting the rock in the manner that they did rather than from the size as, indeed, there are many mines with far larger workings.

[@zambosurtreasurehunter9536]

This s a great video, tunnel.

[@jeffreysheldrake7943]

Are you able to ever guage the structural integrity of these places before entry. By knowing what type of earth /rock is stable ?

[@tarf1a]

That glory hole (heh heh heh) is pretty amazing. The workings those miners had must have been a sight to see. Too bad there are no photographic records of it. Many thanks for yet another great video!

[@seldoon_nemar]

there must be an inclined shaft of something that hits lower down. they obviously punched that drift in following an outcropping before finding the vent. the pockets were them finding the edges of it, and once they realized how bit it was, they punched that shaft you found down and probably started stoping out above them. but at some point, with this much volume and the state of the workings you came though, they were moving this ore out some other way. even if they pushed in a vertical lower down the mountain it would be worth it to transit the ore even half a mile underground than lift it though all those workings. just find a low spot downslope and save yourself a bunch of cable and expense so you're only lifting a few hundred feed instead of... that... (I'm guessing this goes DEEP because that vent wouldn't have LESS pay deeper down...)

[@Twoholesofman]

I thought the term for the dry rock walls was "cobbing." In the Keweenaw peninsula of Michigan, some copper mines that had low mineral content in some of the blasted rock would use it to support stopes instead of wood and also used to it build supports around the shaft to prevent cave-ins and collapses. Some mines employed men full-time to build these walls and they also built what was called "mills" that were chutes that the mined rock went into that dropped it into a skip to be hoisted up. I could go on and on...

[@chrismero4600]

You could do a in depth vid of that water mill alone and it would get many views

[@DrNothing23]

Ya, I remember my 1st Glory Hole... Great video this time! Not that they all aren't interesting. Fantastic features here! ;)

[@richardwarnock2789]

Yeap plugged up but a impressive copper mine wonder if what that Blue was!!! Thank's Folk's!!!; )

[@richardjohnson8009]

Have you ever found a body in one these mines?

[@TVRExploring]

I did in the lapis mines in Afghanistan. No one seemed too concerned about it though... Life is pretty cheap in much of the rest of the world.

[@richardjohnson8009]

@@TVRExploring Wow, do you have a video of that?

[@markattardo]

Wow!

[@SydneyRadio2UE]

The rock at 1:09 almost looks like Lapis lazuli. In early times, before artificial paint pigments, it was pulverized to powder form and used as a blue pigment.

[@TVRExploring]

The lapis I've seen in Pakistan and Afghanistan was a richer blue than what we saw at 1:09. That mineral had more of a purplish hue, which is why I suggested that it looked like amethyst. However, I'd be the first to say that I don't know for sure what that was and that it could well have been lapis.

[@jonesfactor9]

Keystone light is the preferred beer in Oregon mines 😆 Find that all the time

[@TVRExploring]

Interesting regional differences... Keystone is owned by Molson Coors, so it would seem that the company remains consistent, but the individual brands vary.

[@TheMountainbobcat]

do you and are you, allowed to take samples ? do you know your rock really well?

[@TVRExploring]

I do not take anything from the mines. Whether you are allowed to or not depends on a variety of factors and must be taken on a case-by-case basis. I have a very basic knowledge of rocks. Very basic.

[@worldtraveler930]

Take only Photographs and leave nothing but Footprints!

[@markcantemail8018]

I like the colors , Thank you for the Video .

[@MsSurigirl]

LOVE that glory hole. Magnificent! Great colors showing it's a copper mine. I wonder what that violet-colored rock was?

[@jeffwalker653]

Where is this mine

[@simontay4851]

Does Alex have his own mine exploring channel?

[@TVRExploring]

No, but he's on Instagram as aridcrawler.

[@daveshrum1749]

obviously the mining term "gloryhole" came before the modern term "gloryhole" lmao 🤣🤣🤣. Awesome video as always Justin 👍.

[@TVRExploring]

Indeed, I believe you are right about that! If not, the miners had a hell of a sense of humor... Glad you enjoyed the video - we were pretty impressed by this.

[@museonfilm8919]

20:39 T-Rex skull....anyone??

[@pirhan]

Yea! Great catch!

[@TVRExploring]

Wow, that's pretty wild... Yes, it does look like one.

[@gpstar9234]

13:30 Don't talk about my stope like that

[@Mcleary316]

Justin, is this one in Nevada?

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, it is.

[@gpstar9234]

10:33 ...of course, I got the time stamp wrong

[@StarScapesOG]

That is a crazy mine... do you ever take a chunk of the tailings that has the beautiful mineralization? If no, why? Edit: I would call the "natural" timbers green wood timbers. Green wood in wood working is wood that hasn't been aged/dried.

[@TVRExploring]

No, I never take anything... Even an abandoned mine can be located on part of a larger claim that is active and, therefore, taking even a pebble could be constituted as "mineral trespass." That isn't a headache I need. Yes, I can see the logic in "green wood" as a term. Haha, by the time I see it though, it is extremely dried and extremely aged!

[@StarScapesOG]

@@TVRExploring that is good to know, as I have collected from the tailings from a mine that was exactly that, still active on the other side of the mountain (actually the quarry, as it turns out, for the aragonite used in the Utah Capitol building). There were no signs or anything to indicate. I have now met the owner and got permission, but it's good to know for the future

[@earthman4222]

That's a person for sale?

[@ibanezleftyclub]

Looks like a giant dragon skull at 21:03

[@TVRExploring]

I didn't see it until viewers started pointing it out, but now that I've seen it, I can't unsee it. It really does look like one!

[@AGDinCA]

I'm sorry... call me childish but every time you said "glory hole" I started laughing. 😂😂😂 Beautiful minerals! I love those copper mines, too.

[@TVRExploring]

Yeah, I had a hard time saying that in the video... LOL. And, yes, the copper mines have been very good to me over the years!

[@richardbidinger2577]

That structure looks like storage shelves to me. It seems to fit in that pocket quite nicely.

[@musclemenmovers1977]

He was only recording that to build the suspense for the burnt ore shoot. 😁

[@drumtwo4seven]

1:45 "theres a light at the end of the tunnel"

[@TVRExploring]

Literally

[@davidwilliss5555]

23:22 reminds me of the scene in Lord of the Rings where one of the hobbits nocks a bucket down a well in the mines of Moria.

[@chrisdee8957]

That goryhole is something else you could build a 3 story building in there

[@shanemcguire170]

TVR- Just a comment on the Ore Chute Gates. It looks like this particular mine had a really competent Blacksmith on the payroll. And it looks like he likely had Railroad experience based on how those gates were created, they look just Coal Bunker Gates on some of the pre-1930 Coal Tenders, (Coal Cars), for Union Pacific or Pennsy RR. Plus the Ore Chutes have "Railroad Workers" written all over them by just looking at their general construction. -Shane

[@TVRExploring]

Interesting about the possible railroad connection... The time frame during which this mine was active matches. Either way, yes, it seems like the miners and other workers at this mine were top level professionals.

[@worldtraveler930]

It is definitely some Ace blacksmithing.

[@DFDuck55]

Those gates on the chutes in the lower level were nicely built. When you see trash and beer cans left by explorers it makes ya wonder what was going through their head. How hard is it to stomp a beer can flat and stick it in your pack or back pocket. Trash that the minors left, alcohol bottles, tobacco tins, newspapers, etc. are cool. Explorer trash is not cool.

[@nimikos2634]

Lots of Coors cans. Do beer farts set off your methane detector ?

[@Seat1AJoe]

Just as long as you don’t put your eye up to the glory hole you’re good.

[@ronniecardy]

Looks as if they used picks to dig this one. They must have burned all the explovise boxes didn't see any empty laying aroundI

[@cheycasters]

That be a WHOPPER hole alright!

[@jettyeddie_m9130]

🤠🤠🤠🤠

[@ekummel]

A lot of the wood in that mine sure has a bunch of bird poop on it!

[@TheMountainbobcat]

your in that glory hole and your filming the guys over by the gripping, and to your right in stone, looks like a head of a sleeping dragon.

[@Edwall86]

0:52 to 0:53 sounds like someone is moaning?

[@hike2]

When everyone around you hears “gloryhole” and gives you a funny look. Should have worn earbuds at the airport. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@TVRExploring]

Haha!! No way to do that one delicately...

[@oceanhouse8080]

Not ilikly a copper mine

[@TVRExploring]

Well, in fact, it was a copper mine. I looked up all of the reports and documentation on it when I got home...

[@oceanhouse8080]

Not a lot of copper there from the looks of it.... That staining is very common in gold and silver deposits but does not represent a profitable amount of copper, they could have hit some pockets of monolithic copper minerals but it may not have paid for the digging....I so wonder if they lied about the mine on paper.....

[@drumtwo4seven]

3rdly third 👍

[@SteveandSusiesHomestead]

First ish

[@cleasonleasure4832]

Natural timber can be called : logs!

[@TVRExploring]

This is true.