We Were the First to Explore This Abandoned Mine in Decades. Exploring The Union Mine Part 1 of 2.

The Union Mine was once one of the largest underground mine complexes in the state. The complex was made up of dozens of individual mines that eventually joined together. The mines were developed by dozens of shafts, adits, and open stopes. What is so impressive about this site is that 90% of the development was completed before 1900. By the turn of the century, the mine had reached a depth of 1,300 ft. and nearly 25 miles of workings had been driven.
Until we visited the Union Mine, we were fairly confident that no one had found a way in for a very long time. We confirmed this theory after seeing only our own footprints in the long haulage tunnels we walked through. In this short series, we explore the 100 and 200 Levels of the Union Mine. We plan to revisit this mine to attempt to push deeper into the expansive workings.
This mine had a number of neat old artifacts that we don't commonly see in mines. A Carbolite carbide can and a Hercules blasting cap tin were my favorites. In Part 2, we find something that I have never seen underground before! I hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for Part 2!
#minesofthewest #urbex #abandonedmine #mineexploring #abandoned #mining #exploring #desert #travel #history #adit #shaft #underground #minerals #silvermine #goldmine #exploringabandonedmines

[@kadoj]

While I totally agree it’s a raw fuckin deal when modern “explorers” take the wheels off carts(along with any other artifacts, really), a lot of times you’ll see the wheels missing off carts because the original miners or other miners shortly after the given mine has closed will have taken them off because the wheels are the most valuable parts of the cart for re-using in other mines and the hardest part of the cart to produce. They can weld a bucket, and make all the other components various ways, but the wheels are extremely hard to homebrew so if it’s gonna be tougher than it’s worth to get the whole cart outta there, they’ll take just the wheels and call it acceptable losses

[@bobhoedel9572]

What a tool

[@Askjeffwilliams]

you need to sample some of these mines because we see a lot of areas that have Gold and Silver in them ...we hate it when people take the wheels of them ore cars .....never understood that ......they have wheels at home doing what? Velvet Tobacco is another favorite ....good job sonny Jim

[@MinesoftheWest]

Thanks Jeff! You’d be jumping up and down if I told you how much silver and gold this place produced! I agree on the ore car wheels, what’s the point?! Thanks for watching my friend!

[@johncampbell2979]

Hi Jeff! My old mucker, you pop up every where, you seem to be addicted to dark holes!!.

[@Askjeffwilliams]

@@MinesoftheWest oh just looking at all the beautiful Limonite I would say a lot and that is why you should sample ..... you betcha and keep them coming

[@Askjeffwilliams]

@@johncampbell2979 been in them my entire life

[@captng]

That's what Frank and Sharon from "abandoned mines"... Stealing wheels or whatever they find.. you and slim don't let them in your mine do you?

[@beverlykennedy126]

That mine sure does have beautiful colors, I’d love to explore a old mine even at almost 80 yr,s of. age if there was one around me here in pa, I’d do it too.

[@jackorr2326]

Love the channel glad it came up on my for you page

[@gsmith4679]

Very cool you guys. Love the old graffiti on the walls, so neat to see it dated. Thanks for sharing.

[@jtcbrown]

Love that you go into the history and such, rather than just wandering about aimlessly :D

[@SpectrumRob]

Great exploration! Cant wait for part II. Cheers from Upstate New York!

[@michaelcoker3197]

NNY

[@lumberjaxe8910]

Best Mine Tour Vid Out. Rich in Mineral and History.

[@scotturquhart4311]

First time I ever saw a Velvet tobacco tin. Its almost always Prince Albert...

[@paulcooper2897]

16:40 ... wonder if those "boxers" were a reference to Punch & Judy?? Awesome old mine! Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@drubber007]

Awesome mate, always a joy to watch you exploring of these magnificent time capsules!

[@kimbra1132]

Neat video, love all the colors, but you need a really good thrower flashlight. Found it to be really dark and couldn't see how deep them stopes were. Overall the video quality is pristine.

[@garymckee8857]

You guys vist the best sites. Thanks

[@drubber007]

24:42 COOL SHOT!

[@TheSilmarillian]

Nice find hello from Australia

[@mickie7873]

Lots of mineralization in these adets also alot of sulfide areas. Neat colors. At 20:34, can't see the distant areas very well with the limited light you're using and then at 22:23 and at "this",22:39. Lots of collapse it seems from what one can see. A very interesting complex to explore. Thanks for documenting part of it.

[@mineadventures7938]

Some people are simply rotten to the core, shooting at anything amazing, cars, mine buildings, dozers, there used to be one ore cart only in War Eagle that you could push, someone pushed it into a shaft, why? who knows, i have a pic of my son sitting in it from way back in 1994.

[@chet2201]

To build excitement list metals produced Ounces/dollars and number of workers And dates. Also oz./ton . These mines You explore where treasure troves and A fantastic amount of work some with Few tools. You do fantastic job video Exploration and documentation History.

[@iainweller452]

Great mine cool video, you definitely need to keep this location to yourself

[@MinesoftheWest]

Yessir! Thanks for watching.

[@MPGunther1]

Well done interesting video! You may need a little more light. I admire the way you guys handle the artifacts

[@madeinyorkshire52]

Just curious what all the clickety-clack sounds are when you’re walking along the drifts - is that walking poles for example?

[@mickie7873]

That was a very interesting mine. Thanks for taking us on your "explore". But there was alot of black out areas that you were viewing. Need stronger lighting attached to your camera.

[@rasmus7112]

What Union Mine is it you guys are exploring, like in what state ?

[@trainchaserlouisvilleindia7096]

That ore car look’s actually kinda new because it don’t look rusty 13:47

[@AdventuringwithTrevor]

The union mine from cerro gordo?

[@shawnmirsky2048]

I was wondering that

[@aerofart]

Which Union Mine is this? It seems as though more than one mine was called by that name, for example, the Union Mine at Cerro Gordo . . .

[@daveg2104]

That may not be the mines actual name (although as you said, that is a common name for mines). They don't often give the location of these mines, unless it's a "tourist mine" close to civilisation. Sometimes you can work out it's location, if they show exterior views. But if you work it out, don't give away it's location, as there are reasons for non-disclosure.

[@dirkdiggler1242]

@7:12 the miners graffiti says; " Delbert Venturino April 1/23 "

[@chuckycheese432]

You guys should take core samples of all the timber the Big timber find out what year this really was

[@TheScorpion658]

Which Union mine is this? Not the one at Cerro Gordo California......

[@mertfox3488]

If you are equipped, better lighting would be a great help. Many of the shots were a single light beam. Enjoy your videos, just difficult to see things in dimming light.

[@davidend3821]

Every channel says the strap rail was in mines because they were cheap or was it much easier to get that rail to a mine, lots of mines were successful because timber was readily available. Just a theory❗

[@923rk]

is this the Union Mine in Cerro Gordo?

[@Official_YunZOe]

21:12 what was that shiny stuff on wall with graffiti?

[@alannahayter8491]

How many mines are named The Union mine? I'm just confused because I've seen other videos of exploring The Union mine is all...

[@MinesoftheWest]

There’s probably hundreds of Union Mines. Also, in this case, ‘Union’ is just a fake filler name. I do not like to publicize the mines I visit.

[@JTube571]

@@MinesoftheWest Should add that to the description so people don't get confused.

[@DIGGER19860]

Why not bring a battery hammer drill with you so you can put a bolt or two into the rock so you have a secure place to tie off?

[@gregroseberry2953]

I’m not sure which one of you explored it first. You or Brent Underwood who owns Cerro Gordo. But you have definitely shown me things that I have not seen on his channel. Union Mine is pretty big so you might have came in an entrance he has not accessed yet.

[@MinesoftheWest]

It’s a different mine, completely unrelated. Sorry for the confusion

[@gregroseberry2953]

Ok, sorry for the comment then. But I did enjoy the video and gave it a thumbs up.

[@Ladylilz]

I was thinking same about Brent, I guess there's tonnes of mines in us that do share the same names bein so many of them across the country xx

[@TheMadSc1ent1st420]

​@@gregroseberry2953 lol I asked the same thing

[@SuperJohnhughes]

Do you think that a lot of these miners just up and left to go off to war and were killed never to return. greetings from Australia, 🦘 Enjoy your vlogs.

[@TheMadSc1ent1st420]

Union mine? Cerra Gordo? Hasnt brent been in there before you guys? He has lived there for what the last 3 years I believe.... NM I just got done reading the rest of the comments lol still an awesome video

[@cptnchinn]

Is this the cerro gordo union mine

[@johnbrownlee7623]

So why do people take the wheels?...Is there a market of them?...Glad to see a lot of artifex still there....Not been cleaned out....Good job on the video............Thanks...................JB........

[@mowingtrimmingedging214]

Is this the Union Mine at Cerro Gordo, CA, or were there several?

[@looolwhodis]

No it's not

[@joshuasurratt6608]

I know there is a union mine here in Washington state.

[@1andonlyjoeyb534]

To skip all ad's just start video and end it then hit Refresh!

[@ralphpatrick3071]

This must be an encore. I saw it just the other day..

[@MinesoftheWest]

There were some audio issues with the last upload, so this the the revised version!

[@joegarcia7887]

Need to get a brighter light .👍🤔

[@robertlyman9789]

What's the bright white splotches all over?

[@BTR2018]

It’s when the miners got excited when they seen the ghost 👻

[@dillonpierce7869]

Did Brett give the go ahead to go down there? 😅 Particularly that yellow can I'd never even seen Brett find on his channel yet that I can remember. Wish they would sell the actual maps of the mine they might have. Apparently they also found another 5 levels below 1100 feet in the last few months. See how long it takes to get down there.

[@MinesoftheWest]

This a different mine, not at Cerro Gordo! Thanks for watching!

[@dillonpierce7869]

@@MinesoftheWest how many union mines do we have in the states? Wonder if that caused confusion in older times as well.

[@georgesmith8113]

👍👍👍😎

[@MaddHatter1121]

If I'm not mistaken, and delete this if you don't want it known, but I believed this is in Cerro Gordo. And if thats the case, howd you get in???

[@johnnyserene3662]

Not Cerro Gordo.

[@disgrutledhobo6204]

Says "boxing" where you said fighting. 17 minute ish

[@davidballoid2118]

A lifetime goal is to find a perfectly intact ore cart on smooth rails, and ride that sumbitch!

[@MinesoftheWest]

That’s a great life goal. And let me tell you, riding an ore car is a great time!

[@brapppn-can-am-man6906]

Great 👍 Vid. But definitely need to work on your lighting. Yours isn't as brightly lighted up, compared to some of the other's on KZbin. They have lights that will make those dark Tunnels seem 👀 like Day time. It's also a safety matter to. Being able to see is PARAMOUNT. Just some constructive criticism for ya, to make your Videos even better. THANKS FOR THE VIDEOS.

[@getonlygotonly]

where's the gold?

[@DerekDaly92]

Id be hauling stuff out for sovereigns like the other weirdos thst used the winch but dropped the ore car 😂 So i watch remotely 😊

[@helenasmith4286]

Hope you had permission

[@usmcmustang2972]

That soil is LOADED with sulphur ...

[@MinesoftheWest]

Check out Part 2!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIHQfJVuotuflcU

[@jagboy69]

No worries. I was halfway through it the other day and POOF, it was gone. Thanks for putting it back up.

[@MinesoftheWest]

@@jagboy69 Ha, I imagine that was confusing...thanks for watching!

[@dirkdiggler1242]

Love your documents, narration, determination, and editing! Thank you! Is this in Oregon? Do you still own the mine in Bohemia?

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

@@MinesoftheWest quick question, what state is this? You never specify beyond saying, it was the largest in the state. Just curious.

[@stummpy7698]

Beautiful colors in the video, but y'all are a bunch of clumsy oafs in those mines.. I mean seriously coming from a person that has been an underground miner

[@TheShornak]

The Union Mine is at Cero Gordo California and it definitely been explored many times by the owner of it. Unless this is another Union Mine in California.

[@MinesoftheWest]

It’s a made up name. Not the same mine...

[@TheShornak]

@@MinesoftheWest I thought it had to be a different one, this one in your video has much more moisture in it.

[@MinesoftheWest]

@@TheShornak Yeah, I keep them a secret to prevent looting and closures

[@TheShornak]

@@MinesoftheWest yeah that's understandable, especially that one that had a lot of artifacts

[@MinesoftheWest]

@@TheShornak Exactly!

[@41sandybeach]

You need better lighting.

[@wylderideadventures1079]

checkout wylde ride adventures

[@theshyguitarist]

i know the guy who owns this mine...

[@whapaso]

All that red looks like cinnabar...yikes

[@peterturnbull4629]

I normally don't like to criticise "but" i feel i have to say this the Illumination is not good enough for your camera to pick up all the details I really enjoy watching your vids but i think I'd enjoy them more with better lighting

[@MinesoftheWest]

A candle? Really?