What Kind Of Mine Is This?

Sometimes we don’t know a lot about the abandoned mines that we visit. Other times we don’t know anything at all - not even a name. That is the case with this mystery mine. I don’t know the name or even what was mined here. However, I fortunately have smart viewers that know a lot about the world and so I want to know what you think of this mine… Share your knowledge!
It seems there was once a settlement of a decent size at this mine given the mine buildings and the several outbuildings that, I believe, included at least two bunkhouses. There are no other mines indicated on maps of the area that I have seen. And we scouted out the surrounding area a bit without seeing a sign of any other mining activity. So, presumably, all of those buildings are connected to our mystery mine. There is a lot there though for what seems a relatively small mine and it must have cost them a fair amount of money to get all of that established. Of course, that could also be why it is abandoned as the miners presumably lost a pile of money on the project.
In Nevada, there is a lot of public land that is fenced off for cattle. Barbed wire stretches across some of the roads to form a crude gate. One simply unhooks the barbed wire and pulls it aside. After driving through, one simply hooks the loop of barbed wire across the post again. It is a primitive, but it works as long as individuals are courteous enough to close the “gate” again. However, it seems that many people are deterred by these “gates” and do not understand that they are allowed to access the land behind them. This mine was accessed via one of those “gated” roads and it is in an already very scarcely populated area. So, I didn’t have the impression that many people made it out here. That impression was solidified by the rough road out to the mine. One is required to drive up a wash for part of the journey and I ended up unintentionally using the truck as something of a bulldozer in some of the larger piles of river rock spilling across the road to the mine.
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You can click here for the full playlist of abandoned mines: goo.gl/TEKq9L
Thanks for watching!
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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 niche of our history is gone forever. But, you know what? We enjoy it. This is exploring history firsthand - bushwhacking down steep canyons and over rough mountains, figuring out the techniques the miners used and the equipment they worked with, seeing the innovations they came up with, discovering lost mines that no one has been in for a century, wandering through ghost towns where the only sound is the wind... These journeys allow a feeling of connection to a time when the world was a very different place. And I’d love to think that in some small way we are paying tribute to those hardy miners that worked these mines before we were even born.
So, yes, in short, we are adit addicts… I hope you’ll join us on these adventures!
#ExploringAbandonedMines
#MineExploring
#AbandonedMines
#UndergroundMineExploring

[@001desertrat3]

TVR -- Congratulations , you've just found Rube Goldberg's Gold Mine . It looks like they tried using a Shaker Table for their Gold recovery ( 00:12 ) , but Shaker Tables require a fair amount of water to operate properly , ( something thats sorely lacking in a desert environment ) . It appears they ended up using Mercury to pick up the Gold particles , thereby forming an Amalgam . The ''Smelter'' is actually a double-tube ''D'' Retort ( I have one myself at my Cinnabar Claim ) , but there didn't appear to be any kind of Condenser for recovering the Mercury , and just venting the Mercury vapor into the air would be extremely hazardous to anyone nearby . -- < Doc , Miner for nearly 50 years & Owner / Operator of several Mines > .

[@TVRExploring]

Ha, I'm starting to think that maybe this wasn't the most successful mining operation... Thank you for your expert analysis of the various pieces of mining equipment. That was way over my head.

[@cameronflack2254]

As soon as i saw the tiny "smelter" i guessed it had something to do with mercury. Though i guessed maybe mercury refining. Im not a miner or anything, i just watch a lot of cody's lab

[@kouroshjavanbakht3790]

I think there is a barrel on top right corner of smelter that a pipe is connected to it. My guess is that is the condenser for Mercury vapors. TVR, thanks so much for your videos. This shows pieces of history and during the time that American west was born. The will and eagerness of all those pionners who went to these areas in West seeking precious metals and how their needs evolved mining industry so much that has shaped mining today, is amazing. The hope, the hard work and determination that went to every nails and pieces of the milling structure and everything else is so amazing. Thanks again

[@CivilShepherd]

Most people think they will eventually return but then once you are out of there, you sort of don't want to go back just to haul some heavy equipment for very little money. Or they get old.

[@markmaloney8154]

Yes, he was quite a character. People used to knock on his cabin door and ask him where they could find gold; he always told them that if he knew that, it would not be there anymore. One of the stories about him is that he thought a young guy, that was working one of his mines, was stealing from him, so at the age of 85 and carrying an oxygen bottle, he got out of his truck and deck the guy, knocking him out. I think one of the funniest stories is that he made a huge rock pile running from Alma to Fairplay, dredging a river bed looking for gold, while throwing those damn rocks out of his way. He was always mad because it only broke even. However, forty years later, those damn rocks turned out to be gold in a way, he started selling them to a landscaping company and made a lot of money. America was built by men such as he…

[@DMHavok]

If that's where I think it is [short distance west of Fallon], it was a silver mine. The geologists who surveyed the area thought it would be an ore vein, so the owner had the entire setup built before even digging too far in. Of course, it ended in failure, only having operated for a couple of years or so. ~ Lifelong area resident, former employee of Fallon's museum.

[@TVRExploring]

This is a different mine than the one you referenced, but the one you mentioned sounds interesting...

[@mommaice]

You always find such interesting places. I admit I am very uneducated with mining but I am learning through your videos. Thank you for being an awesome teacher & preserving such a great history.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much for the kind words. Let's say that we're learning together, because there is still a lot that I don't know as well!

[@Danzoid61]

The "bin" at 2:56 is a hopper feeder. At 4:54 you missed the shadowy outlines of track visible on the trestle. The conveyor feeds into what looks like a processing plant. Perhaps a crusher below?

[@Dan-uc8rx]

Riveting as always. I wish I could go one day. I got my own grind as an auto mechanic. But your videos give me a little vacation every time! Thank you! Here's to The Velvet Rocket!

[@TVRExploring]

Glad I can give you a bit of a break from the grind... Having been in that grind far too often myself, I know how much it means to get out of it for a little while. Thank you for the comment.

[@bradthorne2381]

thank you for your videos love watching them here in Australia no one does such videos love watching these as its part of history that helped shape your country into what it is today

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you. I always enjoy hearing where viewers are from... I'm very glad to hear that you're enjoying the videos. Australia has quite a mining history as well. So, I'm surprised there are not more people out there doing what we are doing. I've seen a few videos of Australian abandoned mines. Hopefully, we'll see more in the future.

[@ericcorse]

Pretty neat stuff, hopefully someone has some insight in this operation. It is a lot of equipment for those tiny adits. It makes me wonder if there are more adits close by.

[@TVRExploring]

The old timers seem to think it was a poorly run gold operation... I thought there was a lot there for such a small operation too, but we didn't see any sign of other adits or mines around.

[@TVRExploring]

The old timers seem to think it was a poorly run gold operation... I thought there was a lot there for such a small operation too, but we didn't see any sign of other adits or mines around.

[@markmaloney8154]

My grandfather could have answered all of your questions, he was both a hard rock and placer miner, and built some incredible sluices in his day. When I was young, he told me many incredible mining stories. unfortunately, he died in 2009 at the age of 95. His name was Shorty Robeson; he lived in Alma Colorado. When he died, the entire town built him a cowboy coffin and finished digging his grave, which he had started many years earlier. People came from all over, and most of the residences of Alma and Fairplay attended his funeral. After taps was played, they set off a stick of dynamite to mark the end of an era; he was the last of the old-time miners…

[@TVRExploring]

He sounds like quite a character... I sure hate to hear of us losing more of these precious old timers.

[@lsxtmt4910]

Should have put Freddy Dodge 3' underneath them

[@kentmansley4328]

Love it that someone takes interest in my states mining history. These lost mines can tell a fantastic story. Thank you Tvr Exploring for...... well exploring!

[@TVRExploring]

Oh, I absolutely love Nevada... Not just for its mining history, but for a variety of reasons.

[@NurdRage777]

Looks like a mercury mine to me. I mean the grid, is used to classify small rocks for the "oven" which looks like a apparatus retort condensor. The barrels where probably filled with diesel fuel back in the days. That would be my guess, can't be sure. Unless you took a small earth sample from that place and send it over to Cody's Lab to let him analyze it with his X-ray gun :)

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks for weighing in... Sounds good to me, but I don't know myself, which is why I'm asking you guys! Guess we'll need Cody's Lab to assess it.

[@NurdRage777]

TVR Exploring Scientifically seen from his prospective I think it's a great idea. His audience will also find this interesting, I am sure. Subscribed to his channel for many years + I know it's a cool fact to get you "sponsored" for free in a great way, your videos will get more attention and people find it interesting to see old mines with scientific information (writing history in a really good way). Cody's Lab also finds mines really interesting :) Give it a try.

[@Cthippo1]

I love how integrated this community is. The mineralization in the adits looks more like silver to me, but that's just a guess. Were there other mines in the area and if so, what did they produce?

[@TVRExploring]

Cthippo1 There weren't any other mines in the immediate vicinity, but this general area has a fair number of tungsten, silver and gold mines.

[@SagebrushRebel]

TVR- When you were at the mill building, and looked at the grizzly screen, did you look underneath it for the crusher? Usually the mill flow for lode mines has the primary crusher, usually a jaw crusher, even a stamp mill, just under the grizzly. My best guesses at what kind of mine this is, is lead-silver, or perhaps mercury, based on those smelter operations. If you really want to know the history of this mine, give me the GPS coordinates so I can look up on the Mineral Resource Database.

[@TVRExploring]

I looked down through the grizzly, but it just seemed to flow into the bin we saw when first entering the building. Of course, there was some machinery in there that I didn't recognize, but there definitely weren't any obvious crushers. I already checked the MRDS and it isn't in that database... Ha, that's why I'm asking you guys what it was.

[@garywheeler7039]

I think the heavy equipment if any below the grizzly has been removed. The lower part of the building looked pretty empty.

[@WildSuns42]

I used to do a great deal of mine exploration a few decades back... Started in a time I would have had to do what you do with actual movie film and cameras that never would have worked in the darkness underground at such remote locations. I still have one of my movie lights that weighs about 20 pounds for just the lightweight reflector and bulbs and uses a full 1500 watts and feels like your getting sunburned at 20 feet. and it would not have lit up a mine good enough for the movie film....For still photos I bought bulk reels of film and spooled my own rolls and developed and printed everything myself And really Im not that old... The rate of advancement of the technologies of our world is mind boggling and ever increasing.. Used to have to make specials trips and spend a huge ammount of time just to obtain all the topo maps for locations. now we can zoom in with google earth... crazy... My point here is that there is another way to look at all this stuff you see that works in a much more universal way and eventually became the first way I looked at and evaluated mines and that was in how they were built. The materials and hardware and how things were assembled can very quickly key you in on its age. what exactly the nails if any used were and how they were made, how the timber is cut and even the grain of the wood... Often so much of what once was there is gone that what remains is like a puzzle with most of the pieces missing making it really hard to see a good picture that makes sense... But how they worked the materials will apply to everything at a mine as most were so short lived and how they built mines in these remote locations was always evolving rapidly. Understanding and looking at that aspect is fairly easy to learn once you start looking at it that way and it can also greatly add to being able to figure out what and why things are tthat you see... In deserts just thinking about how they got those materials to some locations is fascinating in itself imagine having to haul all of that bu mule team in heavy frieght wagon from the nearest railroad line without roads or even suspensions... Bone breaking risky efforts just to get that timber even there and then no power tools to work it with... and where did they even get enough water to keep them alive from... many locations in deserts only get rain every few years... there is so much more then just what you see still there even at the best preserved locations,,,, sometimes mines were built using recycled material from some other older mine and when you can spot that that is what your seeing then you'll really be in the know and those skills will work at any mine you explore... Its a shift in perspective, learning a new way to see that adds so much more depth... I hear your curiosity and what Im saying the best way to feed that is by learning a new way to see, unlocking a broader perspective will provide answers to questions you have not even thought of yet.. I may not make much sense today but if you really want to document this history it will become clear. Its with such a perspective that you can truly step back in time and see through the eyes of those long gone who lived it... Thats what I found myself and though i may explain it poorly I hope you find it as well. People like us are our own special breed with much in common with those original minors. keep exploring, find the awe and wonder. I wish I was still able, for those were the best times in my life. thanks for taking me back from an old desert rat

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, technological development has made locating abandoned mines, exploring mines and documenting mines much easier. Of course, many mines that were accessible not too long ago have become inaccessible today either as a result of natural causes or because they have been deliberately destroyed by various federal agencies. So, it may be easier now, but there are fewer mines to explore. They're not making new mines with rail and great woodwork like they used to either. So, the number of mining artifacts and cool things to see at the remaining mines are dwindling as well given how many "collectors" pick over the abandoned mines that are left. I've been quite dismayed by how many historical mines have disappeared in our area just since the 1980's when I first became aware of our mining history. Ha, tough to say whether it is preferable to do a lot more work for mines of a higher quality or less work for mines of a lesser quality (unless one gets lucky) or fewer in number... I suppose the answer depends on how far one has hiked and the temperature that particular day. Your point about assessing the construction of the mine, location, etc. is a good one. My exploring buddy excels at that since he knows a lot more than I do about construction and machinery and such. I think we've gotten decent at pinning down a rough estimate on the era when a mine was worked. There are obvious exceptions though - such as this particular mine - that leave me with a lot more questions than answers.

[@theogdirkdiggler]

TVR Exploring I'm still reading....lool

[@strietermarinesurvey1415]

Woo hoo new video been waiting patiently! Awesome as always! Thank you

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos... We'll keep them coming as long as we can.

[@beepseatsfindingfoodtreasu8756]

The outside structure is a classifier. It sorted the materials by size the conveyor would feed the crusher and the raw ore was ready for extraction process. Now that you showed the smelter it's either a Mercury mine or lead. The barrels were diesel or low grade crude used to heat the ore and extract the material. My best guess is that they were after Mercury. The ore was probably too poor to make a profit and it was closed.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you.

[@Steven-vo8tk]

I don't know anything about mining but you make is interesting. Love watching your videos and all the neat things you find.

[@TVRExploring]

I'm by no means a mining expert either - not even close - but I find the history interesting as well as all of the unexpected things hidden away in the forests and deserts. Thanks for the comment.

[@theogdirkdiggler]

With all the surface erosion and sulfide I think this was mostly a surface operation (like hydraulic w/o the water) and the tunnels were simply to move the ore and the mill may have been operating for other claims kind of like a drive through operation ????

[@TVRExploring]

Yeah, that is quite possible. I just don't know...

[@wolfgangchargin5563]

You are in a building that used to house a stamp mill Check the Net for more information When a mine would close permanently Other minors would basically steal the equipment to take it over to their mine I saw a electric motor there must be a generator someplace.

[@robgandy4550]

I would have to agree with most of the people here. Its a standard shaker table. I was also curious about the apparent lack of water, but using Mercury, the amount of water needed is minimal. Most shaker tables Can run without water. Using Mercury to recover the gold, can be done in a smaller vessel, with the minimum of water. I was slightly confused when I saw the air intake (Air intake, not exhaust), but when I saw the rest of the equipment, and the use of Mercury, then it made sense. For medium to larger operations using Mercury, the recovery of said Mercury would have been done, but I don't see much there that would/could have been used for such a purpose. Cool find !!!

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you very much for the explanation.

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

That reminded me of a "dry mine" set-up. If they were hard pressed for water it's possible to clarify the ore without water, then use water on the shaker table. (I know you can run a shaker table dry but the chance of loss is much much greater)

[@TVRExploring]

Very interesting... I didn't know one could run a shaker table dry. Given where they were, I would imagine that water would have been in very short supply.

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

It's not the same flat/ribbed table you would use with water, but it works on the same principle. When I was a kid we had these two shaker classifiers in our back yard. About four feet tall and fit in an A-frame. What reminded me of them was the chain running between the equipment @ 1:22. The dry shaker we had was run on a chain drive as well, if I'm remembering correctly it would slip to much with a belt due to the off-centered weight. I could be entirely wrong too, there's not much left of that place.

[@TVRExploring]

Ah, that's interesting... That's the first explanation I've heard for what that chain drive might have been used for. I'd put your idea in the top slot since no one else has been able to come up with another explanation. Thanks for the additional information!

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

I've only watch this on my phone so I may not be seeing something. I apologize for that. You can even dry pan for gold. The guy that says/yells, "Come on, Let's go!" has a really good video showing how it's done. I'll have to go search for that video when I get on my desk top.

[@TVRExploring]

I knew about dry washers, so, yeah, being able to dry pan makes sense as well... Interesting stuff.

[@raydunakin]

Very interesting mine! After 30 years of documenting old mines and mining camps in Nevada, I'm amazed at how many sites I still haven't seen yet. I keep scouring your videos for clues to the locations of some "new" places to visit. I rarely go very far into the mines themselves, as I am alone with no backup, and don't have the expertise for some of the deeper exploration. My primary interest is in photographically documenting the surface structures. I have a website with tons of photos of the places I've been -- www.raydunakin.com. I only started doing some video last year, and plan to do more. My next trip is coming up in August, though there is a chance my wife's health problems may cause me to reschedule it.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, it is extraordinary how many sites are out there. They are disappearing quickly, but, fortunately, there are still a lot of them. Ha, I think all of the mine explorers are very familiar with you and your website, Ray... Believe me, I and all of the people I go out exploring with, have used it as a reference many times to get a sense of what we're getting into with a particular mine. I'm sure you recognize many of the places we visit in Nevada! I didn't know you were doing videos now though and so I just subbed. The surface structures are often some of the first to go and so I'm glad you're out there documenting them. I'm sorry to hear of your wife's health problems and hope that things improve in that regard.

[@mikecarr1484]

I thought that looked familiar. Near downyville. I spent many hours on those dirt roads can go from Boca reservoir to downyville all on dirt. It's nice drive.

[@DFDuck55]

Around those bunk houses would be a nice place to have a metal detector. -- My uneducated guess is it was a silver mine.

[@TVRExploring]

I didn't think about metal detecting, but, yes, you're right. I'd imagine one would uncover quite a lot! Well, your guess is better than mine. Ha, I couldn't figure out what kind of mine it was, which is why I'm asking you guys!

[@CivilShepherd]

Nice pun placement

[@mikebettencourt3455]

I'm always amazed at the large beams and heavy metal structures being brought to the middle of nowhere. Just WOW!

[@TVRExploring]

Some of the equipment - heavy boilers, stamp mills, etc. - that the old timers dragged out to the middle of nowhere absolutely blows my mind...

[@olivei2484]

I reccomend the book: Elements of Mining. by Lewis. 1933 John Wiley. It has a lot the older mining techniques and over-all comprehensive mining practice. Thanks for another great explore.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for the comment and the suggestion on the book. That sounds like a good one to add to the list.

[@missywho2522]

I'm fairly new to this channel and didn't realise how interesting abandoned mines are! I do have one question though and that is how do ore chutes work? P.s I know very little about mines

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, if you'd asked me in the past, I wouldn't have thought that abandoned mines would be particularly interesting either. And now look at me! So, for your question: Gravity makes it much easier to drop heavy waste rock and valuable ore DOWN rather than hauling it up and out of a mine. So, what miners will often do is to run an adit (what miners call a tunnel) underneath whatever mineral it is that they want to mine. Then, they will start working away on the mineral above and will drop it down to ore carts in the adit (tunnel) below to haul outside. However, it isn't very practical to just randomly drop chunks of rock down onto the ground of the tunnel below. So, what the miners do is to create what is essentially a funnel made out of wood that that they push the rock into. The rocks slides down this funnel (ore chute) and a small gate at the bottom controls the flow of rock into the waiting ore carts. This allows the miners to control how much material ends up in each ore cart and also determines that it actually gets into an ore cart in the first place.

[@missywho2522]

TVR Exploring thanks for the reply. That makes sense now and was more informative than is was expecting. Definitely going to watch more of these :)

[@saltzen961]

Really hooked on your videos , only one minor complaint . Wind noise ( especially prevalent in desert locations ) wrecks your outside exploration narratives .

[@TVRExploring]

Hard to turn the wind off...

[@TVRExploring]

I don't like the wind noise either, but I don't have any sponsors to purchase the expensive camera gear that eliminates wind noise.

[@IcelanderUSer]

That surface dumping bin seems like they were putting in the material with a front loader or something. Perhaps there was a surface opening that’s been long sealed shut. Are there any tailing piles?

[@TVRExploring]

Yeah, that's a good point about the dumping bin being more geared for surface workings... There obviously could have been surface workings in the general area that we didn't see where they were hauling the ore here for processing. No, no tailings piles that I saw...

[@TBI-Firefighter-451]

I'd say with the Red ore bodies, Hopper with Roaster and a Retort (oven thing) it is more than likely a Mercury Mine.

[@sampointau]

It also could be a dry blow operation by the looks Justin. The hopper fed down small rocks to a corkscrew grinder (In that tube driven by that motor.) which then dumps the ground up dust for further treatment. And then that concrete thing on the side looks like a crucible furnace. Not 100%, but looks plausible.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for sharing that. Yes, it is plausible.

[@christianbuczko1481]

Seems to have been a sizable investment into the equipment, but very little to show for anything, perhaps they mined the surface up near the high bin as its Weird having that there when the bigger adits were lower down.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, it is hard to imagine this was a successful mine given the large amount of equipment when compared to the small amount of ore extracted. I thought the placement of the bin was weird as well, but your idea about it being used to serve the surface workings makes sense.

[@alphaone101]

Sizable investment in equipment but very little to show for it immediately made me think the maybe this was a Federal Government Project!

[@ljhamhock436]

Very cool. Do you know what they were mining for?

[@TVRExploring]

No, I don't. Some of the miners in the audience speculated that it was a gold mine though...

[@ammobake]

My guess would be this was a processing plant for cinnabar. Early on in the vid there's pipes sticking out of the brick furnace area that could have been used as a retort of some kind. They may have been processing cinnabar for other mines nearby too which would have been pretty common at the time. It also explains the secondary bin with an unloading area and conveyor setup.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you... That makes sense to me, but that doesn't mean much since I didn't have any idea what it was. Ha, that's why I'm asking you guys! I thought that circular vent coming off of the first room that I went into was also suggestive of something to do with mercury as they would, obviously, want to vent off toxic fumes. That was just speculation on my part though.

[@metalartRestoration123]

At about 11:50 looks like workings in the background cut outs in the mountains and piles of dirt.👍

[@hangfire7588]

I know I saw this when you first published it but I occasionally neglect to hit the like. I wasn't sure what the process was when I first saw this one but I think I have it now, they mined pistachios and set up the incredibly critical process by which the pistachios are lightly salted and then run through the oft-failed operation in which the hard shell halves are allowed to only split the width of two thumbnails placed side by side. The desert local and climate is conducive to shell parting in both it's lack of rainfall and low humidity. As you noted from the number and size of bunkhouses here in varying states of disrepair this operation is quite labor intensive and requires a large staff but can be very profitable if operated correctly. Ok, so that may be a little far fetched but no more ridiculous than some to the other guesses. Thanks for sharing. I'll keep trying.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes!!! I think you've cracked this one! Haha, no, your idea is definitely not as nutty as some of the other suggestions that were presented.

[@hangfire7588]

@@TVRExploring Good, I was really concerned that maybe I'd gone a bit too far out. Now I want to know why people ask me questions like, 'do you own any firearms?' I don't get it but glad to help answer about the buildings.

[@TVRExploring]

Haha!

[@alphaone101]

As someone whose knowledge of mines is limited to what I've seen in numerous videos on KZbin there are two questions that always come to mind. First and perhaps easiest to answer is where did their water come from? Even if you didn't need water for the mining operation itself you had men working in the desert and they would require a lot of drinking water and water for cooking, no way around that. Most of the mines I've seen there doesn't appear to be any water for miles and miles away from the mine. Second think I'm curious about is the different items that were mined for. Gold, silver, copper, lead, mercury (?) talc and etc. were all mined and it seems that for the most part the essentials were the same. Breaking and extracting large amounts of rock, drilling, timber bracing, ore chutes, dynamite, blasting caps etc. With gold being far more valuable then all the other minerals why would anyone spend the same amount of money and use the same amount of effort to mine talc, copper, lead and etc.?

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, a lack of water is a serious issue for mines. In the desert, the water would have to have either been trucked in or brought in on mule trains... The answer to your second question is volume. In other words, for a stope or adit of the same size, a gold miner might extract something like four ounces of gold, while a lead miner might extract something like four tons of lead. So, the work is the same, but those pursuing the industrial rather than the precious metals extract a LOT more ore. It would not be economical to be removing ounces of talc. They have to remove tons of it to make money. Does that make sense? Let me know and, if not, I'll try to explain it in a different way.

[@alphaone101]

Your explanation makes perfect sense to me. Thank you for explaining that to me!

[@danishnative9555]

Probably not very successful operation. Maybe just a hole in the ground with a liar standing next to it.

[@TVRExploring]

That seems very likely to me given the amount of equipment there and the number of buildings as opposed to the minimal amount of mining.

[@chichi8920]

🤣

[@johnhartman3149]

What part of Nevada? If it's where I think it is, it is likely a mercury smelter that you looked at but the ore doesn't look right for that. Care to share a general location (i.e. Mina, Armagossa Valley, etc)

[@leesherman100]

55 gallon drums sliced length wise and then welded end for end creating an ore chute. I like the problem solving with what's available.

[@TVRExploring]

Miners are very innovative!

[@CornishMineExplorer]

Doesn't look like the usual gold mines you explore, although there is quartz veins, not something they would have a smelter at?, maybe silver or lead mine? I think the structures might show 2 phases of workings, the outside hopper feeding into the mill could possibly be one phase, the adit with the winze being the other, both going to the same mill. Mmmm will be seeing what others think of this one. Thanks for sharing this great video!

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, this one threw me because it doesn't really fit with any type of mine that we have explored before. Even the minerals inside of the adit were a weird mix. I think you're right about there being two phases of working.

[@martineastburn3679]

someone had a good sum of money - built all of that and didn't find much or anything. Likely not a ground hunter but heard near quartz... Pink quartz drew them there. When the gold and other metals were shot upwards from the crust, they were liquid under a tremendous amount of pressure. Squirted upwards through cracks - e.g. Quartz cracks. Might have been a different metal that was wild catted. Just like oil wells - some hit dry.

[@caseywatkins4353]

Purely awesome. I want to travel out there some day.

[@TVRExploring]

Nevada has some awesome scenery and sights...

[@legneil]

This one is one of the weirdest mine i have ever seen,look more like mining equipment for a Yukon type mine,but in middle desert with no water. What i can see is they were heating the ore to get out gold or another metal just confused on this one.

[@TVRExploring]

Me too! I couldn't figure this one out...

[@AiOinc1]

How would they have gotten electricity out here? I can't imagine anybody lugging a stationary engine and a Dynamo out all this way only to never come back.

[@benlobin]

i think that mine is used for mercury and gold that pipe that leads from the smelter is supposed to catch the mercury through distilling

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, the old timers are suggesting it was a gold mine. So, I think you're right. That device I called a "smelter" could have been used to burn off the mercury.

[@kengamble8595]

Well, ya got me ! Don't have a clue on that one. Funny thing is that it looks familiar, like something that I've seen in a movie from back in the sixtys or seventys ! Can't remember much about the name of the movie or what it was about. If anyone else out there has info about that movie, it might be possible to track down the mine through it. Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍

[@TVRExploring]

I'd love to know the movie if someone is familiar with it!

[@chrisackerley1842]

They seemingly burned something underneath those iron chutes. I'm no expert, but the only kind of mining I know of that requires heating of the ore is mercury mining. Still, I've never seen a mercury retort that was sloped like that. Why knows. Did you see any bright red ore [cinnabar]?

[@TVRExploring]

No sign of cinnabar... This one was a mystery to me too (which is the reason for the title of the video). Some of the old timers (miners) were fairly convinced that it was a poorly run gold operation.

[@edwardsp1916]

Are there track mark at 4:54? 2 parallel lines.

[@RedmanOutdoors366]

Great video bud

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you.

[@RedmanOutdoors366]

Your welcome sir

[@georgiarelichuntervarietyc8511]

You ever do any mines in Appalachia or old mines in Georgia

[@TVRExploring]

I've been to that part of the world, but that was before I became interested in mining. So, no, I have not visited any of the mines out there. I know Georgia had a small gold rush of its own though.

[@Porty1119]

Georgia Relic Hunter Variety Channel I've done some mines in Kentucky; they're up on my channel. Depending on where I move soon, I may do some Georgia or other Appalachian mines too.

[@georgiarelichuntervarietyc8511]

Headframe Hunters thanks be watching out for it

[@justsomebody8461]

Is that a stock RAnger you use to explore?

[@TVRExploring]

Haha, yes, on this trip it was... 2WD even! I have to say, it performed quite well.

[@theogdirkdiggler]

That sure looks like cinnabar deposits to me but hard to tell on camera. It would explain the condenser for mercury

[@theogdirkdiggler]

Interesting how it appears that the strip mine operation utilized the winze/pass to move ore up out of the mine and down & out to the processing plant. Someone put a lot of work into this mine and money....it must have been profitable until the EPA

[@theogdirkdiggler]

*quicksilver*

[@TVRExploring]

My first impression was that it might be a mercury mine as well given the equipment you mentioned. I wasn't sure, however, which is why I threw the question out to the audience... Some of the miners in the audience have suggested it was a poorly managed gold mine that used mercury to separate the gold out. I still don't know. Either way, like you said, someone put a lot of work and money into it.

[@Porty1119]

I'm not sure what was mined, but the layout is extremely odd. Either the surface workings were more extensive than they appeared at first glance - could be the area you walked through was a small hill that was mined out - or the plant was placed by an idiot with no idea how to lay out a mine.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you for weighing in with your knowledge. I was hoping you'd check this one out... I'm glad to hear that it isn't just me that found it to be a strange layout for a mine.

[@georgiarelichuntervarietyc8511]

Great videos

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you!

[@MacquarieRidge]

That processing building looks like something out of fallout new Vegas.

[@TVRExploring]

Ha, yeah, it could definitely fit there!

[@bobmacadu840]

It's hard to tell what they were mining as we didn't get to go very far into the mine. In the portion we saw it looks like there is a lot of iron stained rock. But that's all over Nevada. I'm going to guess iron. I'm probably wrong.

[@TVRExploring]

A couple of the knowledgeable old timers are saying it was a poorly run gold mine which would fit with the iron since gold and iron go together... So, I think you may have been more right than you realize.

[@fraudexposure6318]

im curious ast to how many of these mines are along the V&T old ROW

[@TVRExploring]

You're talking about the route into Virginia City? There are a staggering number of mines in that area... I have heard that they have air issues though.

[@fraudexposure6318]

well the current route if the V&T is only a fraction of what it once was, there were actually two railroads in between Nevada and California that had spurs that ran out to these mines, because you gotta remember trucks weren't the prime movers out there for large amounts of ore, you have the Carson & Colorado and the Virginia & Truckee that spidered the area with mine spurs. if be curious if you find their connecting routes

[@maranti34b]

It's hard to tell without crushing and panning some rock, but I suspect it is a copper mine. Maybe polymetallic.

[@TVRExploring]

I was hoping that you would weigh in on this one... Thanks for sharing your expertise.

[@TimeNowAndThen]

Nice!

[@destroya.5868]

Another great vid! Thanks man! My question is there was only those two small adits for all those structures? And a smelter? There has to be more going on out there! There wasn’t even any rail was there? It’s a conspiracy place man! They processed aliens out there or something! 🤓 Did you get any drone footage of the area?

[@TVRExploring]

Haha, I thought the same thing, man. I was certain I was missing something and so I went all around the hills looking for more, but I didn't find anything. So, like you said, they either processed aliens or it was a mine that lost someone a lot of money given all of the equipment and buildings out there. I'm leaning toward the processing of aliens though. No, I didn't get any drone footage of this site. It would have been good to include it, but I think the batteries were dead by that point in the trip.

[@mikecarr1484]

Find a way inside . I have been doing a lot of digging. Literally..haha.

[@TheMrAHead]

Looks like a Mercury distillation setup towards the end...

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, it does. I'm not sure how that fits in with the rest of the operation.

[@bradcoyle3868]

Hard call on what was mined....the quartz veins that are visible may indicate Au....maybe Hg? Maybe Ag?

[@TVRExploring]

The mining old timers are suggesting it was a gold mine as well. So, good call on your part. I'm guessing it wasn't a very successful mine given how small the adits were and how much expensive equipment they had.

[@001desertrat3]

TVR -- They were probably ''mining'' the Investors . LOL !

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, someone must have lost a bundle of money at this site.

[@AveLGuy1]

SO WHERE IS THIS LOCATION IN NEVADA , CORDINANCE IF POSSIBLE.

[@benb8804]

this operation is from the 1940s. and from looking at the rocks it's definitely a gold mine.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you.

[@notsofresh8563]

I was gong to guess 40s as well however those tires in the sheds are 60s i think. Here is a thought: Any uranium in the area? If that was a potential uranium mine, it would be pretty important to keep secret in the 40's.......

[@norcalvandweller8401]

Lots of buildings etc for two short 20ft tunnels isn’t it??? More that is hidden maybe???

[@TVRExploring]

Perhaps... I just don't know. This one was a mystery to me.

[@norcalvandweller8401]

TVR Exploring any research available possibly? Thanks for the virtual trip

[@Cheese_based_lifeform]

The smelter is pretty far from everything and the multiple ore chutes could mean Hg was separated out and processed on site.

[@TVRExploring]

Yeah, I'm guessing it wasn't a very successful mine given how small the adits were and how much expensive equipment they had.

[@KernowGarage]

that thing that you though was smelter could have been some form of calciner

[@TVRExploring]

I had to look up what a "calciner" was, but, yes, you could well be right about that.

[@TVRExploring]

I had to look up what a "calciner" was, but, yes, you could well be right about that.

[@jeffreyallen3796]

I think I know where that is but I thought that was in California but no matter the fact it's in one of my favorite places in the world because there's not very many people out there if it's not the place I'm thinking of then you need to go see Scooby and Shaggy

[@TVRExploring]

This is in Nevada... However, yes, it is extremely remote.

[@BritishColumbiaGhostMines]

Wow that’s a ton of bunkhouses and ore bins for 2 50 ft adits lol. Somebody had big things planned!!!

[@TVRExploring]

Ha, yeah, I'm not sure exactly what was going on there, but their ambition seems to have exceeded reality by quite a lot.

[@BritishColumbiaGhostMines]

TVR Exploring Right??

[@mountainmineexplorers]

The conveyor belt was probably use for plaster gold

[@TVRExploring]

I didn't see any sign of placer material, but I think you could well be right about it being a gold mine. Apparently not a very successful mine whatever it was...

[@ADITADDICTS]

This looks familiar......🤔

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, this is that one we talked about last year.

[@fraudexposure6318]

looks like a silver mine

[@jamesrozell6467]

Probably mercury judging by the furnace. @codyslab has one a lot like that.

[@TVRExploring]

I'll have to go and track that down in his videos. Thanks.

[@diggah]

Im no mine expert but my archaeological eye spotted what might have been rails on that upper walkway: imgur.com/a/aHcCNzQ I could be wrong tho. US mining history isn’t in my sphere of expertise.

[@TVRExploring]

You have sharp eyes! The rails were probably taken for scrap or used somewhere else...

[@waynebake1123]

It appeared they mined failure there.

[@TVRExploring]

Haha, hard to disagree with you there!

[@sickstringbender1364]

May have been a mercury mine. Look for some cinabar ore

[@TVRExploring]

Ha, I'm afraid I wouldn't know what cinnabar ore looked like even if it was staring me right in the face.

[@001desertrat3]

TVR -- Cinnabar is predominately RED , but can be Brown or Gray . A quick test is with a Streak Plate ( unglazed white ceramic ) -- Cinnabar will leave a Scarlet Red streak on the Streak Plate .

[@Tom-cy5em]

My guess would be a Lead Mine.

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you.

[@callumkristofer7793]

This place could use a lake

[@TVRExploring]

A lake would be a nice touch.

[@victorbeckler8522]

That structure was pretty unusual but cool. still in good shape.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, I thought it was strange as well. One of the nice things about Nevada is how well it preserves buildings. In the Sierras, that building would have been down ages ago.

[@bushelfoot]

Look I like people's videos were they appear to be informed enough that they don't need to ask veiwers what the stuff is they are looking at ! All we see is what the camera can see which isn't much .

[@TVRExploring]

LOL, and you think I go through my day concerning myself with what you like? Curious that you clicked on a video whose very title is what you are complaining about. What does that say about your intelligence? Knowledgeable viewers have no trouble at all picking up on things from what is shown in the video...

[@TVRExploring]

1bikesale I appreciate the support very much...

[@billridgeway3494]

Like the videos....but the wind noise is awful

[@TVRExploring]

I'm willing to accept donations for better equipment.

[@WeaponsMachinist]

Lead or Tin

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you.

[@cowboy7606]

Looks to be a old copper/silver mine

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, a couple of the experienced miners have weighed in and think it is a copper mine as well. So, your guess is in good company. Thank you for letting me know.

[@paigelee6321]

❤️

[@captaincalmag4953]

The blue inside the adit is a copper mineral.

[@TVRExploring]

Yes, there were an interesting mix of minerals in there. That is part of the reason I had a hard time figuring out what they mined there.

[@001desertrat3]

TVR -- Copper minerals are COMMONLY found with Gold ores .

[@scottthorson1]

Lead Mine

[@paublusamericanus292]

my guess is mercury. don't see any red rock though.

[@TVRExploring]

It's a strange one... Your guess is better than mine. Ha, I couldn't figure out what kind of mine it was, which is why I'm asking you guys!

[@charlesowens9784]

Silver

[@mikecarr1484]

Old wash plant for gold.

[@rg3412]

Obviously they were mining bitcoins

[@TVRExploring]

Ah, yes, of course! Now it all makes sense...

[@jshilohshea381]

either silver or gold mine...

[@TVRExploring]

Thank you.

[@jamesdavis5096]

I'm pretty sure that was an asbestos mine

[@snoosebaum995]

why don't you look for some mineralization ?? most frustrating to watch

[@TVRExploring]

I'm interested in history, not in being a miner.

[@snoosebaum995]

they didn't dig those holes to be historical , minerals were the whole point !

[@snoosebaum995]

and there are not many places that have them , which makes them interesting , at least to me

[@TVRExploring]

No, they didn't dig the holes to be historical, but they were there for different reasons than I am. Even if I did know anything about geology, there are many, many channels out there that focus much more on the minerals in mines. Try Period Six Mining and Exploration, for example. I'm filling a different niche with my videos.

[@snoosebaum995]

ok thanks

[@tinaleal1489]

Cooper

[@Qusin111]

looks like a junk mine

[@dickbutte9471]

Could you hit the lens with a shammy? There's been a couple spots which I'm pretty sure are dirt in the last few videos (just right of the center, for example)

[@TVRExploring]

Nah, that's buried deep within the camera. If I could get it out without destroying the camera, I would. I'm just going to buy a used camera for the next season.

[@duanewhite3184]

Silver

[@TVRExploring]

Thanks.