Chaotic Collapsing Mine Maze - A Johannesburg, California Gold Mine
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- The mines in this gold rich area around Johannesburg, California, have been sealed for the most part. We managed to find a way into the old underground workings of this particular mine and encountered a real maze of collapsing and caving drifts and stopes. We spent a couple of hours climbing and crawling our way through the interesting workings and, after climbing up an ore chute, inadvertently ended up looping back to where we had started. Many of the wood caps on top of the stulls have been severely compressed, indicating that a good amount of ground movement has occurred. This area is not far from the epicenter of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred near Ridgecrest, California, on July 5th of 2019. It probably won't be too many years until these workings are completely collapsed. We hope you enjoy the video, and thanks for watching!
Hete is a link to another video that we think you might enjoy:
Fridays are 1000% better with Tom and Julie!
Haha, thank you, Jeff. We love your attitude!👌😁
Thank you, Tom and Julie for the Explorer. That should’ve been called the big squeeze mine lol. Really nice mineral colors. Don’t know how you didn’t get lost. Stay safe.👍🍻🍻🍻⛏️⛏️👀
Hi David. Yes, the big squeeze for sure. This one was a little confusing, and then all of a sudden, we were back where we started. Thanks for the comment and beers!🍺🍺🍻😁
ooooh a secret mine ...now I want to see this .... don't you just love spray paint in the mines .... always got knuckle heads lighting fires in the mines ... imagine the pressure on them stulls and base plates ... another fun explore you two and keep'em coming ...... so you know what I am gonna say huh .....
Hey Jeff. I don't quite get the spay painting in mines or anywhere else for that matter. The fires are kind of crazy, too. Nothing like smoking yourself out of the mine. Thanks for the comment, we appreciate it. I think I know what you're going to say. Stay out and stay alive, no wait, that's not your slogan. Something about C'MON LETS GO! 👌😁
Hello Julie and Tom. Yes it looks like based on all the huge dumped rock that they clearly wanted to plug off this mine at all access spots. I guess it's good you did find one way in. Very nice video.
Yes, the big rocks were most likely pushed in a shaft or stope with a dozer. Glad that you liked the video, Stephen. Thanks for watching!👌😁
*T & J!*
Mercy, that was a GOOD one! Sort of nervous watching it, seeing all the instability - but at least
it wasn't a talc mine, eh? Thanks for bringing it to us!
BTW, Lunkenheimer valves are very upscale, severe duty type valves that are still made. That gate
valve is probably around $400 these days. They're made to serve in such as slurry operations,
mining and etc. where the water/air theiy control is not the cleanest.
In my profession (fire protection), you almost never see them - too pricy. 🙂
Y'all be safe, see you on the next one.
- Ed on the Ridge
Hi Ed. Yes, a little sketchy for sure. Thanks for the valve information. That is interesting stuff. Take care on the ridge!👌😁
Wow! It's not often we get to see so many areas of compression. Cool mine! Thanks Tom and Julie!
Hi William. This one definitely has some compression going on in it. You're welcome, and thank you for the comment!👌😁
Some of those slabs hanging on to the top of that low stope looked pretty sketch at 8:59. The oar body seems fairly tabular like a porphyry mine. Thanks Tom and Julie for inviting us along!
Hi BT. Yes, this whole mine is pretty sketch. You're welcome, and thanks for coming along on the tour!👌😁
Thank you, Tom & Julie! Lots of color left in that old mine. But there is nothing like trying to hold up a mountain with little pieces of trees, things go squish.
Safe journeys, always. See ya soon.
Hi Jimmi. Someday, those little toothpicks will lose the battle, and the gap will close. You're welcome, and thanks for watching!👌😁
That whole area is a rabbit warren of workings. I'm really surprised that you found a way in! Used to Jeep around there, and actually saw a guy drive his rig right into a shaft!! Only thing that kept him from falling all the way in was his windshield frame. Needless to say, he needed a shorts change after that!!
Hi Lesley. Yeah, it's kind of a wild one. I have heard of vehicles ending up in shafts. One story is about two people who died that way. Thanks for commenting!👌😁
That's a crazy network of workings! Seems like it would be easy to lose your bearings. The crushed timbers were something else too.
Thanks for the adventure👍👍
Hi Mark. Yes, it is a ND just when we were getting a bit turned around, we popped up right back where we started. So it all worked out. Thanks for watching!👌😁
Thanks once again Tom and Julie for another mine find.
You're welcome, Tony. Thanks for watching!👌😁
anybody ever tell you guys you all do a pretty good job. thank you
Hi Jerry. I think you just did, lol. Thanks for the nice comment!👌😁
I respect the fact that you hide the locations of many of these mines. It was a fun exploration.
Thank you, T&J!
I missed ya last week. Hope all is well! 😊
i agree Ralph, best to keep secret.
Hey Ralph. Glad that you liked the explore. Thanks for watching!👌😁
Hey Ken!👌😁
👍
Must be satisfying when you go to another level and pop down a hole to come out somewhere you recognize.👍
Hi Mark. Yes, that is fun, for sure. Like making a loop hike rather than retracing your steps. Just when we weren't sure exactly where we were, too. Thanks for watching!👌😁
Thank y’all for the explore of the maze of tunnels. Scary to see the weight on those supports so be careful.
You're welcome, Don. Yes, lots of compression going on here. It gets your attention that for sure. Thanks for watching!👌😁
Hello Tom Hello Julie
Thank you for this Video.
This mine looks a bit caotic.
In some areas very colourfull.
The wood working and the timbering in Made the German style.
They nodged out the Beam over the Stalls .
In German den Stempel und die Kappe 😊
A happy weekend best wishes and a good New Week stay save
Greetings from the Harz mountains
Yours Frank Galetzka
Hello Frank. Thanks for the detailed comment about the German style of timbering. Yes, this one is chaotic in places. Hope you have a good weekend!👌😁
!
Really appreciate you both for taking the time and risking it all to take us along on your adventures to the underground world to capture the wonders that lay beyond every turn and sharing your videos. Thanks Again!!!
Hi Jon. We're glad that you are enjoying our adventures, and we appreciate you watching and commenting. Thank you!👍😁
Y'all are crazy! Looks really fun and also very scary... Animals, falling rock, collapsing beams, etc etc.
Hey Matt. You have to be a little nuts to do things like this. It's part of the thrill, and things can get real in a hurry. You'd better be prepared for what could happen. Thanks for watching and commenting!👌😁
Wow! Some of those spots looked like they really wanted to collapse. Glad I’m watching this video because that means you made it out.
Hi Ed. Yes, a lot of compression going on here. I'm glad to be out of there myself. Thanks for the comment!👌😁
Another great mine, I bet in it's day before all the collapses it was a great mine. I liked the colors, until next time y'all be careful and God bless
Hi Jimmy. Yes, I bet in its heyday it was a fine mine working. Hope all is well for you. Thanks for the comment and blessing!👌😁
what a interesting mine, the amount of force needed to crush those beams is incredible. thank-you for the video.
Hi Tony. Can you imagine the amount of force it takes to crush down a 4x4 like that. Crazy stuff. Thanks for the comment!👌😁
Great explore looks a like a real puzzle.As you said very little over burden out side but Lots of tunneling in side.Makes this a Great adventure there is light at the portal.⛏️
Hi Case. It is a puzzle. Thanks for the comment!👍😁
Very nice to see the "Dynamic Duo" in action
That still cracks me up when you say that. Thanks, Paul!👍😁
Great video. Pretty sketchy in a few spots. Thanks for taking us along. Take care of each other and be safe.
Hi Ed. Yes, a bit sketchy in places. Glad that you liked the video. Thanks for watching!👌😁
As my mining dad would say, "that's a mess of a mine". Happy to see you guys still exploring... Stay safe!
Hi David. Yes, this is a mess of a mine working. We're still plugging away. Thanks for watching!👍😁
well, that was kinda crazy. It looked like a lot of offshoots, and there is definitely a lot of stress on those beams. Thank you, T&J. Stay safe!!
Hi Raiderman. Yeah, it's a crazy place. Definitely some compression going on. Thanks for the comment!👌😁
That whole area is pretty cool to explore & has been worked over pretty extensively . Lots of the land is still privately owned ( or was ) and I’m glad you two were able to go explore in underground. Stay safe out there & stay dry with all this weather that’s coming through. 🤞
Hi Stephen. Yes, this whole area has been worked extensively. What's not closed up tight is private, as you said. Thanks for watching and commenting!👌😁
Well that mine was certainly in a mess and probably won't be able to safely check it out in the future, well done under the circumstances and you two take care. Cheers
Thank you, Tom and Julie for another great Day ,of mine exploring 👍
Hi Lloyd. Glad to hear that you enjoyed the explore. Thanks for watching!👍😁
Hi Tom and Julie, I'm offly glad to see another video I was getting a little worried that maybe you had stopped doing them. Some of that ore in that mine was very complex it was all sulfides but it was definitely an interesting mine they didn't leave one rock unturned in there too bad the federal government has to mess things up like that I will say though it was a rather sketchy mine a lot of compression on the stoals I'm sure earthquakes have played a part in that over the years anyway thank you for another great video and keep them coming it's always fun to watch my two favorite explorers hard at work.
Hi Bob. The miners are pretty good at finding all the valuable ore in these mines. The government does their best to keep people out of these old mines. I guess it makes some sense. Thanks for the nice comment!👌😁
😉👍
Awesome. Thanks for taking me with you. Be safe.
You're welcome, and thanks for watching! Glad you liked it!👌😁
Danke fur das Hochladen sehr intressant
You're welcome. Thanks for watching and commenting!👍😁
a little scary between the big open areas and those super compressed beams wow!! awesome exploration thanks for sharing
Hi Thorn. Yes, these unstable types do get a little scary. It's no wonder that we hear creaking wood beams now and then. Thanks for the comment!👍😁
Looks like a Swiss Cheese mine. Thanks for the explore!
Hi Roger. You're welcome, and thanks for watching!👌😁
Man that was crazy thanks for letting me watch 👍
You're welcome, Wendell. Thanks for watching!👍😁
Thanks T&J.
You're welcome. Thanks for commenting!👌😁
Thanks for sharing this, very interesting. Those cracked and crushed braces would make me more than a little nervous.
Hi Mike. Yes, the buckling timbers are always a little unsettling. We see it all the time, and it still causes concern. You're welcome, and thank you for commenting!👍😁
NUTTZ "THANKS 4 SHARING!
Hi JD. Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks for commenting!👌😁
This mine appeared to be small at first with a few collapsed tunnels. This mine is quite large. I been having health problems, so I wasn't able to see a few of your videos. There are many I have to see again but not sure when I will have time. Surgery coming up.
Sorry to hear that you need surgery, Bricky. I hope it works out the way you want it to and you heal quickly. 👌🙏
Nice Work & Video 👍
Thanks for watching and commenting. Here is a playlist with some of our favorites in case you are interested. 👍😁
ruclips.net/p/PLBirOpgY-NV_n393pa-mL4RNYBMYUs04f&si=ORxDDPryLdzj1HLA
@@TomandJulieMineExploring OK👍
What a honey comb of Swiss cheese. Thanks for sharing. Do y'all ever look at each other and say, how did we get in here? Or, How do we get out of here? Just funnin. 😊
Hi Richard. This was a real maze. Just when we were getting a little lost, we somehow were back where we started. Thanks for watching!👌😁
Hey you mine explorers nice to see another video. What a sketch area y’all went through seeing all that compression which leads me to ask, do you let a third party know where about you’re going and when expected to be back? Stay safe, stay healthy keep on exploring!
Yes, this is a sketchy one. The gap here is squeezing shut.
We try to let someone know where we are, but many times, we don't know where we will end up ourselves. We are prepared to self rescue if at all possible or face the consequences. You have to be to be able to do this activity. Thanks for watching!👌😁
Awesome!
Thanks man!👌😁
What a maze. Cool video
Yes, it really is a maze. Thanks for watching, David!👍😁
Tom that place looks too unstable for me you guys are brave or crazy !!!
Hi Bruce, we're probably a little of both. Lol. Thanks for watching!👌😁
Hi Tom and Julie, I was curious but were you in the mine just east of Randsburg across the 395? This mine looks really familiar to me. This was in the late eighties when I lived in Randsburg. Two experienced miners and I spent a couple of hours in a mine that also had a collapsing ceiling, which we didn’t attempt to even explore the area. Went in at dusk and left around midnight. Very nice video and glad to see you again, I’ve been busy with projects and had no time to watch anything. Stay well and safe out there!😃
Hi Ron. Yes, that is correct for this location. It's all bat gated now, so it's a bit difficult to access. Good eye for you to recognize it. Thanks for the comment!👍😁
You two are very brave! Excellent dangerous explore. Thank you for taking me along.
Hi Bill. Yes, this is a dangerous place. Thanks for making the trip with us!👌😁
Hi Tom & Julie, whoa that mine was under some real heavy pressure, hard to believe some idiot set fire to one of the Stoll's.
A very cool explore through the maze, thank you for sharing, much love to you both. Sorry I'm late again lol I am not having a good time with my Fibromyalgia at the moment, it's the worst flare I've known. xxx 🥰❤
So sorry to hear about your bad flare-up, Sue. We're happy to have you stop by our channel whenever you feel up to it.
Yes, there is a lot of compression going on in this mine. I'm guessing it will close up completely in the not too distant future. I will never understand people trying to burn the mine timbering. Talk about smoking yourself out. SMH.
Thanks for the comment and we hope you feel better soon. 🙏❤️
@@TomandJulieMineExploring I should start to feel better when the weather gets warmer and drier ;) xx ❤
Thank you both sooo much. xxx
@@SueGirling68 you're welcome. We really hope you feel better asap.
@@TomandJulieMineExploring thank you both very much, love n hugs to you both. xx
many of the mines in randsburg/johannesburrg have ore shoots where two veins cross at 90 degrees.
i know the mine your are in because of the gate on the ore shoot.
every miner had there own way of making gates on ore shoots and i knew the miner that did it that way
It's cool that you know the miner that worked here. Thanks for the comment!😄
I can't believe someone tried to burn the wood that holds up the roof of the mine
Vandals and pyromaniacs seem to like old mines. I can't say that I understand it either. Thanks for watching and commenting, guys. Hope all is well with you and that you stay safe!👍😁
Tom and Julie, could an earthquake cause the wood to be squished like we saw in your video? Thank you for taking my husband and I with you. May God Richly Bless you both and keep you safe.
Hi Sherrie. Yes, that could be part of the reason for the compression. Mostly, I believe it's just a natural tendency for the ground trying to fill an unnatural void like what's created after all the ore is removed by the miners. We see the same thing fairly regularly. Eventually, the whole thing will cave in. Thanks for the nice comment and blessing!👍😊
Those timbers were likely old growth and stronger than any wood I've ever touched. I dream of someone finding a scrap and taking it to a hydraulic press to see what pressure it would take to reproduce what you saw in this mine. Maybe some mine explorer will read this and have this test done. Also, the area where you saw the damaged timbers seemed to be in the vicinity of the fault. Is this correct?
That's an interesting idea, Lorrin. I'm guessing it's more pressure than one might think. The damage is so widespread that it's hard to tell if it is on the fault or not. Thanks for commenting!👌😁
THAT MINE STILL HAS GOLD WOW
Oh, I'm sure there is some there. Thanks for the comment, Michael!👌😁
Do you suppose the surface workings caused the crushed timbers when they set off their drilling and blasting? Is that portion of mine you explored destined to removal soon? Thanks for scrambling through this one, neat explore for sure.
Good questions, Carl. I don't know of any plans for strip mining this area, although it wouldn't surprise me. There have been some big earthquakes near here. A 7.1 quake hit just a few years ago. Thanks for the comment!👌😁
@@TomandJulieMineExploring Appreciate your reply.
You bet.
I know it's impossible, but I wish you could go live while you are exploring, I'd be like look at that, what is that, see that spider? You guys are my eyes ears, and legs that I can't do no more, and so many mines here in galice Oregon(although to rotten to explore)
But yay!! Glad I could come along for a new one😊
You are correct that it would be impossible. There is never any cell signal when inside a mine. We're happy that you follow along with the video, though. Thanks for watching and commenting, Timothy!👍😁
Boy that mine is like Swiss cheese. And the pressure on those poles holding the roof up unbelievable! Have you ever gotten hurt inside of a mine? Some of those things you walk on I'll said it before and I'll say it again you guys are crazy!!
Hi Eddie. Yes, this one is a real maze. Lots of pressure on the timbers to compress the wood like that. I have gotten hurt several times while mine exploring from falls, rocks and wood falling on me, banging my head on things, spraining knees and ankles from walking on uneven surfaces in the dark. Lots of other small things like cuts and bruises are common. Thanks for watching. Hope all is well at Happy Together!👍😁🎸
@@TomandJulieMineExploring are you staying anywhere near La punta? I'm watching a show called House hunters international and there's an episode of La punta Escondido Mexico wow it's beautiful there.
@@TomandJulieMineExploring are you staying anywhere near La punta? I'm watching a show called House hunters international and there's an episode of La punta Escondido Mexico wow it's beautiful there.
Hi Eddie. We are in Zihuatanejo.
You guys are fearless or crazy! What year did they quit working that mine?
Hi Peter. Those two traits are necessary if you want to be a mine explorer. I don't know the exact dates that the mine was worked but would guess into the early 1940's. Thanks for watching!👌😁
i hope you own a metal detector = you two could find GOLD ? and even a mini oinpoint detector - like torch size - with you in the mine ! hidden gold - so BLESSINGS ! = TOM AND JULIE ! thank you.
Hi Ronnie. We generally don't look for gold in the mines. We don't check the active claim status of them, so we just don't take anything. I'm sure that there is gold in many of them, but hard rock mining is not what we do. Thanks for the comment!👍💰
Good old Johannasberg! Wonder if they named it for the ol' South African works? Any diamonds? 😊
Man, it must be crazy in those ultra deep gold mines back in Africa....oh wow, it's a Wikipedia feature!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannesburg,_California
Do you guys have any idea where those platinum group mines are down there near I-10? I found 'em once back in the 80s...
Hi Steven. I guess the name kind of automatically makes you think of Africa. I can't imagine how dep some of those mines are. I don't know much about the platinum mines. Thanks for the Wiki link! 👍😁
Lot of "pressure" there.
Hi Brad. Yes, no doubt the place is compressing. Thanks for commenting!👌😁
I always wonder where they got the lumber?
There was a whole timber industry dedicated to providing mine timbers. Most of the wood for this mine came from the Sierra Nevada area I would guess. Thanks for commenting!👌😁
The intrepid Julie and Tom again.. Watch out for the Goblins!
Haha, yes, there are strange things in these old mines. The tommyknockers are legends for some reason. Thanks for the comment!👍😊
Have you two ever encountered a Tommy knocker or anything else that gave you the creeps during any of your explorations? I remember that howling sound coming out of a shaft on one of your recent videos, ever figure out what it was?
Hi Christopher. While it is fascinating to read the folklore about the mischievous little fellows, and many stories have been told of them, I have not seen a Tommyknocker. Mines are pretty creepy in general, though, and we do hear an occasional odd noise. Timbers creak and crack, rocks fall from the constant pull of gravity, and animals that live in mines make noises. We never did figure out for sure what was making the noise in the shaft you're asking about. I'm guessing it was a bird of some kind. Thanks for watching and commenting. Keep it strange!👌😬
@@TomandJulieMineExploring thanks for answering, you two are the best 🤗
Hi there! I wonder do you need one paif of hunting boots for the Mine exploration?
Hi Pinky. I think we're all set. Sometimes, we wear boots and other times trail runners depending on how long the hike to the mine is. Thanks for the comment!👍😁
Swiss cheese mine! 🇨🇦
Yes, it is Les. Thanks for watching!👌😁
5xx5 Datil NM USA
Hi Michael!
how do you NOT get lost in there ?
Hi Ari. Good question. I think it looks more confusing in the video than it really is. There are a couple of things that we do to help navigate. The right-hand rule is a good practice to use. That means when you come to an intersection, always make a right turn. That way, no matter how many intersections you passed, you would eventually be back to where you started. The other thing we do is to make a small rock pile or cairn to mark a significant turn or place. We will then knock them down as we pass on the way out. Thanks for the comment!👍😁
@@TomandJulieMineExploring thanks
You're welcome!
This mines workings backfilled or collapsed because of BLM or the mine crews of the past? We do know some are caused naturally for sure but that many. Stay safe!
I believe that the BLM has closed and filled this area. I'm not 100% sure about that, though. Most of this did not happen naturally. Thanks for commenting, Jeremy!👌😁
The swiss cheese mine.
Hi Dave. Yes, it's a crazy mine for sure. Thanks for commenting!👍😁