I never imagined at 64 years old, a retired grandmother, that I'd become so fascinated with old mines. Your videos are by far much better than the other explorers videos. And another thing I really appreciate your clear voice and volume and thank you for not using low life foul language. I enjoy my grandchildren watching with me. You are truly a man of integrity. The only thing I wish that you'd do differently is to bring some chalk to mark your way in and out and around. If one of you got hurt it might be hard to get out quickly. And the thought of you getting lost and maybe running into some bad air is another terrible thought. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. Be extra careful and God bless you.
Well, I'm glad I've been able to make this an interesting subject for you. It is a fairly niche topic now, but mining is a significant part of our history. I very much appreciate your support and kind words. We carry air meters and so we've got a heads up on the bad air... Also, we avoid coal mines, which is where one REALLY encounters bad air. I've been in hundreds of mines now and the only air issues I have ever experienced are low oxygen levels. We've been in hundreds of mines now and haven't gotten lost yet. So, that's a good sign. We practice the "right hand rule" or will scratch arrows in the dirt when needed.
The scope of this mine is literally mind boggling. Those tunnels were not only never ending but huge. The amount of ore/rock they took out of there is hard to believe and THEN there is the building with the core samples. OMG, again hard to imagine. The steam shovel is very cool. Be safe as always guys.
Thank you, Doc McCoy. Yes, we had a really hard time getting our minds wrapped around this mine. I had to cut out many, many hours of video of us just walking down endless, featureless tunnels. Imagining the tons of material that were taken out of this mine as well is almost inconceivable... The core samples , like you said, only add to the feeling of being overwhelmed by the scale of it all (at least for me). I'm glad you liked the steam shovel. Seeing that was a nice way to end the trip.
Doc McCoy *How did the old time miners drag huge, multi-ton machinery 5 miles deep through treacherous shafts and adits? It's a fucking mystery to me.*
I have been to this exact spot back in 2014. The core sheds were cool but i missed the shovel. I drilled in the Robinson Copper Mine and Stayed in the Four Sevens and the Rustic motels. Love that area.
Yes, I don't know of very many modern mines that are still using rail and ore carts. I understand why they don't, but I have a nostalgic fondness for the ore carts and rail.
Yes, this one was quite a mine! I'm glad you liked that excavator. It was nice to see that at the end of the trip... I would imagine it has been sitting out there for decades.
It was neat to see it out in the field still next to the pile of dirt it had been excavating decades ago, but, yes, it is a shame to see it slowly being consumed by the elements...
Hi Justin since you did'nt mention it in you comments. Why the walls of the tunnels looked so dark. It's from the diesel smoke from the vehicular traffic.The talcum powder effect is from the constant passage over floor, of the heavy tread on the tires.Great video thanks mate.
A brutal hike I'm sure, many thanks for your efforts sharing close ups of that old steam shovel. FYI John Deere used Hercules flat head engines on their combines (grain harvesting machines) until the early sixties. The engine on that shovel looks exactly like the ones on that Deere equipment.
hercules engines, The company was founded in 1915, known at first as Hercules Motor Manufacturing Company, to build industrial engines, especially for trucks .[1][2] The company reincorporated and reorganized in 1923, emerging as Hercules Motors Corporation. Hercules expanded greatly in the interwar period, developing gas and diesel engines, serving the needs for truck, tractor and a plethora of equipment operators. Therefore when World War II came Hercules was ready to help the Allied effort in a major way. During World War II the company produced about 750,000 gasoline and diesel engines for allied military vehicles, ships, and various bits of equipment.[3] But Hercules could not respond effectively to changes in the post-WW II engine market, so WW II remained its high water mark in terms output, earnings and profits so it had to be a 1915, or later that engine. very cool find. keep the good alwsome work up. love the viedos.
Hercules at Canton Ohio, built two, four and six cylinder enclosed engines that were used to power various kinds of industrial equipment. 14:17 To a lesser degree, they also powered some small farm tractors, balers and combines. The transmission at 14:28, indicates PAT. APR ‘18 (Patent Approved 1918), Model T-558 or 556. The manufacturer is hard to read, the location possibly Rockport, Illinois. An excellent museum candidate.
Transmission OEM is Cotta Transmission Company, Rockford, Illinois. Still in business (2019) there and at Beloit, Wisconsin. www.constructionequipment.com/company/cotta-transmission-co www.cotta.com/
Getting lost down there would not be hard to do at all. That is particularly true with all of those featureless tunnels running everywhere - they all looked the same!
Looks like you really have to keep your wits about you when exploring down there. That's an important part of going there. Knowing how to get back out!
The gear box I presume next to the engine, was made in Rockford, Illinois, which is 34 miles from where I live in Freeport, Illinois. You never know what your going to see when watching your explorations.
As soon as you showed the building with all the samples I knew exactly where you were at. I need to go back now to see that steam shovel. Was that an Osgood brand?
The core samples were how they knew which way to head in that maze of tunnels. the large rooms with pillars were the main ore body. and the drifts that had the short side outs every 10' feet or so were also a way of getting ore out without doing room and pillar removal.
By the way arsenic smells like garlic - and so does oxidised arsine gas. And this is the problem with your gas meter which I assume is actually just an oxygen meter, arsine is toxic in fairly low concentrations. Incidentally do you carry a dosimeter? Also that digger looks restorable, should be in a museum.
It's a pretty high end gas meter and detects all manner of dangerous gases. We also have backup meters, which are the more basic oxygen or hydrogen sulfide or whatever... No, we do not carry a dosimeter or other equipment for radiation. We can only carry so much gear and I don't believe we are in a position to be exposed to radiation long enough or in high enough doses for it to be immediately harmful. I spoke with some of the technicians at the Chernobyl site pretty extensively about radiation... Yes, despite being out there for decades, it is in surprisingly good shape and I'd love to see it restored.
Thank you very much. I appreciate you watching and commenting... Yes, you are 100% correct about this mine. It is staggeringly huge. We were down there for many, many hours and barely scratched the surface.
I think in an earlier video a few year ago, someone tried to buy it but the owner refused to sell. A couple of days later when he turn back at the excavator he noticed the gun shots. That is just sad
No way! Freaking idiots up here I tell ya, i live in yerington, and to pine grove trail head is about 15 min drive from me, and I go up there all the time, and actually just found the old cemetary which is cool to experience as well, but I think there is someone up there that's running the old tailing piles in search of gold, but none the less still cool, I want to go exploring the Rockland site just it's been muddy and slippery every time I've been up that way , and had to turn around.
Someone needs the right temperament for it - patience and attention to detail - and so I am not suited for it... Furthermore, this particular mine would prove to be a lifetime project for mappers.
I have the patience and capabilities to map out any mine this one would be nice to map out then see a 3D view of actual tunnels and addits in the grand sceem of it, would also like to see how you guys went in a circle lol 3D mapping and or by hand with pencil & paper and a measuring tape 100ft plus
The Hercules Motors Corporation was organized in Canton, Ohio 73 years ago (1915) I sure that engine came out of like military surplus I would love to get my hands on that engine During World War II, Hercules recognized its responsibility to supply the U.S. and Allied armed forces with infinitely more engines than could then be produced. you guys do a fine job with your videos
Thanks for the guided tour of these places I may never see! In all three videos I spied with my little eye things in the intersections like at 0:15 in this video. I thought they were boxes but they seemed regularly placed in several junctions in this mine, they are square "wooden looking" somethings what are they? And thank Google: . Arsenopyrite is generally an acid consuming sulfide mineral unlike iron pyrite which can lead to acid mine drainage. The crystal habit, hardness, density, and garlic odor when struck. Much of the arsenopyrite that has been mined formed as a high-temperature mineral in hydrothermal veins. It is often mined, together with other metallic minerals, from veins that might contain gold, silver, lead, tungsten, or tin. Again thank you for the great videos, be safe (which is of course both relative and subjective) and live life like you stole it my I will prolly never meet you friend!
You mean the comments in the videos? I was getting complaints about them being up for too long and so I shortened them... For the videos that have already been published, I can only suggest that you pause the video long enough to read the comment. Going forward, I'll leave the comments up for longer. Again, assuming you are referring to the comments in the videos.
The amount of gear that we HAVE to carry is already quite cumbersome and heavy. So, we try to limit as much as possible what we carry. Also, we haven't felt the need for something like chalk yet. Between utilizing the "right hand rule" and simply scratching arrows in the mud or dust, we have not had any issues so far.
Just wow, just the idea of mining core samples, would you get a good amount of what the miners were hunting for? Think gold, how much was just put on a shelf?
Pretty mad how that level just went back on itself like that, I have experienced similar in a couple mines, doesn't feel right at all when you come to the end, its like "what just happened" lol Love the old digger at the end, well preserved in the desert air, what a great find!
Yes, that loop back on itself really threw us for a loop because we had hiked for hours more and had gone up to higher levels. Yet, somehow it dumped us behind where we had started hours before. The old steam shovel at the end was a great thing to see at the end of the day. I had to stumble back to camp in the dark, but it was worth it.
I am about to pull my hair out: At 10.45, he says without emotion "wow. this is ... without any doubt ... the biggest collection of core samples i've ever seen, anywhere, in my life. it is unreal, holy crap. it just goes forever through here. these are all core samples. .... pretty much blown away right now, that goes on for 40 feet all the way back there. stack after stack, row after row, core samples. ... unreal ... well this alone was pretty much worth coming here for. ...this alone made it worth it. well im just going to go thru the rest of the building." Wait, what???? what about the samples? what were they finding? I sat thru over an hour of video truging thru mine tunnels, dead end after dead end, long corridors of nuthin'. he seems to maybe be lost (didn't come out where he came in). HE FOUND a huge building that holds THE ENTIRE REASON THE MINE WAS DUG, WHY ANY OF THIS EXISTS, A SIGHT HE HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, and he spends 3 minutes on it.!? then finds a steam shovel, gives 5 minutes to detail who made parts of it. and that's it. UGH!!!!even worse than click bait is youtube Blue Balls!!!!!!!!!!!
If you read the descriptions in the videos, I talk about what they were mining here and explain what the research on this mine uncovered in regard to geology. I believe the first video is where the explanation is... I always put what I know about the geology and history of the mine in the description. Also, this was a modern base metal mine. I know a lot more about gold mining - especially historic gold mines... In regard to the core samples, you really want to just have me holding the camera over them saying, "Oh, there's a dark rock. Oh, there's a light rock. Oh, there's a pretty rock. Oh, there's a shiny rock." With a few exceptions, that is about the depth you'd get with me discussing geology. One exception would be that pillar of pyrite we found (I think it was the second video). I remember explaining what that was and giving plenty of close up views of that. So, give me some credit for something like that. You can't say I'm being a RUclips cock tease in a situation involving a pillar of pyrite (that remains the largest concentration of pyrite I've ever seen). If you've still got blue balls, watch one of my videos on gold mining. The second video of the Calhoun Mine is a great one. That's a badass mine and the geology is explained well. If you have any questions after that one, let me know because I can answer almost any of those.
WOW JUST WOW what a mine so big then the very old equipment and the building shame people have to destroy things Just sucks love what you do and both of you such a nice video
Thank you very much. Yes, it is always a shame to see historical sites torn apart for no reason. That's one reason we are making these videos - to show what is out there now before it is completely destroyed.
This huge mine feels creepy to me for some reason. I don't usually get that feeling from your videos in mines. And the old steam shovel reminds me of the old children's book about a steam shovel. Seems like it had a name like Mc-something. Wow, hadn't thought about that book in decades.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel... I haven't thought about that book in decades either and I had to Google it to make sure that I remembered it correctly.
You have some fantastic videos! I'm part of a group that runs a museum in an old silver mine in Norway. I see that I have to go for a trip and explore some mine in the US :) Keep em coming!
Thank you very much. I'm glad you're enjoying them... We have some very good silver mines in the US, especially in Nevada! You have some great mines in and near Norway too though. How about Pyramiden? Is it possible to visit/explore the mine where your museum is or any of the other silver mines in Norway?
TVR Exploring Cool :) Yeah pyramiden is possible to explore, but only the town and mining facility. I think the mine there is collapsed or closed off. It's a coal mine so it's super unsafe anyway. The mine I'm helping to keep is explorable and we have had some trips to higher levels but we need to enter from the top I think. There are a lot of mines to explore an very few are closed off. We are planning some trips to other mines around Norway to see if we can save some equipment or just document. Chek out hans_magnus here on RUclips, he have some footage from Kongsberg silver mine (most famous mine in Norway) and some forage from "our" mine Konnerud.
I can't remember what I read exactly, but I also had the impression it was not possible to access the workings. We don't have coal mines anywhere near us and so we haven't even had the opportunity, but coal mines are definitely something I would have second and even third thoughts about... With all of the Soviet stuff still around, I think it would be fascinating to even just check out the surface buildings and equipment at Pyramiden. Thank you for the tip on the other RUclips channel. It's expensive, but I really like Norway and now you've given me some additional reasons to come back with all of those mines you mentioned because I was already interested in Pyramiden. Thank you.
TVR Exploring Your welcome :) How is it with the stability in mines such as the one in your most resent video. For me it looks like a lot of the geology down there is gravel with a lot of lime deposits in it, is it not unstable? Yeah Norway is a bit expensive. But if you are coming tell me and I can help you finding a place to stay :)
I've been to hundreds of mines now and I've only seen one where it would have been practical to take an ATV inside. There always seems to be some obstacle...
@@hudsonhawk0016 There are some mines though that are so big that the shaft acts as a chimney and draws air through the mine and that's why mine explorers don't die regularly from foul air and often talk of which way the air is flowing. These huge mines like the one in the vid are really the mines I was talking about I should have been more specific.
TVR Exploring Thanks! I was expecting $500 studio lights; pleasantly surprised to see that you're using a $37.95 flashlight. I've got some underground trips in the pipeline (contacting and coordinating with property owners takes time); having proper lighting will make them a lot more productive.
Unless you've found a cheaper source, I think I paid about $60 for the handheld light and about $120 for the light on my helmet... The light on my helmet has a rechargeable lithium ion battery, which I love. I have been hunting all over the place for an adjustable focus, rechargeable, handheld flashlight that is a reasonable size and produces over 1,000 lumens. Coast makes a rechargeable light that that is over 1,000 lumens, but the thing is a monster weighing like eight pounds and costs $500. I've gotten most of my gear sorted to where I have exactly what I want, but the handheld flashlight is an ongoing source of frustration to me as I am spending a fortune on AA batteries. Anyway, yes, good lighting makes an enormous difference in underground situations. Without a good light inside of a mine, a video just seems to get swallowed up in blackness. I hope the permission and coordination with the property owners goes quickly and smoothly. I look forward to seeing your experiences...
I don't, but I really need to because I'm tired of spending a fortune on AA batteries. My helmet light is a rechargeable lithium ion battery and I sure wish I could find a handheld light that had one and meets my other requirements.
a quick google suggests that the sweet garlic smell might have been arsenic "The garlic smell is actually the smell of arsenic trihydride, better known as arsine gas"
I've smelled arsenic gas before and this was different. I used the word "garlic" because I was struggling to describe it, but I've never smelled anything like it before or since. Thanks for checking that out.
I met a swedish prospector who has a Trans-Scandinavia Gopher Mining Co. He trains gophers to dig tunnels inside the mine while you can rest. The animals even eliminate mosquitoes. He offers also the service of his sister a teacher to educate children of the miners in daylight outside the mine, and at night the children can help dig gold inside the mine! It was the same person that sold me the dogs experts in smelling gold. I want to buy a Balloon to arrive at the mines without walking kilometers in bear-infested forests...
The balloon is an excellent idea... And, yes, children should definitely be put to work in mines! I don't understand why that is even up for debate. Parents need to earn a return on their investments.
fantastic video! - do any mine fans remember a youtube video where two guys explore a mine and crawl through more than one dangerous collapse ? - quite a long video, not on Franks channel, I dont think it was shango66 either. Wish I could find it....
Just curious...what’s that faint clicking noise that comes and goes through out all the filming that you’ve done in this mine? Also, looks like you guys have some pretty kick ass flashlights. What are you guys using for flashlights?
Not sure about the clicking... I don't remember that. Perhaps dust was in the microphone or its the stabilizer. If you look in the description below one of my recent videos, I have a link to the equipment we use.
12:35 what the rotting library of Alexandria must have been like. Such a loss of information with everything just thrown around. Its a shame, a waste. Now just a mass or loose cylinders of rock and rotting cardboard.
Question. Are you strictly interested in the mine structure and equipment? Do you ever grab any mineral/crystal specimens? Rock hounds like me want to know.
I wish there was a safe place we could share the locations of these mines. Sadly I have a huge list of mines that are excellent to see but for fear of vandals I don’t dare post any location. Sadly due to that very reason most of you on here won’t share. It pisses me off that people have to vandalize HISTORY. I saw a RUclipsr who thought I was cool to light a rag out of a 1 gallon gas can and throw it into anvirtical shaft. Why why why. I personally have seen endangered owls that live down in those shafts. We should all get together and make a site where we can share locations. Password protected and must like provide IDs and pictures of mines that we have found. That way we know who is who. The ones doing vandals won’t show their identity. But this would be great to do because there is so much history and the older the lines the different mining habits you will see. Such as hydraulic, open pit, blasted tunnels with dynamite. Tunnels done with pick axes. Etc. you see a lot of neat relics and the ones that piss me off are those who take the objects with or vandalize. If you want that object take a picture with it and leave it for the rest to enjoy! We seriously should start a protected site where we all can share pictures, names and locations of mines. And create a big database. There are mines I have found where you wouldn’t think there is anything. And I e searched and searched and some of these don’t show up on any maps even old maps from the 1800s. Sure some are small but others are large and there are old model A and T cars and parts laying around and other awesome equipment. My one place I loved to go. Used to have a huge 4 cylendar diesel Fairbanks Morse engine. It’s been being stripped over the years and now it’s completely gone. Also a old steam shovel converted to a diesel like in this video was shot up and parts stolen. What do you all think? Let’s somehow think of a way to make a secured site. Maybe make it mandentory to skype and setup a person as an administrator to view/interview new memebers to be able to access location names and directions or even GPS coordinates. Otherwise they can only see video of the area and what’s there but won’t beable to find location without being approved! I’m also irritated at the inexperienced people going spelunking and they get hurt or fall then need emergency search and rescue. Now Nevada has campaigned to backfill and or blast shut any mine they find. It’s a shame. Yes some mines are unsafe. Life is unsafe. If you enter and get hurt that’s on you. I’ve seen where they have welded grates over the entrance, to filling with high density foam then covered. People have cut and or pulled out the grates with trucks or whatever like winches. It’s nice to let our kids and future generations see what made our community grow. Thanks to vandals and idiots not using common sense. We are loosing badly.
Yeah, it's difficult because of the need to protect these sites not just from souvenir hunters and scrappers, but also the government agencies that should be protecting these sites rather than destroying them... I share your frustration. If you wanted to try and set up a group like the one you described, I'd be fully on board. I don't have the technical skill to do it myself.
@@TVRExploring If you are still interested I would be willing to design a secure website which you can administer and run for people to share such location. Just reply and let me know and Id be happy to provide you my email or Skype.
I would lend a hand, I been tracking down and locating mines in Clark County area so far. BLM is happy to fill these places in and block them from access. I get why they do it but there are other ways to protect them instead of filling them back up with dirt. Some of these have a lot of history to them and played a big role in mining history. Im tryng to map out the actual mines and get a registry which I can compare with the registered mines with BLM and those not registered for one reason or another. Would love to meet up with fellow interested guys and share info or even plan some future exploring. Email me if your interested in getting a website or working on a system to track or monitor some of these sites. Would be glad to assist. reynolds702@hotmail.com. Stay safe out there!
What kind of meter(s) do you use? Been looking for one for exploration in VT, haven't been able to find a good one that does a few gases without costing an arm and a leg.
I use the single gas detectors from BW Technologies. They aren't cheap either, but you don't have to screw around with maintaining them and going through difficult calibrations...
I never imagined at 64 years old, a retired grandmother, that I'd become so fascinated with old mines. Your videos are by far much better than the other explorers videos. And another thing I really appreciate your clear voice and volume and thank you for not using low life foul language. I enjoy my grandchildren watching with me. You are truly a man of integrity. The only thing I wish that you'd do differently is to bring some chalk to mark your way in and out and around. If one of you got hurt it might be hard to get out quickly. And the thought of you getting lost and maybe running into some bad air is another terrible thought. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. Be extra careful and God bless you.
Well, I'm glad I've been able to make this an interesting subject for you. It is a fairly niche topic now, but mining is a significant part of our history. I very much appreciate your support and kind words. We carry air meters and so we've got a heads up on the bad air... Also, we avoid coal mines, which is where one REALLY encounters bad air. I've been in hundreds of mines now and the only air issues I have ever experienced are low oxygen levels. We've been in hundreds of mines now and haven't gotten lost yet. So, that's a good sign. We practice the "right hand rule" or will scratch arrows in the dirt when needed.
I think the chalk idea is good.
"Looking up and up and up"....meanwhile, 6 levels up another pair of explorers decides to see how far down that shaft goes...*toss rock*
That wouldn't be pretty...
The scope of this mine is literally mind boggling. Those tunnels were not only never ending but huge. The amount of ore/rock they took out of there is hard to believe and THEN there is the building with the core samples. OMG, again hard to imagine. The steam shovel is very cool. Be safe as always guys.
Thank you, Doc McCoy. Yes, we had a really hard time getting our minds wrapped around this mine. I had to cut out many, many hours of video of us just walking down endless, featureless tunnels. Imagining the tons of material that were taken out of this mine as well is almost inconceivable... The core samples , like you said, only add to the feeling of being overwhelmed by the scale of it all (at least for me). I'm glad you liked the steam shovel. Seeing that was a nice way to end the trip.
Doc McCoy
*How did the old time miners drag huge, multi-ton machinery 5 miles deep through treacherous shafts and adits? It's a fucking mystery to me.*
I have been to this exact spot back in 2014. The core sheds were cool but i missed the shovel. I drilled in the Robinson Copper Mine and Stayed in the Four Sevens and the Rustic motels. Love that area.
what nice surprise at the end... that THING needs to be put with other saved things from old mines..
Yes, it was great to see that at the end of the day. There are still some great mining artifacts out there.
This brings back memories of working underground gold mine here in Australia and we used to drive underground..
Yes, I don't know of very many modern mines that are still using rail and ore carts. I understand why they don't, but I have a nostalgic fondness for the ore carts and rail.
Awesome seeing something from my home town! Rockford, IL is a big town for industrial equipment specially old ones like this
That was one hell of a mine! I loved the old excavator at the end too, that's been sitting there for many a year.
Yes, this one was quite a mine! I'm glad you liked that excavator. It was nice to see that at the end of the trip... I would imagine it has been sitting out there for decades.
That steam shovel is so nice and pristine. I saw a steam shovel registry on line, you should add that to it.
I was pretty impressed by it! A steam shovel registry? I'll have to check that out...
What a shame that converted steam shovel is just going to rust away. It should be in a museum.
It was neat to see it out in the field still next to the pile of dirt it had been excavating decades ago, but, yes, it is a shame to see it slowly being consumed by the elements...
That's Indy's line! "This should be in a MUSEUM!"
Its a "used to be" steam shovel. Its petrochemical powered 6-cylinder now.
many moons ago stopped in time(":
Hi Justin since you did'nt mention it in you comments. Why the walls of the tunnels looked so dark. It's from the diesel smoke from the vehicular traffic.The talcum powder effect is from the constant passage over floor, of the heavy tread on the tires.Great video thanks mate.
Wow, this is mammoth. Love it
The man hour puT into this mine has to be unreal!
Thank you for sharing the old shovel that is unique tool I've only seen I answered but never won that small
Sweet garlic smell might be arsenopyrite, a major indicator of high grade gold.
The sweet garlic smell is probably something sulfuric. Given the amount of pyrite in this mine, a sulfur compound such as sulfur dioxide is likely.
Thank you.
They sure made some nice tunnels!
Am I must missing it, or is there no reference to the name of this mine?
Great video I wish I had the money to buy that old shovel and make it run again
The interesting thing is that the loop back wasn't accidental. An amazing engineering feat to build that so far underground.
No, it certainly was not an accident. You're right about the engineering - it's incredible what they can do so far underground...
This would be a great starter mine for me to explore,lots of room and solid bed rock!!
A brutal hike I'm sure, many thanks for your efforts sharing close ups of that old steam shovel. FYI John Deere used Hercules flat head engines on their combines (grain harvesting machines) until the early sixties. The engine on that shovel looks exactly like the ones on that Deere equipment.
Thank you. Ha, yes, it was quite a hike... Interesting about the John Deere connection.
YW
This was an awesome set of videos. Thanks for all the work you put into making it.
Thank you. Yes, this was quite a mine...
hercules engines, The company was founded in 1915, known at first as Hercules Motor Manufacturing Company, to build industrial engines, especially for trucks .[1][2] The company reincorporated and reorganized in 1923, emerging as Hercules Motors Corporation. Hercules expanded greatly in the interwar period, developing gas and diesel engines, serving the needs for truck, tractor and a plethora of equipment operators. Therefore when World War II came Hercules was ready to help the Allied effort in a major way. During World War II the company produced about 750,000 gasoline and diesel engines for allied military vehicles, ships, and various bits of equipment.[3] But Hercules could not respond effectively to changes in the post-WW II engine market, so WW II remained its high water mark in terms output, earnings and profits so it had to be a 1915, or later that engine. very cool find. keep the good alwsome work up. love the viedos.
Thank you for the information glade to see people really knowing their stuff. 👨🎓
Hercules at Canton Ohio, built two, four and six cylinder enclosed engines that were used to power various kinds of industrial equipment. 14:17 To a lesser degree, they also powered some small farm tractors, balers and combines. The transmission at 14:28, indicates PAT. APR ‘18 (Patent Approved 1918), Model T-558 or 556. The manufacturer is hard to read, the location possibly Rockport, Illinois. An excellent museum candidate.
Transmission OEM is Cotta Transmission Company, Rockford, Illinois. Still in business (2019) there and at Beloit, Wisconsin.
www.constructionequipment.com/company/cotta-transmission-co
www.cotta.com/
Thank you I very much enjoy your adventures 😊
Yep now I know where you are at and I’ve been there
Spent 4 days looking
That shovel was awesome!
Thank you for always taking us along to some very interesting mines.
Wonderful video and no one more suited to being caught out in the darkness than you.
Thank you. Haha, yes, getting caught out in the darkness has happened plenty of times!
I'd be scared of getting lost down there!
Getting lost down there would not be hard to do at all. That is particularly true with all of those featureless tunnels running everywhere - they all looked the same!
Looks like you really have to keep your wits about you when exploring down there. That's an important part of going there. Knowing how to get back out!
Luv the steam/diesel shovel
theres two steam shovels sitting in the woods by my house and there bigger than that but that be so cool to get it running again
karl schweizer No kidding? Were they for a mine or a quarry nearby? It'd be great to see those because they are rare these days.
We're are you at
Are you asking where this is or where I'm based?
The gear box I presume next to the engine, was made in Rockford, Illinois, which is 34 miles from where I live in Freeport, Illinois. You never know what your going to see when watching your explorations.
Great Video! The steam shovel was an awesome find.
Thank you. Yes, that steam shovel was really cool to see out there...
I'm just curious. In all your mine exploration, did you ever run into anyone else exploring the same mine at the same time?
Hasn't happened yet!
As soon as you showed the building with all the samples I knew exactly where you were at. I need to go back now to see that steam shovel. Was that an Osgood brand?
Do you guys carry a compass? sweet garlic smell might be sulfur or Hydrogen sulfide. Cool old steam shovel!
No compass. We just use the right hand rule. That steam shovel was awesome, huh?
ok.. was just curious. hehe yes! thanks for sharing!
WOW! what an amazing find all those core samples!
Susan Jane mostly HQ Some NQ
The core samples were how they knew which way to head in that maze of tunnels. the large rooms with pillars were the main ore body. and the drifts that had the short side outs every 10' feet or so were also a way of getting ore out without doing room and pillar removal.
They took a lot of ore out of this mine...
By the way arsenic smells like garlic - and so does oxidised arsine gas. And this is the problem with your gas meter which I assume is actually just an oxygen meter, arsine is toxic in fairly low concentrations. Incidentally do you carry a dosimeter? Also that digger looks restorable, should be in a museum.
It's a pretty high end gas meter and detects all manner of dangerous gases. We also have backup meters, which are the more basic oxygen or hydrogen sulfide or whatever... No, we do not carry a dosimeter or other equipment for radiation. We can only carry so much gear and I don't believe we are in a position to be exposed to radiation long enough or in high enough doses for it to be immediately harmful. I spoke with some of the technicians at the Chernobyl site pretty extensively about radiation... Yes, despite being out there for decades, it is in surprisingly good shape and I'd love to see it restored.
@@TVRExploring - arsenic is the smell of gold.
I would love to go with you to check out that place. My grandfather wirk in a mine when he was younger In the 40's.
Jim
Awesome Mine Exploration series! Just started watching your channel, great stuff! That mine is a monster!
Thank you very much. I appreciate you watching and commenting... Yes, you are 100% correct about this mine. It is staggeringly huge. We were down there for many, many hours and barely scratched the surface.
Maybe a 1940's Bucyrus Erie shovel. That's a gas engine.
The old shovel is a bonus
I'd like to see some mine interiors with Timbering. Have you found any or been in any?
I think in an earlier video a few year ago, someone tried to buy it but the owner refused to sell. A couple of days later when he turn back at the excavator he noticed the gun shots. That is just sad
That is sad. Unfortunately, there is a lot more energy being put into destroying our history rather than preserving it.
You hiked up to the shovel for the exercise? Cuz there's a road right next to it. Probably just for Jeeps. :)
I'd like to build a house out there out of them core samples
Remember the old shovel that was at pine grove going up to howland flat , they cut it up and hauled it off for scrap.
Yes, I remember it very well. I was wondering what happened to it... I'm sorry that it ended up like that.
No way! Freaking idiots up here I tell ya, i live in yerington, and to pine grove trail head is about 15 min drive from me, and I go up there all the time, and actually just found the old cemetary which is cool to experience as well, but I think there is someone up there that's running the old tailing piles in search of gold, but none the less still cool, I want to go exploring the Rockland site just it's been muddy and slippery every time I've been up that way , and had to turn around.
Hercules JXD-5 engine 320 cu.in. Common larger industrial engine from the '40's.
Thank you.
Chris Craft boats used Hercules engines till the last 50's they ran so smooth and quiet on a vessel anyways! They loved gas and oil!
Chuck Haynes
1840s?😀
I wonder if any of the many folks who explore these old mines have ever considered mapping the tunnels. It would be a neat project.
Someone needs the right temperament for it - patience and attention to detail - and so I am not suited for it... Furthermore, this particular mine would prove to be a lifetime project for mappers.
I have the patience and capabilities to map out any mine this one would be nice to map out then see a 3D view of actual tunnels and addits in the grand sceem of it, would also like to see how you guys went in a circle lol 3D mapping and or by hand with pencil & paper and a measuring tape 100ft plus
The Hercules Motors Corporation was organized in Canton, Ohio 73 years ago (1915) I sure that engine came out of like military surplus
I would love to get my hands on that engine During World War II, Hercules recognized its responsibility to supply the U.S. and Allied armed forces with infinitely more engines than could then be produced.
you guys do a fine job with your videos
Thank you very much for the kind words and the additional information on Hercules...
Thanks for the guided tour of these places I may never see! In all three videos I spied with my little eye things in the intersections like at 0:15 in this video. I thought they were boxes but they seemed regularly placed in several junctions in this mine, they are square "wooden looking" somethings what are they?
And thank Google: . Arsenopyrite is generally an acid consuming sulfide mineral unlike iron pyrite which can lead to acid mine drainage. The crystal habit, hardness, density, and garlic odor when struck. Much of the arsenopyrite that has been mined formed as a high-temperature mineral in hydrothermal veins. It is often mined, together with other metallic minerals, from veins that might contain gold, silver, lead, tungsten, or tin.
Again thank you for the great videos, be safe (which is of course both relative and subjective) and live life like you stole it my I will prolly never meet you friend!
Thank you.
Those were just random pieces of wood. No discernible pattern with them that we noticed.
Nice definition for arsenopyrite...
This mine appears to have had motorized mucking equipment operating in it at one time.
Can you please leave the comments up a little longer, I can't read them till the end because they dissaper to quickly.Thank you
You mean the comments in the videos? I was getting complaints about them being up for too long and so I shortened them... For the videos that have already been published, I can only suggest that you pause the video long enough to read the comment. Going forward, I'll leave the comments up for longer. Again, assuming you are referring to the comments in the videos.
That old shovel is cool. Imagine, some bloke drove that thing all the way up there!
Yes, I thought it was great... It was in such a remote location, I can't imagine it being driven out there!
This one was mind blowing. Any clue when that mine shut down? Looks like many years of work there.
It closed during a low point in the commodities cycle... The prices were just too low for them to mine profitably.
Chris Craft used those Herc 6 engines in their boats in the 50's
Man, those must have been fast boats...
how come you don't carry a squeeze bottle of chalk for refilling snap lines to put arrows on the floor pointing out as you go in.
The amount of gear that we HAVE to carry is already quite cumbersome and heavy. So, we try to limit as much as possible what we carry. Also, we haven't felt the need for something like chalk yet. Between utilizing the "right hand rule" and simply scratching arrows in the mud or dust, we have not had any issues so far.
Thanks again for sharing life with enthusiasm guys
Thanks for being part of it...
How you can keep track of where you have been and where the way to get out is I don’t know.
Just wow, just the idea of mining core samples, would you get a good amount of what the miners were hunting for? Think gold, how much was just put on a shelf?
This was an industrial metal mine - zinc if memory serves correctly - so nothing valuable in the core samples...
@@TVRExploring ok, I have a different question, in all the mines you explored with water around you, did you ever taste the water?
I believe the Yellow stuff is yellowcake uranium.
Yup it definitely is bro
We'd love to join you on a few mine road trips
Pretty mad how that level just went back on itself like that, I have experienced similar in a couple mines, doesn't feel right at all when you come to the end, its like "what just happened" lol Love the old digger at the end, well preserved in the desert air, what a great find!
Yes, that loop back on itself really threw us for a loop because we had hiked for hours more and had gone up to higher levels. Yet, somehow it dumped us behind where we had started hours before. The old steam shovel at the end was a great thing to see at the end of the day. I had to stumble back to camp in the dark, but it was worth it.
I am about to pull my hair out: At 10.45, he says without emotion "wow. this is ... without any doubt ... the biggest collection of core samples i've ever seen, anywhere, in my life. it is unreal, holy crap. it just goes forever through here. these are all core samples. .... pretty much blown away right now, that goes on for 40 feet all the way back there. stack after stack, row after row, core samples. ... unreal ... well this alone was pretty much worth coming here for. ...this alone made it worth it. well im just going to go thru the rest of the building."
Wait, what???? what about the samples? what were they finding?
I sat thru over an hour of video truging thru mine tunnels, dead end after dead end, long corridors of nuthin'. he seems to maybe be lost (didn't come out where he came in). HE FOUND a huge building that holds THE ENTIRE REASON THE MINE WAS DUG, WHY ANY OF THIS EXISTS, A SIGHT HE HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, and he spends 3 minutes on it.!? then finds a steam shovel, gives 5 minutes to detail who made parts of it. and that's it.
UGH!!!!even worse than click bait is youtube Blue Balls!!!!!!!!!!!
If you read the descriptions in the videos, I talk about what they were mining here and explain what the research on this mine uncovered in regard to geology. I believe the first video is where the explanation is... I always put what I know about the geology and history of the mine in the description. Also, this was a modern base metal mine. I know a lot more about gold mining - especially historic gold mines... In regard to the core samples, you really want to just have me holding the camera over them saying, "Oh, there's a dark rock. Oh, there's a light rock. Oh, there's a pretty rock. Oh, there's a shiny rock." With a few exceptions, that is about the depth you'd get with me discussing geology. One exception would be that pillar of pyrite we found (I think it was the second video). I remember explaining what that was and giving plenty of close up views of that. So, give me some credit for something like that. You can't say I'm being a RUclips cock tease in a situation involving a pillar of pyrite (that remains the largest concentration of pyrite I've ever seen). If you've still got blue balls, watch one of my videos on gold mining. The second video of the Calhoun Mine is a great one. That's a badass mine and the geology is explained well. If you have any questions after that one, let me know because I can answer almost any of those.
I want to make the shovel run again!
0:56 it looks like tire tracks in the rocks
Cool beans. Sharing to Facebook on treasure hunter mining page.
awesome peace of history.
I believe that one long building contains lots of core samples.
Hell of a video
WOW JUST WOW what a mine so big then the very old equipment and the building
shame people have to destroy things Just sucks love what you do and both of you such a nice video
Thank you very much. Yes, it is always a shame to see historical sites torn apart for no reason. That's one reason we are making these videos - to show what is out there now before it is completely destroyed.
*Many of these so-called "collapses" are triggered by the natural movement of crustal plates, earthquakes and tremors.*
Yes! The earth is a lot more active than I think many people realize.
That is your old Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel type digger.
Pretty awesome, huh?
Arsenopyrite, sulfur, Antozonite, and pyrite one of the 4 here are most likely the smell culprits just hope it's not the 1st one
This huge mine feels creepy to me for some reason. I don't usually get that feeling from your videos in mines. And the old steam shovel reminds me of the old children's book about a steam shovel. Seems like it had a name like Mc-something. Wow, hadn't thought about that book in decades.
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel... I haven't thought about that book in decades either and I had to Google it to make sure that I remembered it correctly.
TVR Exploring, that’s the name!! Great old kids’ book. Glad you remembered!
You have some fantastic videos! I'm part of a group that runs a museum in an old silver mine in Norway. I see that I have to go for a trip and explore some mine in the US :) Keep em coming!
Thank you very much. I'm glad you're enjoying them... We have some very good silver mines in the US, especially in Nevada! You have some great mines in and near Norway too though. How about Pyramiden? Is it possible to visit/explore the mine where your museum is or any of the other silver mines in Norway?
TVR Exploring Cool :) Yeah pyramiden is possible to explore, but only the town and mining facility. I think the mine there is collapsed or closed off. It's a coal mine so it's super unsafe anyway. The mine I'm helping to keep is explorable and we have had some trips to higher levels but we need to enter from the top I think. There are a lot of mines to explore an very few are closed off. We are planning some trips to other mines around Norway to see if we can save some equipment or just document. Chek out hans_magnus here on RUclips, he have some footage from Kongsberg silver mine (most famous mine in Norway) and some forage from "our" mine Konnerud.
I can't remember what I read exactly, but I also had the impression it was not possible to access the workings. We don't have coal mines anywhere near us and so we haven't even had the opportunity, but coal mines are definitely something I would have second and even third thoughts about... With all of the Soviet stuff still around, I think it would be fascinating to even just check out the surface buildings and equipment at Pyramiden. Thank you for the tip on the other RUclips channel. It's expensive, but I really like Norway and now you've given me some additional reasons to come back with all of those mines you mentioned because I was already interested in Pyramiden. Thank you.
TVR Exploring Your welcome :) How is it with the stability in mines such as the one in your most resent video. For me it looks like a lot of the geology down there is gravel with a lot of lime deposits in it, is it not unstable? Yeah Norway is a bit expensive. But if you are coming tell me and I can help you finding a place to stay :)
The H beams in the core sample room on the roof are never super good condition, I wonder what they are coated in? Or is it the dry atmosphere?
Do you ever consider taking atv's in big mines like that if possible?
I've been to hundreds of mines now and I've only seen one where it would have been practical to take an ATV inside. There always seems to be some obstacle...
Sure if you want to die of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Ha, and there is that little detail as well...
@@hudsonhawk0016 There are some mines though that are so big that the shaft acts as a chimney and draws air through the mine and that's why mine explorers don't die regularly from foul air and often talk of which way the air is flowing. These huge mines like the one in the vid are really the mines I was talking about I should have been more specific.
Why do they build huge doors in the mine?
That is normally done to control air flow.
What kind of light do you use? I'd like to pick up something a bit more powerful for the huge room-and-pillar stopes in the limestone mines here.
My handheld light is the Coast HP550 and the light on my helmet is the Coast HL8R. I like the adjustable focus that Coast lights have...
TVR Exploring Thanks! I was expecting $500 studio lights; pleasantly surprised to see that you're using a $37.95 flashlight. I've got some underground trips in the pipeline (contacting and coordinating with property owners takes time); having proper lighting will make them a lot more productive.
Unless you've found a cheaper source, I think I paid about $60 for the handheld light and about $120 for the light on my helmet... The light on my helmet has a rechargeable lithium ion battery, which I love. I have been hunting all over the place for an adjustable focus, rechargeable, handheld flashlight that is a reasonable size and produces over 1,000 lumens. Coast makes a rechargeable light that that is over 1,000 lumens, but the thing is a monster weighing like eight pounds and costs $500. I've gotten most of my gear sorted to where I have exactly what I want, but the handheld flashlight is an ongoing source of frustration to me as I am spending a fortune on AA batteries. Anyway, yes, good lighting makes an enormous difference in underground situations. Without a good light inside of a mine, a video just seems to get swallowed up in blackness. I hope the permission and coordination with the property owners goes quickly and smoothly. I look forward to seeing your experiences...
I don't, but I really need to because I'm tired of spending a fortune on AA batteries. My helmet light is a rechargeable lithium ion battery and I sure wish I could find a handheld light that had one and meets my other requirements.
Have you tried the stinger flashlights?
What city is the mine in? Was it a silver mine or gold?
a quick google suggests that the sweet garlic smell might have been arsenic
"The garlic smell is actually the smell of arsenic trihydride, better known as arsine gas"
I've smelled arsenic gas before and this was different. I used the word "garlic" because I was struggling to describe it, but I've never smelled anything like it before or since. Thanks for checking that out.
Old machine wasnt in bad shape considering
Could be a combination of kaolinite which you walked passed, when you said it started stinking and arsenopyrite which smells garlicky.
Hello I've been to a handful of mines in Nevada this one does not ring a bell can you tell me where it's located roughly thanks
I met a swedish prospector who has a Trans-Scandinavia Gopher Mining Co. He trains gophers to dig tunnels inside the mine while you can rest. The animals even eliminate mosquitoes. He offers also the service of his sister a teacher to educate children of the miners in daylight outside the mine, and at night the children can help dig gold inside the mine! It was the same person that sold me the dogs experts in smelling gold. I want to buy a Balloon to arrive at the mines without walking kilometers in bear-infested forests...
The balloon is an excellent idea... And, yes, children should definitely be put to work in mines! I don't understand why that is even up for debate. Parents need to earn a return on their investments.
@@TVRExploring I was having fun. Enjoyed all your videos inmensely.
As was I... Thank you!
fantastic video! - do any mine fans remember a youtube video where two guys explore a mine and crawl through more than one dangerous collapse ? - quite a long video, not on Franks channel, I dont think it was shango66 either. Wish I could find it....
Thank you. Wish I could help you with your question, but that describes at least half the videos just on this channel...
Wondering if that's the cave Kenny Veach talking about in his video?
should do a cool start video on that steam shovel
I'd love to see it fired up, but that is way beyond my capabilities.
How cool a old steam shovel
Definitely not something we come across every day...
Just curious...what’s that faint clicking noise that comes and goes through out all the filming that you’ve done in this mine?
Also, looks like you guys have some pretty kick ass flashlights. What are you guys using for flashlights?
Not sure about the clicking... I don't remember that. Perhaps dust was in the microphone or its the stabilizer. If you look in the description below one of my recent videos, I have a link to the equipment we use.
TVR Exploring thanks for getting back to me. 🤙
12:35 what the rotting library of Alexandria must have been like. Such a loss of information with everything just thrown around. Its a shame, a waste. Now just a mass or loose cylinders of rock and rotting cardboard.
It seems tragic, doesn't it? Think of how much time and effort was put into collecting these samples and carefully organizing them...
Question. Are you strictly interested in the mine structure and equipment? Do you ever grab any mineral/crystal specimens? Rock hounds like me want to know.
We're just there for the mining history... I don't have much knowledge on geology.
Were you able to read any dates on the ends of those core sample boxes??
No, I looked, but they didn't have dates on them.
I wish there was a safe place we could share the locations of these mines. Sadly I have a huge list of mines that are excellent to see but for fear of vandals I don’t dare post any location. Sadly due to that very reason most of you on here won’t share. It pisses me off that people have to vandalize HISTORY. I saw a RUclipsr who thought I was cool to light a rag out of a 1 gallon gas can and throw it into anvirtical shaft. Why why why. I personally have seen endangered owls that live down in those shafts. We should all get together and make a site where we can share locations. Password protected and must like provide IDs and pictures of mines that we have found. That way we know who is who. The ones doing vandals won’t show their identity. But this would be great to do because there is so much history and the older the lines the different mining habits you will see. Such as hydraulic, open pit, blasted tunnels with dynamite. Tunnels done with pick axes. Etc. you see a lot of neat relics and the ones that piss me off are those who take the objects with or vandalize. If you want that object take a picture with it and leave it for the rest to enjoy!
We seriously should start a protected site where we all can share pictures, names and locations of mines. And create a big database. There are mines I have found where you wouldn’t think there is anything. And I e searched and searched and some of these don’t show up on any maps even old maps from the 1800s. Sure some are small but others are large and there are old model A and T cars and parts laying around and other awesome equipment. My one place I loved to go. Used to have a huge 4 cylendar diesel Fairbanks Morse engine. It’s been being stripped over the years and now it’s completely gone. Also a old steam shovel converted to a diesel like in this video was shot up and parts stolen.
What do you all think? Let’s somehow think of a way to make a secured site. Maybe make it mandentory to skype and setup a person as an administrator to view/interview new memebers to be able to access location names and directions or even GPS coordinates. Otherwise they can only see video of the area and what’s there but won’t beable to find location without being approved!
I’m also irritated at the inexperienced people going spelunking and they get hurt or fall then need emergency search and rescue. Now Nevada has campaigned to backfill and or blast shut any mine they find. It’s a shame. Yes some mines are unsafe. Life is unsafe. If you enter and get hurt that’s on you. I’ve seen where they have welded grates over the entrance, to filling with high density foam then covered. People have cut and or pulled out the grates with trucks or whatever like winches. It’s nice to let our kids and future generations see what made our community grow. Thanks to vandals and idiots not using common sense. We are loosing badly.
Yeah, it's difficult because of the need to protect these sites not just from souvenir hunters and scrappers, but also the government agencies that should be protecting these sites rather than destroying them... I share your frustration. If you wanted to try and set up a group like the one you described, I'd be fully on board. I don't have the technical skill to do it myself.
@@TVRExploring If you are still interested I would be willing to design a secure website which you can administer and run for people to share such location. Just reply and let me know and Id be happy to provide you my email or Skype.
I'm game, it's be cool to find some places like this up here in/near my town(fairbanks) in Alaska
Yeah I agree I well never get to experience that cause of people like that..
I would lend a hand, I been tracking down and locating mines in Clark County area so far. BLM is happy to fill these places in and block them from access. I get why they do it but there are other ways to protect them instead of filling them back up with dirt. Some of these have a lot of history to them and played a big role in mining history. Im tryng to map out the actual mines and get a registry which I can compare with the registered mines with BLM and those not registered for one reason or another. Would love to meet up with fellow interested guys and share info or even plan some future exploring. Email me if your interested in getting a website or working on a system to track or monitor some of these sites. Would be glad to assist. reynolds702@hotmail.com. Stay safe out there!
I could get into exploring this mine because it doesn't seem claustrophobic.
This one was like a series of railroad tunnels. It'd be tough to get claustrophobic in this one, I would think.
What kind of meter(s) do you use? Been looking for one for exploration in VT, haven't been able to find a good one that does a few gases without costing an arm and a leg.
I use the single gas detectors from BW Technologies. They aren't cheap either, but you don't have to screw around with maintaining them and going through difficult calibrations...
Thanks!