A Really Special Mine In An Unexpected Place
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2023
- There was an interesting mineral mix at this abandoned mine… The district was known for copper, lead and silver (which this mine also had small amounts of), but this particular mine was primarily a fluorine-fluorite mine. It is almost unfathomable to me that the miners here could have made a profit from a small operation for an industrial mineral like that. However, I suppose that with a lot of hard work and resourcefulness (plenty of evidence of that at this site), that the miners might have pulled it off. I sure hope that they did!
So, the story of our adventure on the drive to the mine… The road in was fairly rough and we became high-centered on a large boulder. It was one of those winning the negative lottery experiences - we could have driven over it with no trouble 1,000 times, but on this occasion happened to hit it just right, which kicked the truck up onto the boulder and left the tires stranded in loose gravel. It took some work as the loose sand and gravel was not very helpful in supporting a jack, but we eventually got the truck jacked up and packed all the rocks we could find under the tires to get the truck off the boulder as much as possible and to provide as much traction as possible. With some effort on the part of the truck and some new dents to add character, we got the truck off the boulder and continued for just several hundred feet to the mine. Yes, we were that close when we got stuck.
Upon arriving at the mine, the truck suddenly died. Jeremy restarted the truck and warning lights lit up the instrument panel like a Christmas tree, the engine made a horrible sound and black smoke poured out of the exhaust. Seeing all of that was not a good feeling and not what you would expect from a Toyota!
We had sufficient water, but we did not have phone service out there. And this mine is a long, LONG walk from anything. We calculated that the nearest town was about 15-20 miles away as the crow flies - and it is a tiny town... Trying to make the hike during the heat of the day in the summer would likely have been deadly because we didn’t have THAT much water. However, struggling to make the hike at night had its own risks because we’d be cutting cross country and would have had a harder time staying on the right course, avoiding rolled ankles in the rocky terrain, etc. Less important, but still of some significance - two of us also had flights the next morning that we had to catch.
We figured that if we were at the mine though, we might as well explore it. So, we set out to explore the mine and hoped for the best. It was a great mine, but we had a slight worry about the truck hanging over us the whole time.
We returned to the truck as it was getting dark and there was certainly no small amount of anticipation when Jeremy pushed the “Start” button. However, it fired right up without a hint of trouble and had no problems at all on the drive out.
We ultimately concluded that the sensors overheated from the very hot day, the slow and grinding drive to get out to the mine and the effort required from the truck to get off the boulder. Being pissed off from being overheated, the sensors simply threw a temper tantrum.
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You can see the full TVR Exploring playlist of abandoned mines here: goo.gl/TEKq9L
You can see the gear that I use for mine exploring here: bit.ly/2wqcBDD and here: bit.ly/2p6Jip6
Several kind viewers have asked about donating to help cover some of the many expenses associated with exploring these abandoned mines. Inspired by their generosity, I set up a Patreon account. So, if anyone would care to chip in, I’m under TVR Exploring on Patreon.
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 colorful niche of our history is gone forever.
I hope you’ll join us on these adventures!
#ExploringAbandonedMines
#MineExploring
#AbandonedMines
#UndergroundMineExploring
The Schilling's best 16 oz. baking powder tin dates to the late 1920's to the mid 1930's - cool find, awesome mine !
Thanks for doing the research!
@@philais Thank You, side note that there are tins that look similar from the 1880's, but they look a little different and they had a handle, like a paint can. And research is what i do a lot of, I'm a metal detectorist.
Cool plant find, that's an evening primrose. All things considered it's probably a california evening primrose, oenothera californica, assuming the mine is in California ofc. There are quite a few rare subspecies but it's pretty hard to ID a wildflower just by looks, depending on the local conditions they can look very different and I've spent an unhealthy amount of time trying to ID Washington/Oregon wildflowers from my hikes lol. Also nice can find, at earliest it is from 1881 when the trademark was registered. The company changed the look of the can at some point, and I'd bet money it was after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake destroyed their newly built factory. So a safe bet for that can is probably 1881-1906, good call on the late 1800s dating. Fun fact, before founding the Schilling Company the two founders met while working for Folgers, they found out they were from the same home town in Germany and became good friends, so they formed their own company selling baking goods, spices, and a few other items.
Thank you for all of the great detail on the finds - from the flower to the cans...
The name on the barrel at the entrance to the portal was likely "Socony Vacuum" which eventually became Mobil Oil Co. The winged Pegasus was a trademark image. Since Socony Oil and Vacuum Oil didn't merge until 1931, I think that helps with some dating of the mine. On the other hand if it just says "Vacuum Oil Co" that dates back into 1853's and was owned on and off by Standard Oil. The history of these oil companies is quite complex.
really interesting. Thanks!
They all had 3 choices from the standard oil company though. They could sell for cash, sell for stock or get run out of business by old john d.
I've seen old motors set up as air compressors. 4 cylinders run on gas and the other 4 are used to compress the air. Not efficient, but it works. The barrels were probably used as air tanks. The system wouldn't take a lot of pressure. If it wasn't enough to run a drill, maybe it was enough to flush out the gases after blasting?.
Interesting... Well, considering everything else at the site, that sounds like a very viable theory.
Probably why the cylinder head is missing.....😊
Very Interesting,the engine in the mine is a 1924/25 Buick Master 6 engine, 255 cu inch, about 70 horsepower
Interestingly I have noticed similar Buick engines in other old mine site videos
1928 GMC trucks used a Buick Master 6 engine, by then 274 cu inch. I own a 1926 Buick Master 6 car .
That truch chasis was most probably an air compressor. That time period had a lot of things powered by continental 4 cylinder flat head engines, super easy to convert those to an air compessor. There was a kit to do it, my grandfather had one, would put out a good volume of air at 120 psi. The engine in the frame was the powerplant, someone took the air compressor and used it elsewhere.
I was thinking generator but what you mentioned makes more sense
6 cylinder and exhaust to surface . Certainly unique for any explore.
Yup, it is a 6 cylinder. It would have been coupled to the air compressor via a drive line. Direct drive.
Yeah I thought air compressor too.
@@zipzap7923that's a possibility aswell
That piece of pottery with the partial backstamp, was made about 3 miles from where I'm sitting. It came from Burslem in Stoke-on-Trent, England. It looks like one their backstamps from c1860's - 1891.
That’s wild!!
That's awesome! Thank you for the additional details on it.
@@TVRExploring Your wellcome, thank you for the great videos of places Ill probably get to see. Im always amazed by the state of preservation that the climate provides. In the UK, timber much over 30yrs provides only moral support at best. Wishing you all the best from cold and wet Staffordshire!
Regarding the baking soda can from Schilling Best. The date for that company selling this product was 1881 to 1945 or 46. The company eventually merged with McCormick. It was founded by August Schilling who immigrated to San Francisco with him came his business partner George Volkman in 1870 after traveling from their home countries of Germany.
Thanks!
Thank you!
Glad the truck started back up for you guys! Makes for one helluva story. Thanks for another adventure!
The flower at 23:34 , I believe it's a Tufted Evening Primrose.
Great video friend thanks again and please keep the great videos coming friend from Scotland 😊
“This could go at any time” Get out of the danger zone Justin!! Jesus man.. thanks for the awesome clip. Don’t let complacency take you dude.
Glad you enjoyed this video... This mine ended up as one of my favorites. It's not complacency. It's knowing the risks and choosing to proceed despite them.
Fantastic ore! thank you for taking me along
and the description of what happened with your truck..
Something‘s watching over you, maybe.
Think gly explored this mine
Yes, I believe he did. However, I don't believe that he proceeded past the sporty ore chute on the haulage adit or explored the upper workings. With historical abandoned mines disappearing from our landscape so quickly, it is inevitable that there will occasionally be some overlap. Sometimes he visits mines before we do and sometimes we visit mines before he does. I never viewed it as a competition, although I know that some do.
For what seems to be a real mom & pop operation, judging by the obvious cost saving measures, they sure tunneled the hell out of that area. Who knows, maybe they did pretty well. They had have quite a few guys working there, and for a good while I'd imagine. Can't see them doing that much work on that tight a budget for as long as they did without pulling something of a haul out of there. Very, very cool location. Thanks for sharing that, was incredibly neat to see.
Just read about the truck incident. Damn, that could have been way worse. Both being stuck and the CEL. Glad it was "just a fluke" and you guys made it out without too much trouble.
The Video was amazing.
The clours The different Geologie and the Germanstyle Timbersets absolute great
It seems to me it was a low Budget mine reopend a older mine.
Stay save best wishes yours Frank Galetzka
Thank you. Yes, I agree with both.
That shaggy juniper really holds up, literally! I'm just imaging all those ancient thermal vents just pumping out those silicates and metals. Very cool vid.
Justin- based on the fact they were using the 6 cylinder engine, my guess is that engine was performing two functions. Likely power generator and air compressor. Too bad it has literally be completely removed, it would have been interesting to see how the miners actually had it rigged up.
we out in central NV last week and wondering thru an abandond smelter site. there were a few stone buildings left but the only wood building left someone has cut the bottom off cans cut down the side flattened them and use them for shingles and siding. hundred and hundreds of cans even protected the home from a fire that swept thru there 20 yrs ago.
What a story in the description! You guys really had some moments! The waste rock pile tells the tale of a large mine. Anyone figure out what was up with the truck engine and frame? Crazy mine with cool strap rail. Lots of cut and fill along with failures. The hand sewn timbers were something of beauty. Nice explore Justin and Company!
The stopes connecting the upper and lower workings were pretty big. So, I imagine a good amount of the waste rock came out of there. However, yes, I would love to know how much farther that lower adit ran past the caved section.
Wow, you guys sure were lucky that truck started when it did and you got out of there safely. Lesson learnt i trust. That was one super sketchy mine as you described Justin. Great content, as usual. Stay safe guys. Cheers from Oz.
Like bring extra water and food, And a PLB or two wouldn't hurt.
At 16:39. I'm not sure, as I wasn't there, but those "Leather Straps" actually appear to be made from cut sections of early (Pre 1930) thin cross section vehicle tyres, there appears to be visible the canvas material used as a layer in the tyre sidewalls along with a flat section which holds the tread. I have seen this used before to hold airline and pipes that vibrate/move so they don't impact the timber framing or ribs.
wow, you seem to have hit a awesome run of great mines, are these really remote as they look? That first mine is something else though, what a epic find that truck chassis, shame it didn't go further/deeper. The cabin mine reminds me of one we have over here, just inside the portal theres a incline stope. Nice exploring those new places, living the dream! Take care my friend!
Yes, these have been pretty remote lately (although in odd places). It's the only way to have decent odds of finding sites that haven't been stripped.
Good evening from Southeast South Dakota
Great finds and view man! Loved the journey guys 🤩
This might be the best one yet> Thank you.
Great fun!!! Thank you!
In the can dump was a can with about 100 holes in the bottom which was probably made to be used as a sifter, miners were quite resourceful in using what they had since they didn't have a 7/11 around the corner from their mine!
They were pushing the envelope on what could and couldn't be done....And trying new ideas and not being closed minded, which is awsome to see...
That was VERY cool! Of most of your videos I've seen, this one seems to have the most creative ingenuity to it(as you said, obviously budget minded).
Really enjoyed the cabin site, the can dump, great find on the Pioneer tin. Makes me wonder if there's a good bit more to it, given the ginormous amount of waste rock.
The truck chassis you kept on referring to is in fact a Buick chassis too,they were solidly built.
Too Cool....
Just watched your last 4 videos. Dont know much about rocks. But i do know you must have had alot of rain. Dont see the desert that green unless its wet. Cold and gloomy in ND. Great videos guys
8:46 In 1944 the Triangle Candy Co. was convicted of adulterating food products.
Love your content and the great mines you access :) thank you!
Thank you. This ended up being everyone's favorite from that particular trip.
Awesome Video, as per usual! Thank You! 😉
Fabulous video ..
Bloody Awesome wow!
That was awesome! Thanks for bringing us along.
Another great vid!
Very interesting geology in that last adit you explored
An exciting and interesting adventure to watch... I really enjoyed this cool video... I hope it will be more successful... warm greetings from Indonesia 👍
Not a good place to have car trouble if there is a good place to. Thank you for taking us along. stay safe ALL
Very cool mine.
Brilliant again mate.👍
Since Halloween is approaching, you should place in the mine, a skeleton in old clothes (as a joke). Make it look like a miner holding a sign that says "We've been trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty". I got the idea from people that placed fake skeletons in walls, and under floors when they did home renovations.
I’m giving you a thumbs up for perseverance, The trouble you had that day think of all the out-of-the-way mines you’ve been to and what those guys did to get their equipment there, once they’re there to pick up their tools and start working on solid rock. Super tough guys.
I have a hundred or two mines around me and and it is truly amazing the lengths they went to to make these mines in the most remote places!! They even have “mule days” here to celebrate the hard work the mules did to help the miners!
@@Jennifermcintyre It was a tough life, it’s incredible the hardships people went through in hopes of a better life.
@@jw2218just the remote locations and the incredibly harsh conditions would make it difficult! These guys were truly amazing.
@@Jennifermcintyre Don’t forget the families of these men. A person just has to think back to what type of life our grandparents had growing up.
@@jw2218 true! I guess I just figured the guys were bachelors… they must have had families somewhere else because you rarely see much housing… everyone made sacrifices! There’s a mine near me in Darwin California and they had tons of housing so maybe families could live there with them!?!
You guys are killin it love u
Looked like they were chasing limonite in that last stope. Hope you grabbed some samples.
always a joy when you upload and this time no different :) , stay safe out there
Great explore Justin!
Well, that was close! Thanks for the video!
Another great mine explore! The engine and frame inside the mine are Buick. 255 ci 6 cylinder. 1925 or so.
You know your stuff to be able to identify it based on what was left in the mine! Thank you.
Amazing find hasn't been messed with by too many people obviously some have stripped that engine parts. I'm always surprised how they were able to get all that timber to the property in those days some of these mine no trees around. The size of those timbers amount of weight take truck loads down hand made roads.
very very good
Looks like the truck was used to either run a compressor or generator, depending which time period it was used
That mine must have had a stamp mill as there were many Mercury barrels in the haulage shaft. I think the hangers were not leather but sections of old tire.
Good to see you back again. I left you a comment on another episode called chasing down the out of the way gold mines of the Serra Nevadas .it’s worth a read. Looking like you’re in Southern California on this one and in lower country I’m seeing lots of grease wood and live oak along with desert country.
@30:21 They may have singed the wood as a preservative method. I've seen that done with wood house siding. The charing on the exterior slows/prevents wood rot.
Mandrel wrapped pipe was common for some things like "Damascus" barrels that were forged from wound wire.
Truck chassis mounted air compressor, the barrels in front of the engine were the cooling system, a lot of early stationary engines used the same principle , it obviated the need for a fan and easily damaged copper core radiator wgich would also clog up with dust.
Inline 4 cylinder and V8 engines i have heard and seen converted to run half the cylinders as air compressor pistons (On the V8 it used one side of the vee block.) but never seen 6 cylinder's so there was most likely a compressor connected at the rear of the clutch at the rear of the engine but its been removed.
Wow glad the truck started. .
Another very interesting explore, great find again. Toyota's always work right? right!!!
Nice job! Wish we could’ve figured out how the air was flowing through that thing..
Thank you. I'm sure it tied into those stopes in the upper workings...
Very neat. I just can’t imagine dragging the truck into the mine.
You guys got lucky with the truck situation! That could have been really, really bad.
Yes, that would have definitely ramped up the "adventure" side of the equation.
Schilling was taken over by McCormick in 1947. Im guessing that can is circa 1940 ish.
The truck chassis might actually be a luxury car or limousine from the 1920s. Many of those were turned into trucks during the Depression because their heavy chassis and big engines were good for that.
Wow what an adventure just to drive out to the mine, you might as well call it a near death experience haha
Cool mine. Sad when so much has collapsed. But luck more wasnt looking at how crumbled it was. That truck chassis. tho lol
Oh wow that's sketch as.. I think i'd invest in a sat phone or put a dirt bike in the back of the truck. I'm glad you got off the rock and it actually started after! great video! Bring more water! haha.
I pack a quad in the truck for escape if necessary.... lol never know out the hills
39:20, bottom left at the end of the stope, looks quite like a couple of carbide tally marks. Provided all the parts are there, some blaster in the valves (the head's already off...) and I'd bet on that engine starting right back up. A very nice mix of features overall (and a nice bit of tension you had en route!).
First, time to watch while working. thanks TvR interesting geography around the site
Watching while working is the best.
Another great explore and very interesting mine! A good reward after the rock encounter challenge! As to the vehicle warning lights, etc. that’s a rhetorical question I’m often asking myself when viewing yours and other remote mine explore videos - what an earth happens in the event of you needing emergency help or getting stuck because of a vehicle breakdown. I would imagine there is very little or no cellphone coverage in Death Valley CA, and other mining areas like Arizona, Nevada etc but perhaps someone could clarify? If it was me (being a cautious (thinks of everything type of person), I would have a satnav phone with me but those are expensive I know. Maybe if you are a Christian believer, like I am, you had some “divine intervention” with your Toyota issues 😂🙏⛏
Nah, a satellite phone makes things too easy... It's far more invigorating to face having to innovate a solution to a problem or to prepare for a very long hike out. So far, we have always been able to innovate, but the time will come when the long hike must be made.
I think the dark timbers were darkened by the smoke of the fire in the section at the front. Good the truck was just saying it needed a rest. Poor thing was probly traumatized, thinking it was going to be a like the remnants of the old one it's seen around old mines.😢
Lamberts was Listerine
You’re Videos literally make me sick but I love watching them but they’ve made me realize I’m so claustrophobic
Huge amount of work in the day would have been fantastic to see it when it was being worked to see how many would be there
Maybe the converted frame with engine and used it as a water pump to pump out water at the bottom of the mine. Either that and air pump or a hoist motor for ore buckets.
I'm pretty sure that beautiful flower is an evening primrose.
Thank you!
Engine appears to be mid 20s Buick they used combo water pump generator connection like that.
Thank you.
Any info on how that truck base got into that mine cause that looked insane and iv never seen anything like that either
That "Soap dish" on the doorframe into the cellar area of the stone cabin would've held a matchbox back in the day, so it was easily accessible to light lamps or the wooden stove.
Schillings was established in 1881 in San Francisco. They continued until 1957 when they were bought out by McCormick.
I think the truck was used as a gas powered pump of some kind, all stripped down to just the chassis and engine, that wood plate looked like an instrument panel.
Sounds like your truck threw a temperature tantrum.
I bet that truck chassis was being used for a compressor. The engine was used as a PTO and the frame was where the compressor and tank mounted.
They were also probably using the front of the crankshaft to power the windlass that acted as a belt drive for something.
You know I'm really surprised that you don't have considerably followers, especially as detailed as you are in your research into the old mines y'all explorer.
How did this place get missed by the vast numbers of people who take everything in sight as a trophy for their personal collections is what has me confused.
Won't mention unmentionable, as the parasites might get wind of it through they're network of snitches.
Take care young man
PS
Whose minding the mine in it's process of renewing it's ability to provide generous rewards for y'all's efforts
PS
What you called a rain gutter, may have possibly been they're water supply, because if they had tapped a underground seep, it then would have carried water out to near, are possibly outside the entrance to a barrel or something else used to store the water until possibly enough had accumulated to be used in cooking and other essential ways as water is a necessity for life in such places especially that high up making water a major undertaking to get to the area of the mine cabin
I've seen several ore chutes empty into washes. Any idea why they would be?
Dumb question, the mines where the miners were cutting wood down in the immediate vicinity of the mines is it generally the case the trees never came back/recovered?
what budget friendly caving helmets and knee pads would you guys recommend
That sucks so bad that the mine is collapsed like that! No telling what all is in there?
What were they getting out of it ???
At time marker approximately 23:33, the flower you like, is called a Buttercup.
Hi Justin, the only thing I could find out about the Schilling company is that it operated from 1881 - 1947.
Those dates sound right for our estimate of when the mine operated.
@@TVRExploring there was an awesome website telling all about the history but I cannot find where to send it to you. x
I'll hunt around and see if I can find it. @@SueGirling68
Do you suppose that pile of bolts were track bolts?
I didn't see any survey markers, or am I crazy and missed them? Possibly some good stuff left hmmm.
A lot of these mines were abandoned for wars
Any chance you give any known history and dimensions? Height of head, wall-to-wall width, etc?