Tap to unmute

I Went Mining For 12 Hours & Made $____?

Share
Embed
  • Published on May 14, 2025
  • Join me as I spend 12 hours mining inside Cerro Gordo's Union Mine!
    The miners back in the day would get paid $3/day for an above ground shift and $4 a day for an underground shift. A day would be a 12 hour shift.
    So in this video, I'm going to do the same amount of time down in the mine, and see how I do!
    You can see all the listings for the minerals here: www.ebay.com/u...
    The current total for the 12 hours = $170.
    Thank you all so much for your support and subscribing!
    Check out my book 'Ghost Town Living.' The best stories, untold history, meditations on life at Cerro Gordo. This is a book for those who love history, those who seek out a life of adventure, who are on their own quest towards a big project. To lean into living and dive deep into the past:
    www.amazon.com...
    If you're interested in the backpack I am wearing in this video, check out this link! It is awesome and handcrafted at Cerro Gordo by my friend JT: exoticpax.com/...
    You can follow my journey on Instagram: / brentwunderwood
    Cerro Gordo T-Shirts and more: store.cerrogor...
    Mailing Address: PO Box 490, Lone Pine, CA 93545
    THANK YOU!

Comments • 4.7K

  • @GhostTownLiving
    @GhostTownLiving  10 months ago +776

    Here are some of the minerals I pulled out! www.ebay.com/usr/cerrogordo1865

    • @yorkazuna5934
      @yorkazuna5934 10 months ago +111

      I think it would be helpful for sales if you listed the weight of each piece you are selling. It's great to see all of your specimens for sale have healthy bids...good Luck Brent!

    • @somelikeithot444
      @somelikeithot444 10 months ago +1

      So interesting Brent. I have a mine as well and would love to do something w it?😊

    • @mrMirzam
      @mrMirzam 10 months ago +23

      I can't see any listings at the moment. Maybe it is only for sale in US?

    • @robertwrede7843
      @robertwrede7843 10 months ago +28

      How does a rock shop sell if they don't buy them. Are they just shoeing up?

    • @lovehistory5305
      @lovehistory5305 10 months ago +7

      Need to install a pressure tank after your pump.

  • @cameroonkendrick6312
    @cameroonkendrick6312 10 months ago +5093

    You should look for minecarts with chests, they only spawn in abandoned mineshafts

    • @SpaceIsCool.
      @SpaceIsCool. 10 months ago +39

      yea

    • @eeyoink
      @eeyoink 10 months ago +148

      He'd have to be careful of the baby zombies tho

    • @CharNotLime
      @CharNotLime 9 months ago +105

      @@eeyoinknah he should look out for cave spiders there are a lot of spawn ears in abandoned mineshafts

    • @SpaceIsCool.
      @SpaceIsCool. 9 months ago +28

      @@CharNotLime also for spawners of skeltons and zombies

    • @EB-73-
      @EB-73- 9 months ago +33

      Sometimes you get really lucky and on the bottom level of the mineshaft you can still find diamonds

  • @gv100_blitz
    @gv100_blitz 10 months ago +3214

    “So I did a bit of mining off camera”

  • @Coconutsales
    @Coconutsales 9 months ago +1812

    For anyone wondering, the sold price for the 12 listings he made on EBay totaled $4,798.99 - when split into a 12 hour shift was $399.92/hour. The description is outdated currently. All of the listing were auctioned, and the highest bids were $636 for a Smithsonite/Malachite/Pyrite chunk, then $610 each for two chunks, one of Malachite/Chrysocolla/Turquoise and another of just Galena (lead). One chunk of a prominent Smithsonite vein sold for $503. The rest were all around the $250-$350 range, and all auctions were bid on between 30 and 70 times, averaging around 40/50 bids.

    • @VintageLPs
      @VintageLPs 9 months ago +31

      Fantastic!!!

    • @catriley3-zb2oi
      @catriley3-zb2oi 9 months ago +7

      Nice

    • @micahsmith9300
      @micahsmith9300 9 months ago +87

      Imagine doing that 12 hour shift 3 times a week. That adds up to a LOT of money after a year ( roughly 600,000 a year )

    • @CazkiwiNZ
      @CazkiwiNZ 9 months ago +128

      The hourly rate from the “shift” wouldn’t be technically correct, because there were extra hours listing and selling the rocks that should be included in the time too (maybe also travel and any expenses incurred (lunch, gas, accommodation) should probably also be deducted.. (and also even the time packing (supplies and time) and posting (time/gas) the rocks after auction as well) 🤗

    • @bsthedog
      @bsthedog 9 months ago +52

      Not including the 12 hour shift the folks at the elevator did tho

  • @awanturnik978
    @awanturnik978 9 months ago +41

    I just can't believe that you managed to defy what individuals can and can't do. I have never imagined that somebody would just go to abandoned mine and get minerals. DAMN

    • @josephdelp87
      @josephdelp87 5 months ago +1

      I believe he owns that mine now.

    • @awanturnik978
      @awanturnik978 5 months ago +2

      @josephdelp87 I think that too now, but it doesn't change the fact that what he did is impresive isn't it.

    • @AGooseNamedGeorgey
      @AGooseNamedGeorgey 3 days ago

      Freewill

  • @gunnar_langemark
    @gunnar_langemark 10 months ago +5131

    You have 1.7 million subscribers. Sell your rocks as Cerro Gordo specimens with a note telling the story of your find, your trip down the mine, and a reference to the video. That's what's even more valuable: The story.

    • @samjanssens1509
      @samjanssens1509 10 months ago +277

      last time i took a story to the bank they wouldnt take it tho :/

    • @gunnar_langemark
      @gunnar_langemark 10 months ago +121

      @@samjanssens1509 - no, banks don't take your other souvenirs either. :)

    • @socialentropy2993
      @socialentropy2993 10 months ago +42

      If you haven't read his book already it's a great read!

    • @zionkid420
      @zionkid420 10 months ago +42

      @@gunnar_langemark Souvenirs with value are called collateral.

    • @zionkid420
      @zionkid420 10 months ago

      @@samjanssens1509 You must be a shitty story teller then. Most people get their business loans from banks on not much more than a story and some shady paperwork to back it up. Many are done JUST on the story alone.

  • @RZRMINERBDR
    @RZRMINERBDR 10 months ago +2430

    I am actually a current miner of zinc in Tennessee. It is fascinating and terrifying to see you go after these specimens. We typically try not to go underneath any type of loose rocks as a rule of thumb. To watch you crawl through spaces you can barely fit is crazy. Usually when small rocks fall, big rocks are not far behind.

    • @GhostTownLiving
      @GhostTownLiving  10 months ago +425

      Noted and well put! Is the zinc you're mining in smithsonite as well? sphalerite?

    • @Bonzi_Buddy
      @Bonzi_Buddy 10 months ago +67

      @@GhostTownLiving I used to mine smithore. Well, my M.U.L.E. used to mine smithore and crystite. an Atari/Commodore classic.

    • @MrTomasekk
      @MrTomasekk 10 months ago +115

      Almost everytime I see Brent to crawl through the narrow spaces, I am asking myself it this will not be his last adventure... It could be his tomb... I would be very scared down there...

    • @Nicksonian
      @Nicksonian 10 months ago +79

      While very interesting, I find going down there by yourself to be extremely reckless and ill advised.

    • @johnramirez5032
      @johnramirez5032 10 months ago +44

      I hope you know that dynamite over time turns into highly unstable ntro glycerin. What happen the nitroglycerin weeps out ward from the tnt. Dont touch them of go near them a falling rock could set them off. Really cool spesimins !

  • @ObVoid
    @ObVoid 10 months ago +484

    As a mineral enthusiast, I personally like the natural look of crystals and matrixes.
    Also a good tip. If you find a pristine crystal formation, try not to break it up if you don’t have to or want to. Palm size ores and crystal might sell for hundreds but person size walls of smithsonite can sell for 10’s of thousands as large crystal clusters like what you have found don’t get preserved too often anymore.
    Either way I love the video series and can’t wait for the next one!

    • @blackhawk15897
      @blackhawk15897 10 months ago +50

      The only problem with that is how he would get the whole wall out of the mine. It's a very small operation and the only access they have is an old rickety elevator.

    • @ObVoid
      @ObVoid 10 months ago +63

      @@blackhawk15897 yea that is the issue and mainly why those things are rare. Still he could at least not crush the shit he already had

    • @EB-73-
      @EB-73- 9 months ago +1

      ​@@blackhawk15897 This is true, but for the right collector just the ability to guide them to an undisturbed site could net you a sizable finders fee without having to deal with the hassle of extraction yourself

    • @fireninjafairy
      @fireninjafairy 9 months ago +7

      Yeah I do not understand why he broke that piece in Half

    • @terrancesommer9334
      @terrancesommer9334 6 months ago +1

      He is clueless just making videos with blabbering the guy is totally lonely and talks to himself

  • @Lee-mmg
    @Lee-mmg 9 months ago +182

    I am laughing. You need to kick our rears. I am 75 - a great grandma - my grandson Alex showed me Minecraft and it was at the beginning!!! I have played it off and on all these years. I love it. I follow several channels. I watched this channel when it first started and I come back every so often to see how it is going. I love to go mining!!! And yes, the chests - find those chests. I love the blues! I want a necklace out of some blue and purple too. Yup. :-) :-) Can you shine the rocks - to make things to hang on a chain? I think it would be fun to make items - put a small notation as to where they came from! How neat!!! As a piece of history from Cerro Gordo! I'd love to buy one!!!

  • @ovni2295
    @ovni2295 9 months ago +209

    Something about the Jefferson Chimney description that caught my eye - if it is cut off at the bottom by a fault line, then somewhere else nearby, it should actually continue further down, you'd just have to find out how much the fault line has moved the rock and which direction the rock has been moved. From there, you can work backwards to locate the lower portion of the Jefferson Chimney. If the miners didn't locate the lower portion, it would be inaccessible, but also it means the town is still sitting on a bunch of that ore.

    • @RonaldStarkey
      @RonaldStarkey 6 months ago +1

      Avoid ores... lol

    • @kiloftd
      @kiloftd 7 days ago

      seemed like the lower chimney beyond the fault was shown on the level map

  • @BBQDad463
    @BBQDad463 10 months ago +432

    Thank you for this video. Fascinating look at those old workings.
    I worked 17 years as an underground bituminous coal miner. Based on those years of experience, there is no way I would have crawled under all that loose, broken top. If you are going to keep doing this, you need to learn how to take down loose top and install roof support to sustain good top. Holes in the ground created by humans are entirely different in character than holes in the ground created by Nature.
    Old timbers decompose by slowly combining with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide. Make sure you have air to breathe. I would want a couple of 15-minute O2 canisters: One on my hip and one on the elevator---at a minimum.
    Good luck and God Bless!

    • @katuu9572
      @katuu9572 10 months ago +12

      Not a Miner or anything, but I was also curious about the breathability of the air

    • @RainVine
      @RainVine 10 months ago +8

      Oh man I hope he reads this and takes the advice

    • @alexpopov6661
      @alexpopov6661 10 months ago +14

      amen to sustainable good top

    • @KakashiOkazaki
      @KakashiOkazaki 10 months ago +2

      Isn't that what the chutes for?

    • @Crecross
      @Crecross 9 months ago

      He's a RUclipsr, not a whole ass private company

  • @Sonny_Eclipse
    @Sonny_Eclipse 10 months ago +165

    Since the advent of RUclips, I have discovered so many things that I have missed out on. Like buying a sailboat and sailing around the world or living in an abandoned ghost town and doing all manner of exploration. I am so jealous of the people that get to do these things because when I was young, it didn’t even dawn on me that these were things to do. Kudos to the adventurers. Adventures.

    • @olivere5497
      @olivere5497 10 months ago +7

      Bro YT in 2006 was just weird stuff.

    • @JohnDoe-uk6si
      @JohnDoe-uk6si 10 months ago +2

      Live your best life you can and whatever you don't achieve enjoy living vicariously therefore. Envy is no good, a Lil jealousy of course is natural. 😊

    • @Sonny_Eclipse
      @Sonny_Eclipse 10 months ago +9

      Well, I remember when there was no internet, or cell phones, or computers, only 3 TV networks, and party lines.

    • @olivere5497
      @olivere5497 10 months ago +2

      @@Sonny_Eclipse party lines. Haha. You actually called them??

    • @skoolzone
      @skoolzone 9 months ago +9

      I’ve been looking to the horizon for 50 years. it can be a blessing, but it also can be a curse. I’ve seen many things People will never see. I have no family, no children and I spend most of my time alone. I spend my time now becoming closer to God and thanking him. remembering the past. Adventures have one constant… you never stop looking to the horizon.

  • @thatgamer_2397
    @thatgamer_2397 9 months ago +18

    I'm sure each stone is worth thousands to collectors especially due to historical factors in that cave system, absolutely amazing!!

  • @djbillybrass
    @djbillybrass 9 months ago +65

    I visited Cerro Cordo last week as I was driving back to Canada from Palm Springs with my family. It was a great experience and did check out the museum (thanks Avery) and all the cool nooks and crannies of Cerro Gordo that I've seen in the videos over the last 4 years. The merch they have for sale is great. I highly recommend going for a visit if your car can handle the road. It was curvier and steep then portrayed int eh videos for sure. I now understand why cement trucks refused to go up there.
    It was great to even run into Brent on his way to the latest adventure and him taking the time to say hi to us.
    Keep up the great videos and good work you are doing in Cerro Gordo.

  • @mattywanders
    @mattywanders 10 months ago +1333

    Brent, I hate to tell you this, but we as a community took a poll, and we all decided we need an hour long episode put out every day from now on. Thanks brother! 🙃

    • @michelleharrell8452
      @michelleharrell8452 10 months ago +9

      What. Who are You. Do you Live at Cerro Gordo. You are watching a video. Are you working for Brent in the mine??????

    • @asatechnics8363
      @asatechnics8363 10 months ago +111

      @@michelleharrell8452 a word called ''irony'' 🙃 english isn't my first language and i can clearly see the guy was being ironic ,just chill and enjoy the video

    • @jenniicaroline
      @jenniicaroline 10 months ago +24

      i really do appreciate those who still do these long form less edited hour long videos! i live for them! just listened while in a big rain storm. perfect part of my day! :)

    • @michelleharrell8452
      @michelleharrell8452 10 months ago

      @@asatechnics8363 Unless this community is associated with Brent they HAVE NO RIGHTS to tell Brent they the Community want to Run His Page.

    • @maureencallahan1604
      @maureencallahan1604 10 months ago +11

      Great video and beautiful haul. But that mine is a scary lonely place.

  • @TammyHiland
    @TammyHiland 10 months ago +132

    3:35 Brent you know for a fact there are so many veins left of such good minerals gold silver turquoise all of that is there waiting for you. I am so happy you got that place and took over that mine & Ghost Town

  • @dougenglidh731
    @dougenglidh731 Month ago +1

    Thank you! As a 9 yr old I traveled route 66 with my parents & siblings as we moved from Florida to California. The history you presented is wonderful & enlightening. I had no idea of all the history around me as we traveled through this wonderful country.
    Keep up what you do. It's beneficial to so many, even me. Oh, I'm now 74, aiming for 75. 😊 Thank you again, God bless.

  • @joesmith1922
    @joesmith1922 10 months ago +227

    Just a bit of terminology for you...Horizontal tunnels completely underground are referred to as "drifts". Vertical tunnels are referred to as "shafts" if they come out at the surface, if they don't come out to the surface, they are called "winzes" or "raises", depending on which end you're on.
    Nice video - stay safe!

    • @jlt131
      @jlt131 10 months ago +8

      isn't it an adit if it comes out to the surface? edit: guess that's just the horizontal ones.

    • @joesmith1922
      @joesmith1922 10 months ago +6

      @@jlt131 Yes, you are correct just the horizontal ones.

    • @Doingmyhobbys
      @Doingmyhobbys 10 months ago

      I found Chinese miners

    • @ezlow1065
      @ezlow1065 5 months ago

      I have a genuine question for the mining peeps-what is the air quality like down there and how does it recirculate etc. Would love to know! Thanks! 😉

  • @robinrowe2159
    @robinrowe2159 10 months ago +37

    Hi Brent Robin Rowe from Selby Ontario Canada. Watched every video you put out so far. Became interested in Cerro Gordo ghost town some 60 or so years ago by reading an article in National Geographic magazine. It really caught my attention and I have wanted to go there ever since , and perhaps I will. It is so good to see someone uprooting his life to follow his dream . And so taking a hike with you would be a buggy on my bucket list . I will be 77 years on July 27 so don’t be surprised when I show up with my girl to spend a night in the new hotel. So I hope you have many more years of fun doing what you love.

  • @ashleyobrien4937
    @ashleyobrien4937 9 months ago +16

    There is something very primal and deeply compelling about going deep into the Earth and finding valuable things...like becoming rich from just the Earth giving you something...but you have to have the courage to go get it..

  • @-heathen-3622
    @-heathen-3622 4 months ago +2

    The St. David's Day news paper is awesome... he's our patron saint here in Wales. Most of the communities where I live in the South Wales valleys developed through coal mining, so it's really interesting to see a Welsh connection to the mine there. I would imagine quite a few men from my area made their way out there and found employment mining.

  • @skwatson2617
    @skwatson2617 10 months ago +38

    Brent….your mining quests keep me enthralled despite the stress I feel for your “squeezes” into tiny spaces. You have come such a long way and your videos are so well made. Your knowledge and presentation is far superior to a lot of similar posts on youtube. Thank you, thank you for sharing this with us.

  • @dr.strangelove7739
    @dr.strangelove7739 10 months ago +38

    I work at the Oil at Gas business and like watching your videos to see the formations underground. very interesting to me. In Kansas, there are oil deposits at 400 feet. In Oklahoma, you can find oil at 1100 feet. It is very interesting to watch you walk through formations that we drill through. It is helpful to visualize and understand lost circulation formations and other anomalies we deal with.

    • @olinater5
      @olinater5 6 months ago

      Brother he is at 9000' elevation. You're most likely on flat land.

  • @tylerswartz2752
    @tylerswartz2752 10 months ago +19

    Just wanna say a prayer. God please watch over this man as he descends through the depths and please protect him and guide him back safely every time. Amen. Stay safe brother.

  • @debbiepatterson130
    @debbiepatterson130 8 months ago +29

    Hello my name is Deborah and I live in Tucson Arizona. The minerals you got out of this mine is very popular here in Tucson twice a year there’s a Gem and mineral show here that lasts more than two weeks. I’m sure you can get top dollar for that. People come from all over the world Tobit and sell their goods. Just thought I’d share that with you. 😊

    • @1432b
      @1432b 3 months ago +2

      Been to it before when I lived in Phoenix. Beautiful rocks! My 4y granddaughter is a rock hound Rock lover! Live in Bend, Or now. Too old to take her out to rock hunt for real.

  • @Jonasauklend
    @Jonasauklend 10 months ago +472

    Bro is living Minecraft IRL💀💀💀

  • @dandyfi4076
    @dandyfi4076 10 months ago +153

    The best place to sell “rough” rocks is at gem and mineral shows that happen periodically every year and draw thousands of buyers, cutters, and rock hounds. Of course the biggest and best is the Tucson Gem and Mineral show, and there are many other good smaller regional shows such as Quartzite.

    • @debnewlyn3149
      @debnewlyn3149 10 months ago +4

      I was also going to suggest the Gem & Mineral shows 😊

    • @StagnantMizu
      @StagnantMizu 10 months ago +8

      or he just makes a website refers to it and upmarks everything as sentimental value items due to the mines name and advertises to millions on his channel lol

    • @Toverkol
      @Toverkol 9 months ago +1

      thanks, it was the one question that kept lingering in my head, those rocks in the shops have got to come from somewhere.

    • @aserta
      @aserta 9 months ago

      Yup. fleabay might strike you a good one, but it doesn't compare with rock shows. Even if you have someone enterprise for you, you still get better "cuts" than most online places.

    • @OwO---Drunk_Seulgi---OwO
      @OwO---Drunk_Seulgi---OwO 8 months ago +1

      How DARE you say the Tucson Gem and Mineral show is better than the Quartzite show! The Tucson show killed my Father.

  • @ericemery7544
    @ericemery7544 10 months ago +116

    I give you serious credit man, just watching this video raised my anxiety. I couldn't imagine crawling through there and going through the tight squeeze's.

    • @danekakielty
      @danekakielty 9 months ago +3

      Same here! I probably won't be able to finish this video. I'm fascinated with old mining towns but whew! All this deep down exploring is risky!!

    • @JonHop1
      @JonHop1 9 months ago +2

      @@danekakielty makes life worth living... The thrill, the excitement.. That sense of danger and risk... This is how humans have evolved and advanced. People like this allowed us to evolve by taking chances others would not.

    • @ryp1562
      @ryp1562 9 months ago +2

      12:00 not sure if that’s brave or stupid tbh.

    • @selenasilversthrifts
      @selenasilversthrifts 9 months ago

      Least he has wifi now

    • @ilikeshiba
      @ilikeshiba 9 months ago +1

      Seeing him squeeze through there actually reduced my anxiety for him to zero.
      Before that I was worried for his safety. But after that I realized that if he doesn’t care about his own safety, why should I?

  • @patrickcarlson4007
    @patrickcarlson4007 6 months ago +2

    Wow Brent, 3 years ago you had a hard time with endurance and fear. You are fearless! I am so impressed with your courage and endurance. you ve taken us on an endless journey. keep up the good work. Patrick

  • @mzmagister
    @mzmagister 10 months ago +92

    One of my favorite episodes so far. What a journey!

  • @buckeyesean2101
    @buckeyesean2101 10 months ago +199

    We were at Cerro Gordo last week on a Tuesday Morning. Thank you for sharing the town with us during that day. Your Representative was wonderful and very accommodating during our visit. We hope to return soon to partake in the 8 mile run this upcoming year. This was one of our big highlights during our two week road trip. Looking forward to the hotel and possibly staying there sometime in the future

  • @MrInkFountain
    @MrInkFountain 10 months ago +22

    Your videos just touch my soul in a way that can’t be expressed in writing. I can’t fathom that you spend so much time in the mine by yourself. I don’t think I could, but you pass along your experiences with all of us. My wife and I have spent some time in Death Valley, and the surrounding areas but mostly on the Nevada side. We hope to make it out there some day and stay at the American Hotel when it’s completed, and look at all the treasures you and Cerro Gordo have. What a life experience! Thank you for sharing your life and progress, it and you are truly amazing!

  • @southernsunshine2566
    @southernsunshine2566 2 months ago +4

    Wow!... I WAS SCARED FOR YOU IN THOSE TIGHT PLACES! YOU HAVE ME ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT! AFRAID TO WATCH BUT CANT TURN OFF. AMAZING!

  • @KitCarson-l5c
    @KitCarson-l5c 10 months ago +521

    This was really pushing the envelope, considering how that whole place is so prone to collapse. Don't know how you squeeze through those really tight spots. Please be extremely careful, we don't want to lose you! I have been with you since the first day, you feel like an old friend by now.

    • @wyatthausman4377
      @wyatthausman4377 10 months ago +17

      Everything fun is dangerous. Just not everything dangerous is fun.

    • @the2theonly672
      @the2theonly672 10 months ago +5

      This mine has been in existence for over 100 years in an earthquake prone environment. The odds of collapse are quite low

    • @nicholas5623
      @nicholas5623 10 months ago

      ​@@wyatthausman4377Amen to that

    • @garywheeler7039
      @garywheeler7039 10 months ago +24

      @@the2theonly672 : that might be called the "survivor effect". That is, the surviving parts of the mine have not collapsed(!) lol

    • @Muzzle-loadedHammer
      @Muzzle-loadedHammer 10 months ago

      ​@@wyatthausman4377I don't think I've ever felt like my life was in danger while playing Uno with the kids

  • @wavingwaffles
    @wavingwaffles 10 months ago +13

    Your dedication to the preservation of the mines is absolutely admirable! The earth is such a beautiful thing and I appreciate your mission to share this with the world. Stay safe and keep digging!

  • @alungiggs
    @alungiggs 10 months ago +33

    As a Welsh man I find the scrap of old newspaper very interesting. For those who don’t know Cambria is another name for Wales. Whose patron saint is David. There must have been quite a lot of miners from Wales in the region during that period.

    • @Squidmoto3
      @Squidmoto3 28 days ago

      "For those who don’t know" no one knows that because no one cares about that awful place

    • @sherria4920
      @sherria4920 7 days ago +1

      That's so interesting that you added a clue to the story, and another piece of our American History. I love the Wild Wild West! Thank you, Welsh Guy! 🇺🇸

  • @ElainaSearles-s2h
    @ElainaSearles-s2h 9 months ago +4

    November 1930 was when my dad was born!! I just found your channel and I am so happy I did. I watch a lot of RUclips and this content is some of the best I’ve seen. I absolutely love this stuff but I could never do it and you brought me right down to the bottom so I could see this beauty from in our earth. Thank you ❤

  • @Orangeshebert
    @Orangeshebert 10 months ago +9

    Love this episode. That said, my sphincter puckered watching you skinny through the narrow openings. I grew up in Folsom California and the gold mining history of the area. I have been down tunnels created by the Chinese workers. At one point as I was skinning through an area I decided I was done. Fascinating yes. Y
    Kudos to the immigrants who suffered for the gold. You are a warrior Brent. Glad you have a support team. Not sure how much they could help you in the situations you embark on. Glad you are happy doing what you do!

  • @JRIvy
    @JRIvy 10 months ago +34

    The Hotel will get funded by your Mine and many of us are very happy to see the eBay moving right along. Congratulations!✌

  • @benmcreynolds8581
    @benmcreynolds8581 9 months ago +7

    It's insane how much effort and work you have put into improving this mine. You've made it much more accessible, safer to explore and your restoring and gathering information about it's history and what it currently contains. It's fascinating

  • @struthsayer9092
    @struthsayer9092 9 months ago +3

    Are you kidding me! You have a bed down there. I can’t even imagine spending that much time in there let alone setting up home. Fascinating! Thank you for the adventure.

  • @ImsunaSong-gw2gs
    @ImsunaSong-gw2gs 10 months ago +38

    Those jagged rocks in the tight places really freaked me out.!! So glad your ok Brent! Whew!

  • @ColdBeer
    @ColdBeer 9 months ago +8

    The power of music! Dude, when you were struggling in the mine, that eerie music changed "i got slightly uncomfortable" moment into "that is terrifying danger". Your editing skills are 10/10

  • @christopherperry4437
    @christopherperry4437 10 months ago +30

    I don't like walking down the hall alone in my house at night.... much less being 700ft under the surface alone.....
    You have balls of steel

  • @garygor1960
    @garygor1960 9 months ago +3

    I went to college at New Mexico Tech AKA New Mexico School of Mines. I studied petroleum engineering however I was friends with several mining engineering students who used to go hi-grading. I went high grading for dog tooth calcite and Smithsonite at the Kelly mine outside of Magdalena New Mexico in the ghost town of Kelly.
    One of the craziest phenomenon was that the passage of time while down in the mine was distorted. 16 hours passed in the blink of an eye. It's interesting that you would experience the passage of time as being slow.
    I sure hope you don't go down there by yourself. I took a few photos when I was down in Kelly mine nothing spectacular. I was 19 or 20 years old at the time when I look back on it I can't imagine doing that. Watching your video puts knots in my stomach. Please be careful and stay safe! Great video.

  • @chrisbay6672
    @chrisbay6672 9 months ago +17

    This video was AWESOME and butt puckering at points. If I saw that squeeze in the 200 level I would have turned around but I almost certainly wouldn't have gone down there in the first place. Thanks for the really cool video, your hard work really shows through.

  • @normdelorme506
    @normdelorme506 10 months ago +7

    Brent. My Uncle Bill died at Silver Peak Mine, NV. My Dad's Family were hired to work in the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. The Family was moved from Butte MT due to their mining experience in Montana. Thank you.

  • @Ramblin_Rose_47
    @Ramblin_Rose_47 10 months ago +120

    The purple fluorite you have is known as Tiffany Stone. It's slightly radioactive, I have been told, and definitely glows under the blacklight. It's worth a lot! It's pretty rare, and it's prized for jewelry pieces. Y'all need a rock shop on the mountain! I will help you set it up! 😉

    • @Treeofthewood
      @Treeofthewood 10 months ago +1

      My thoughts exactly!

    • @VexxyDaProtogen
      @VexxyDaProtogen 10 months ago +13

      radioactive? all i hear is extra flavor

    • @pinkyhotmessx69
      @pinkyhotmessx69 10 months ago

      Is that what depression glass was?

    • @Slimenator
      @Slimenator 10 months ago

      Fun fact, i keep Tiffany stone by my crotch as a form of birth control. No one is having my babies! Noone!!

    • @MystiIsLost
      @MystiIsLost 10 months ago +8

      ​@@VexxyDaProtogen You shouldn't eat rocks, you should eat RAM.

  • @wayneofcanada
    @wayneofcanada 10 months ago +6

    This ia one of the most interesting and fascinating channels on RUclips. I’ve been watching it on and off since the beginning and can’t beleive it’s still going, and yet totally respect that it still continues to enrich our lives in so many ways.

  • @DTH449
    @DTH449 10 months ago +78

    “I don’t really want to mess with it.” Proceeds to mess with it. 😂

  • @carolineindacityphx
    @carolineindacityphx 10 months ago +10

    Whoa! This adventure was terrifying! I have never felt so claustrophobic! Beautiful specimens. I know you are going to be able to get some decent money for them. Thank you for taking us along. Take care, Brent.

    • @Jabarri74
      @Jabarri74 10 months ago

      You can only play Russian roulette so many times until fate catches up to you. The rocks around 12:30 are all cracked above him whilst he squeezed through a narrow gap. Don't be that guy it's not worth it

  • @MrAirblown2009
    @MrAirblown2009 9 months ago +5

    Dude.....I'd love to experience that one day. My senses are so heightened, seeing mineralization in rock. You shouldn't be by yourself doing that by any stretch of the imagination. If you get trapped, nobody knows you need help and that slowly and painfully becomes your tomb. I know you know that already. I still love these vids. LoL.

  • @dr.s.p.
    @dr.s.p. 9 months ago +4

    At 16.54 I saw that beautiful rock taken as is and carved in a Yin/Yang erupting into a perfect natural base, where the rough evolves into the YinYang growing and perhaps half sunken symbol, is intertwined with a polished piece, of course with the seed of its opposite within. A truly tremendous presentation; you excel at what you are doing and where sometimes I thought you were as mad as a hatter, I could see myself 50 or so years ago doing the same pot holing. Well done sir.

  • @teeken8850
    @teeken8850 10 months ago +24

    Cerro Gordo should open it's own rock shop!

  • @imthatimvernon
    @imthatimvernon 10 months ago +28

    Being an ole hard rock miner back in 1968 as my first real worked at 5000 FOOT LEVEL CREIGHTON 5 SHAFT IN SUDBURY ONTARIO CANADA 🇨🇦 REALLY ENJOY

    • @BallsmanTheTwentyThird
      @BallsmanTheTwentyThird 10 months ago

      hello, you might have met my grandfather at one point because if i remember correctly he would have been mining around the same depth as you and i hope your living your best life.

  • @AndrewHutchinson-iu5vm
    @AndrewHutchinson-iu5vm 7 months ago +2

    Brent, I suffer from claustrophobia. Watching this video is unbelievably hard! I've got to keep reminding myself that you made it out OK. Wow! 😵‍💫

  • @thesuperhighway
    @thesuperhighway 10 months ago +185

    For those of you wondering, his bids on ebay are currently thousands of dollars combined... a pretty good days work!

    • @robertbihn3005
      @robertbihn3005 10 months ago +2

      did anything sell ?

    • @thesuperhighway
      @thesuperhighway 10 months ago

      @@robertbihn3005 the bids last i checked were somewhere between 3000-5000 usd total, so thats pretty much guaranteed for him at least, as auctions tend to jump the last minutes.

    • @samdillard1824
      @samdillard1824 10 months ago

      @@robertbihn3005 most have 2 days left on them before they end. Most also have over 50 bids on them. so its safe to say he will sell them. At the time of me posting this comment. He has listed 170 dollars worth as sold in the description + has 9 listings totalling $2465 every one of them has a minimum of 29 bids which means that even if he doesnt get the "HIghest" bid successfully there are plenty of fall back bidders.
      So for 12 hours of mining + likely 12hours of outside the mine working (cutting, polishing, Listing...etc) he'll make roughly 2600 dollars. OR roughly 109 dollars per hour. (note i'm just estimating on the "outside the mine" hours. With him having access to the mine and the ability to spend days in it. He could easily turn the mine into a full time job. Work 12 hours in the mine one day, spend the next day's 12 hour shift cleaning, cutting, prepping, listing the gems, rest for a day, rinse repeat.

    • @matttafakt
      @matttafakt 10 months ago +23

      Funny how people don't know what they're bidding on and the value they place on them. They're rocks! These have very little value which is why Brent couldn't find any local rock seller to buy them.. Doesn't matter where they came from. They are rocks.. not refined gold or silver which do have value.

    • @matttafakt
      @matttafakt 10 months ago +4

      Diamonds however do have some value , since they are used to cut the rocks lol.. other than that .. most jewels are worth nothing.

  • @born2wander2
    @born2wander2 10 months ago +21

    I'm claustrophobic, this video gave me great anxiety right around the 13 minute viewing. If you told me the fountain of youth was at the bottom of that mine , I'd say hallelujah and good luck to who discovers it ! Because it sure AF won't be me ! 😂😂😂... love your channel though ! Living my dreams vicariously through you all the while sitting comfortably and safely on my couch . Be safe 🙏

    • @GhostTownLiving
      @GhostTownLiving  10 months ago +9

      hahah, love this comment. Thanks for checking out the video!

  • @trojanuk45
    @trojanuk45 10 months ago +14

    Im on 20 odd mins into the video, and going to drop a like a comment right now as im already enjoying the vid cheers for the content ,respect where respect due.

  • @kh-zg6xj
    @kh-zg6xj 5 months ago

    I have been doing archaeology my whole life in the west and I find your adventures fascinating to watch. Be careful! Its obvious you have a great love for history and the old lifeways. Best of luck!

  • @ThreeDeeMonkEy
    @ThreeDeeMonkEy 9 months ago +5

    Bring a good wire brush next time to reveal the surface are when you find a pocket.
    THAT way, the edges of the pocket/vein will be more apparent, and you can just knock the host rock. It keeps more mineral intact!!
    Love you, love your vids. Please stay safe safe safe

  • @WillowtheWisp95
    @WillowtheWisp95 10 months ago +60

    I'm so happy for more mine content.

  • @wolfgangricky
    @wolfgangricky 10 months ago +116

    OMG Brent, take a partner with you when exploring like that. Safety in numbers. Yes some of your explorations are safer than others, this one wasn't. I pray for your safety. Ty for taking us along

    • @floydiandreamscapes5145
      @floydiandreamscapes5145 10 months ago +10

      These people don't listen to warnings. You'll read about a youtuber who died in some cave some day. There's quit a few of them.

    • @nate9696
      @nate9696 10 months ago +21

      He does seem to have a guy "topside" radioing to him each time he got into the lift.

    • @Gameboygenius
      @Gameboygenius 10 months ago +13

      ​@@nate9696 doesn't help much if you're stuck under a rock and the guy up top isn't expecting to hear from you for another 2 hours.

    • @MattTZew
      @MattTZew 10 months ago

      That's a big NO from me

    • @rayray11939
      @rayray11939 10 months ago +20

      The entrance to the 200 level seems like an unnecessary unacceptable risk in its present condition. The rest didn't look too bad

  • @aiden7154
    @aiden7154 9 months ago +1

    I’ve loved watching this channel grow from nothing to the masterpiece it is today

  • @anitahamlin2411
    @anitahamlin2411 10 months ago +9

    You are one brave ambitious guy. Thanks for taking us along on your journey!

  • @athisio836
    @athisio836 10 months ago +14

    I would place a check valve at the water pump to prevent the weight/pressure of all that water pushing back on the pump. I would also add a few more smaller pumps further up the mine to help reduce the load on the main pump.

  • @samanthagirly3350
    @samanthagirly3350 10 months ago +10

    I found you via Max Millers’ tasting History. I love your passion for this place. It’s inspiring to see you bring history to life. Your ghost town has such potential and I’m excited to see what you do with the place. The spirits of the town must be happy with your honor of their work.

  • @SamuelMassey-n5d
    @SamuelMassey-n5d 5 months ago

    Brent, I'm thrilled with your mining assignments, even though you've come such a long way and your videos are so well done. Thank you, thank you for sharing this with us..

  • @roberthudgins2866
    @roberthudgins2866 10 months ago +23

    At about time stamp 12.25 , I determined Sir that you are CRAZY !!! And I like it . Very adventourus and bold.

  • @wolfgangricky
    @wolfgangricky 10 months ago +76

    Had a second thought. You have a friend named Dan Hurd. He runs a succesful online gem store. Bet he would be honored to pedal Cerro Gordo gems & minerals.

    • @jamesdouglaswhite
      @jamesdouglaswhite 10 months ago +19

      I am quite sure that he is doing just fine with his eBay sales of the minerals. You would be wise to consider this video to be highly effective marketing.

    • @kenpatton2636
      @kenpatton2636 10 months ago +3

      That is a GREAT idea.

    • @justinmarshall5381
      @justinmarshall5381 10 months ago +10

      Just set up your own rock and mineral shop in Keeler

    • @SandraGagliotti
      @SandraGagliotti 10 months ago +9

      I love watching Dan Herd too.

    • @TheSkaireKrowe
      @TheSkaireKrowe 10 months ago

      I've seen Dan.. He is entertaining. Although, his attitude (and channel) to me, is an anti-altruistic endeavor that feeds a mainstream audience for profit gain. It always boils down to exploitation. It ends up boring or a vector view for others to come along and trample in areas for others to make a buck or two at the environment's expense.

  • @lesliesmith2586
    @lesliesmith2586 10 months ago +19

    If you discover a vein that travels forever, it’s probably Samsonite. Cool video.

  • @gild3dsk0rpion59
    @gild3dsk0rpion59 9 months ago +2

    I remember when you first bought this place, it makes me so happy to see you still active!

  • @surfernorm6360
    @surfernorm6360 9 months ago +3

    Whoa what a great place to get a claustrophobia attack. Great comments from the readers here too! I'm glad other folks thought this guy is crazy too. Shoot! exploring dangerous holes seems pretty popular 3700 comments 1.7 million views should have told Bogart the adventure getting the gold was more valuable than the dust.
    I notice a lot of old farts in the comments. 76 here. stay safe

  • @RickThompson-b9b
    @RickThompson-b9b 10 months ago +18

    Don't wind up like those Chinese miners. Read your book, awesome. Love seeing your adventures. Stay safe, thanks for sharing!

  • @was1069
    @was1069 10 months ago +21

    Dude be careful please. The supports are old and if that collapses on you. 😢

  • @toddbohrer7713
    @toddbohrer7713 4 months ago

    I find your videos to be very interesting. In 1987 I worked in a silver mine but it was very different than the mine you are in. We had 30 ton haul trucks and the seam was between 50 and 70 feet thick depending on the location. I could never do what you have been doing, I would be too claustrophobic. It makes me nervous just watching you but fun to watch!

  • @dondavis5633
    @dondavis5633 10 months ago +6

    I just took a peek at your eBay sales, and it looks like you're going to realize quite a decent profit from your 12+ hours down in the mine, certainly more than those who came before you to find and sell the riches from the Cerro Gordo Mines. Congratulations!

  • @susanalbone5101
    @susanalbone5101 10 months ago +9

    What a shame after all your hard work that no-one wanted to buy your rocks. I’m sure there will be a lot of interest in the museum and I hope that you will receive some decent income to fund the building of the American Hotel. Take care, keep safe. ❤ Dorset, UK

    • @malloryoates8580
      @malloryoates8580 10 months ago +1

      they're online on ebay. people are bidding $150-200 for some.

  • @mortophobegaming6454
    @mortophobegaming6454 9 months ago +4

    this whole time i was waiting for you to have a little editing fun and CGI in a minecraft creeper somewhere hahaha.
    watching this video, it really motivates me to wanna learn how to safely explore mines myself. if i'd go down that mine one day and find that big rock you left behind, i'd wanna rescue it and send it to you. i really wanna see that one above surface sometime :3

  • @shaunpc2512
    @shaunpc2512 6 months ago

    Man I'm so in ore of your exploration down there. There is so much awe (miner play on words) still down there for you to find and I'd just love to be along for the ride but seeing as how I'm in the uk and disabled I guess I'll just follow your channel from this day 23rd October 2024 for the foreseeable future.
    Enjoy but stay safe young fellow 🙏🏻

  • @mika-xi3fn
    @mika-xi3fn 10 months ago +6

    Massive respects to you risking ur life to make these youtube videos for us👍

  • @brendonelton
    @brendonelton 10 months ago +14

    10:00 That is incredible that they were celebrating St David's day in 1878!
    St David's Day Celebrations. Traditionally known as the “feast day of Saint David”, March 1st has been a day of celebration in Wales UK since the 12th century and as well as St David as his achievements, it's a day to honour Wales as a whole.
    Obviously, I am from Wales!

    • @deepg7084
      @deepg7084 10 months ago +2

      Ha. Thanks for sharing. Had no idea.

    • @bigjobby11
      @bigjobby11 10 months ago +1

      @@deepg7084beat me to it, from Cardiff here 😄👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

  • @ThingsThatIDo
    @ThingsThatIDo 10 months ago +5

    "Everything turns to dirt with time." Sage words of wisdom 🙌 😂

  • @TheHappyhorus
    @TheHappyhorus 27 days ago

    I just found this video because I like caving and geology videos. But this was so much more.
    This was a lovely little insight into your world. Thanks for the wonderfully edited video (except for the blurry close ups of the rocks 😂).

  • @forcivilizaton5021
    @forcivilizaton5021 10 months ago +11

    Alls I knows is it’s Saturday and I have 1 hr to devote to a video. I’m so thankful I opened RUclips to find your video!

  • @sounddd
    @sounddd 10 months ago +33

    OH HELLO THERE AGAIN, good to see you still kickin

  • @Ludra64
    @Ludra64 28 days ago +5

    Bro actually yearned for the mines

  • @sum1wholuvsmen913
    @sum1wholuvsmen913 7 months ago +2

    8:55 "i probably shouldn't mess with this" *immediately messes with it*

  • @dorothycrowder8577
    @dorothycrowder8577 10 months ago +4

    What a tight squeeze! I found myself holding my breath while you wormed your way out.

  • @3M1IY_
    @3M1IY_ 10 months ago +10

    The mining content is great but scares me you're so brave 😂 just thinking about the guys who did that every day. Crazy. Love everything you do!

    • @GhostTownLiving
      @GhostTownLiving  10 months ago +8

      They were fearless guys back then! Really hard work.

  • @pfsense_guru3769
    @pfsense_guru3769 9 months ago +6

    Thanks!

  • @thecanadianmtbchannel1192

    Thanks for sharing the adventure dude! Was just what I needed to end my day!
    Be safe!

  • @KellyMurphy39
    @KellyMurphy39 10 months ago +7

    That flying rock that hit the camera really made you deer in hedlights for a moment. 😂

  • @DK-ck6gy
    @DK-ck6gy 10 months ago +5

    Great video, please do more like this. You're living the life that millions of people around the world would love to live!

  • @ciaradowling3999
    @ciaradowling3999 10 months ago +81

    Ah Brent how are you not terrified squeezing in the small gaps of the mine!!? new fear activated 😂

    • @my_channel_44
      @my_channel_44 10 months ago +7

      Yeah. Properly clear out access to the level. Don't be a thrill-seeker.

    • @FrancoisV313
      @FrancoisV313 10 months ago +8

      He clearly does not believe in Claustrophobia.
      Hire some arms and clear the entrance.

    • @Boga217
      @Boga217 10 months ago +8

      Yeah the back of the mine in that collapse section was awfully fractured up..extremely unstable and dangerous for him just to be grinding and banging through it.

    • @bkanders1
      @bkanders1 10 months ago

      For sure, that crack/fault line just above that tight spot you were crawling under should be looked at on the 200. Minute 12:32-36ish you can see it running parallel to where you are going.

  • @umm...JustGuy
    @umm...JustGuy 3 months ago

    Wow! What an amazing video of your 12hr adventure. I see from most of the comments that I'm about 5-6 months behind in finding this video. I'll be sure to look for your videos from now on. I'm sure you've been told that those rock shops that wouldn't buy you finds would have Not paid you a fair price anyway. Stick to selling online and definitely try to take your stuff to some rock and mineral shows. I visit family in Palm Desert occasionally and plan to make a trip to see the ghost town. Be safe!

  • @suethatcher8966
    @suethatcher8966 10 months ago +19

    So happy to see another Cerritos Gordo video! 😊

  • @stanley090
    @stanley090 6 months ago +6

    12:25 you are putting yourself in incredible danger here. It would be so easy for one of those pieces to dislodge and pin you in the mine. This happens to spelunker's all the time. It's a horrifying way to go.

    • @stupidpointlesstvof
      @stupidpointlesstvof 5 months ago

      Forget dislodging, cuz at the end of the day he has a radio to call for help. Like…bro can lose both of his legs from that 😭
      My exact thoughts while watching this. Cuz it looks like a crack that can make the whole thing collapse on his legs

  • @d.j.selfstar.7684
    @d.j.selfstar.7684 10 months ago +11

    Nice. To see u. Keep digging. God, tells me . Your going to find something awesome, I wish I could join you. Bless you, ty . For your environmental entertainment.

  • @StAnthonyss
    @StAnthonyss 5 months ago

    takes a brave and unique person who crawls deep underground like this