Every report that we read stated that this gold mine had closed down and been abandoned in the early 1900s and that this bottom level was simply a drain adit that connected to the main shaft after running straight in for approximately one thousand feet. Our intent was to follow the drain tunnel to the shaft and see if we could come up the shaft from the bottom (the mine shaft was inclined rather than vertical) since the top of the shaft had been filled in or caved long ago. We figured that it was a long shot, but worth the effort because these long shots sometimes pay off hugely - particularly with a large, historic mine. The “Lost Worlds Project” is a good example of that, to be sure!
This is why, in the video, we seemed bewildered to have reached the shaft and then kept right on going past it. Those workings beyond the shaft were simply not supposed to be there. This was why we weren’t 100% certain that we’d passed the shaft until reaching the very end of the workings and confirmed that there was nothing else that it could have been (hence my relief at not hitting a caved section that would have denied us the answer to that question).
The question, of course, is then raised as to when that “secret” work took place and by whom? Was the carbide graffiti from the 1930s and 1950s from miners or mine explorers? The graffiti from the 1950s seemed like it might have been a woman’s name. Were they mine explorers? Was this work done by a leaseholder during the Great Depression? Was this work done quietly after the mine officially closed to avoid oversight and taxes? Unfortunately, none of the records we located answers these questions. And such mysteries only get harder to solve with time as all of these involved pass away.
We know that some survey work was done at this mine in the 1980s/early 1990s, which possibly included some core drilling. However, there is no sign of any new workings connected to this brief effort and, certainly, no production.
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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!
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