I hope that seeing the canyon where this abandoned gold mine is located toward the end of the video gives at least some sense of how remote and steep this location is… The original miners, obviously, resorted to using an aerial tram system. On other steep trails and roads in this area, it is documented that wagon drivers in the past would chain heavy logs to the back of their wagons to make their way down the steep grades without losing control (because there is no way that a hand brake is going to cut it on an absurdly steep grade with a loaded wagon). So, it stands to reason that those two combined to serve this mine in its original era of production.
Our current theory for how the crew got the heavy equipment and gear in during the 1990s is via helicopter. They could have had a cargo helicopter – like those made by Sikorsky – bring in the compressor, other mining equipment and a couple of pallets of food and other such essentials. That probably wouldn’t have been insanely expensive back then, but even if it were, I don’t see that they had any choice. Oh, and, no, we did not miss any roads or trails leading into this gold mine from elsewhere.
We’re hoping that someone involved will recognize this site and can provide a little more detail on the work in the 1990s. Ha, this is one of those rare situations where we actually have far more questions about the modern work than the work of the old timers. What the original miners did here is pretty straightforward and understandable.
In regard to the crystals… Yes, other mines have them. Undoubtedly, other mines have more of them. However, I can’t think of any that we’ve visited that had a greater concentration of crystals in a space that size. Of course, my memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be though. I’ve had a lot of concussions in my life, which is probably catching up to me. Still, I think I am right about this one.
Regardless, this mine is holding an ace with its crystals in that it also incorporates the Mouse Palace, which I challenge any other crystal-laden mines to top!
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You can see the full TVR Exploring playlist of abandoned mines here: https://goo.gl/TEKq9L
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!
