Exploring the Mountain Chief Mine - The Haulage Level (Part 2 of 2)

In this video, we complete our exploration of the Mountain Chief Mine by visiting its lowest level. This mine's haulage level consists of a 3,000ft long crosscut that is mostly featureless, but is quite impressive.
The amount of time and resources put into driving a tunnel of this length is immense. Unfortunately, for these miners, the expense may not have been worth it.
#urbex #abandonedmine #mineexploring #abandoned #mining #exploring #desert #travel #history #adit #shaft #underground #minerals #silvermine #goldmine #exploringabandonedmines #orecars #ore #artifacts

Пікірлер: 61

  • @MinesoftheWest
    @MinesoftheWest4 жыл бұрын

    Next video series will be released on November 11th. Thanks for watching!

  • @user-vz2ei3sb7r

    @user-vz2ei3sb7r

    3 жыл бұрын

    That was a very very cool mine. 👍

  • @user-vz2ei3sb7r

    @user-vz2ei3sb7r

    3 жыл бұрын

    Is this the one by bald mountain in Nevada

  • @johnmerrett5186
    @johnmerrett51862 жыл бұрын

    Reckon those marks left by a geologists pick, sampling, definitely not part of the rock. John, retired mining engineer, UK. Nice video!

  • @SueGirling68
    @SueGirling684 жыл бұрын

    A pretty cool mine with lots of different geology, thanks for sharing and for your hard work. x

  • @jeffdaniel1000
    @jeffdaniel10006 ай бұрын

    You are very brave to do this.

  • @Justme85857
    @Justme85857 Жыл бұрын

    Nice video, I liked it

  • @DFDuck55
    @DFDuck554 жыл бұрын

    The main haulage seemed to be following a fault, occasionally there were sections that appeared to be hanging wall. That air tank being riveted is probably 1920 or before, after that tanks and ore cars were welded.

  • @VegasCyclingFreak

    @VegasCyclingFreak

    4 жыл бұрын

    I noticed what looked like a fault too

  • @leehilton9932
    @leehilton99324 жыл бұрын

    Nice find. Looked like they were just tryin to find the vein/pocket at the last part, just huntin for it. As always yall be safe out there and can't wait for the next one

  • @patrickmcleod111

    @patrickmcleod111

    4 жыл бұрын

    Fortunately theres no reason to worry, as abandoned mines are famous for being among the most safe places to visit! It's always a good idea to test old ladders by immediately climbing up or down them, applying all of your body weight at once. To make it a more challenging adventure, it's fun to travel way, way back deep into old mines, then removing all the batteries from your light source, and just tossing them down a shaft somewhere, then you can try finding your way back in the pure darkness! As they say, "no risk, no reward"! Lol **(sarcasm disclaimer) **

  • @adventureswithgoat8515
    @adventureswithgoat85153 жыл бұрын

    Joining you on part 2 my friend! Yee-Yee

  • @halinagwozdz5371
    @halinagwozdz53714 жыл бұрын

    I love the moment captured at 3:50: Whoever was working it put down some rails clearly under the impression "Oh hell yes we're gonna be digging here a while" and within a few feet hits a face; probably also describes their reaction too... Question: If it was just a haulage tunnel, why would they make it 10' tall?

  • @sanddabz5635

    @sanddabz5635

    2 ай бұрын

    It could possibly also have been utilized as an ore cart siding, for whatever purpose, an ore cart could pull off into the siding and another cart could pass through on the main track........Just speculating of course.😀

  • @UKAbandonedMineExplores
    @UKAbandonedMineExplores4 жыл бұрын

    Wow, that's a beautiful vein.

  • @001desertrat3
    @001desertrat34 жыл бұрын

    Nice explore , Thank You . -- @ 1:39 - Strange rock formation , almost look like the claw marks from the Tungsten Carbide tipped cutters on a Continuous Miner (Roadheader) .

  • @CornishMineExplorer
    @CornishMineExplorer4 жыл бұрын

    What a huge haulage level, that was mad! Some really interesting geology down there and some lovely colours in the rocks! Light looks great in this video, can I ask what you are using to light this?

  • @jamielacourse7578
    @jamielacourse75783 жыл бұрын

    This is great! I get to explore.....this guy gets His feet wet....brilliant.

  • @gingerbread6614
    @gingerbread66143 жыл бұрын

    Wow what a mine. It’s so big. Thank you.

  • @sanddabz5635

    @sanddabz5635

    2 ай бұрын

    "Thats what she said."

  • @taisen999
    @taisen9994 жыл бұрын

    Wow...

  • @HollywoodGraham
    @HollywoodGraham4 жыл бұрын

    Amazing amount of work, would be real interesting to get into the actual mining area. Thanks.

  • @MinesoftheWest

    @MinesoftheWest

    4 жыл бұрын

    HollywoodGraham Yeah based on the maps we have, we didn’t actually miss too much. Most of the actual workings were what we saw in the first video. According to reports, there wasn’t much between the two main levels.

  • @HollywoodGraham

    @HollywoodGraham

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@MinesoftheWest Thanks, I will go back and review part 1.Appreciate all of your videos.

  • @LostMines
    @LostMines4 жыл бұрын

    That's a cool mine, there is a long one near me unfortunately its low on air in it as there are no shafts , we managed to go in just under a mile I will get a video up soon. Al

  • @VegasCyclingFreak
    @VegasCyclingFreak4 жыл бұрын

    That's one of the longest haulage tunnels I've ever seen

  • @alanrobinson4318
    @alanrobinson4318 Жыл бұрын

    I see a lot of vids of mine exploration, and in many y'all sneak through a small opening. Do you guys ever bring a couple of shovels along, and clear a bigger entrance ???

  • @UKAbandonedMineExplores
    @UKAbandonedMineExplores4 жыл бұрын

    The ribs of the first part of that level remind me more like your walking into a slate mine.

  • @platformstrange1794
    @platformstrange17944 жыл бұрын

    Must've been a mile long! Daaark.

  • @jacoblenting3742
    @jacoblenting37422 жыл бұрын

    Very good video guys! But you would not get me in there for nuttin!

  • @frequencyfluxfandango8504
    @frequencyfluxfandango85044 жыл бұрын

    It's good narration if you can orientate me as to where you are, where you've come from/going to etc. -and you did a great job - imo. Respect.

  • @MinesoftheWest

    @MinesoftheWest

    4 жыл бұрын

    I just make it all up anyway Hey thanks for the kind words! I’m glad you enjoyed

  • @grim6980
    @grim69803 жыл бұрын

    How were those tunnels dug? Were they blasted or something else? I noticed the pipes were they for air or water?

  • @steventaub6846
    @steventaub68464 жыл бұрын

    That's a really cool mine - was there any reason you didn't explore down that winze at the end of the haulage adit?

  • @MinesoftheWest

    @MinesoftheWest

    4 жыл бұрын

    It was a little sketchy and the maps indicated that it leads nowhere.

  • @danaj9336
    @danaj93364 жыл бұрын

    What kind of rock formations are this in? In the first part, you pause to look at some of the veins, but in the second part, you are practially running down the tunnel, and at around 10:35 or so, you pass something that looks interesting, but just hurry on by. More info on the geology, please. What was mined here?

  • @MinesoftheWest

    @MinesoftheWest

    4 жыл бұрын

    Dana J Practically running eh? I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration. This is primarily a crosscut tunnel, very limited ore was removed from this level. The ore was mined on the upper levels for its copper, lead, and silver content. The red colored deposits at the beginning of this video likely contain a substantial amount of lead and iron. Copper ore is shown in the Part 1 video. I don’t tend not to focus on the details of long crosscuts as they usually lack mineralization. Trust me, there was not much worth seeing in that long tunnel...

  • @mineadventures7938
    @mineadventures7938 Жыл бұрын

    So you ran out of time as well and didn't go down the ore pass from up above, i presume as you did, come out down here. I found it interesting that JW claimed this mine.

  • @Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88
    @Benson_aka_devils_advocate_884 жыл бұрын

    First? And here I was going to say, not first but I'm not last! Sorry, didn't sleep well. I'll see myself out now.

  • @MinesoftheWest

    @MinesoftheWest

    4 жыл бұрын

    Benson Haha hope you sleep well tonight!

  • @stevenhigby3512
    @stevenhigby35124 жыл бұрын

    You have wonder if that was back filled for some reason.

  • @patrickmcleod111
    @patrickmcleod1114 жыл бұрын

    I wonder if 'some' of the massive collapses that completely prevent further access to deeper areas of these mines, could be intentionally created by the original mine owners, in order to protect valuable ore bodies from exploitation? Maybe they were forced to cease mining, and planned on returning in the future, but never got around to it for whatever reason...

  • @Askjeffwilliams
    @Askjeffwilliams4 жыл бұрын

    could tell ya stories about this one

  • @MinesoftheWest

    @MinesoftheWest

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hey Jeff! Would love to hear your stories

  • @Askjeffwilliams

    @Askjeffwilliams

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@MinesoftheWest we rebuilt the ore cart on the upper level, still Silver and Gold in the mine and we installed the metal ladders.

  • @TheDarkHour684

    @TheDarkHour684

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Askjeffwilliams When? Those chain ladders looked recent

  • @mechanicman8687

    @mechanicman8687

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hey Jeff!!

  • @davebeckley2584
    @davebeckley25844 жыл бұрын

    I suppose that had you said that what looked like the brick and mortar at 1:40 was done by Martians 250,000 years ago would be considered click bait? Just kidding, it was still cool anyway. Thanks for sharing. But it did look man, errr, alien made.

  • @MinesoftheWest

    @MinesoftheWest

    4 жыл бұрын

    Dave Beckley Haha I agree! One of the weirdest natural formations I’ve seen!

  • @michaelnaretto3409
    @michaelnaretto34092 жыл бұрын

    I get claustrophobic so I wouldn't go in there, but it is still interesting...

  • @hiscifi2986
    @hiscifi29864 жыл бұрын

    I wish you would have mined a sample piece of rock from the rock face. Then maybe smelted it to show how the metals were found.

  • @jameschang8122
    @jameschang81224 жыл бұрын

    why why why why does every one go to the fucking right go to the left everyone scared of going left in a mine

  • @sanddabz5635

    @sanddabz5635

    4 жыл бұрын

    It's a common sense easy to remember mining (habit, suggestion, rule, recommended practice) as a way not to get lost~

  • @mostlymissiles
    @mostlymissiles4 жыл бұрын

    Really need a gimbal

  • @edchair3559
    @edchair35594 жыл бұрын

    Did anyone else see the animal head sculpture on the wall at 16:00

  • @DurpVonFronz
    @DurpVonFronz4 жыл бұрын

    The height of these giants was either 300 or 3,000 ells, (1 Enoch 7:2) You are literally going thru the petrified bodies of those fallen titans. Devils tower is the heel tendon that snapped off of one of these creatures, the evidence is there if you look. Mudfossil University breaks all this stuff down for those that cant wrap the mind around it. Geologist know little to nothing of how the earth is made. BTW, love the mining vids and seeing the layers and colours in each of em, watched about 1/3 of em so far.

  • @danaj9336

    @danaj9336

    4 жыл бұрын

    hahahahahhahahahhahhahahahhahahhahahhahhahahhahahhahhahhahahahhahahhaha!!

  • @DurpVonFronz

    @DurpVonFronz

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@danaj9336 Cognitive dissonance, Awesome.

  • @danaj9336

    @danaj9336

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@DurpVonFronz Are you off your meds?

  • @edchair3559

    @edchair3559

    4 жыл бұрын

    Did anyone else see the animal head sculpture at 16:00 mark?

  • @ToyotaKTM

    @ToyotaKTM

    5 ай бұрын

    The evidence is there if you look. Hahahaha. Evidence of ... tendons or insanity?