Bravo Justin, this was a fantastic video and a much needed commentary on this issue. I am a mining historian and industrial archaeologist who has documented a lot of rapidly disappearing heritage in an attempt to actually understand mine sites down to the tiniest detail, specifically so that I can pass that understanding on to others. One big reason I watch your videos is because you are so sympathetic in your approach, and have a clear respect for the sites that comes across in the way you document everything. I 100% agree with you that artifact theft is a huge problem that is robbing us of not just the artifacts themselves but also the cultural heritage they provide. My work is made infinitely harder when I have to try to guess what piece of machinery used to be bolted to a concrete loading, because some scrappers took it years ago. If I can't glean that information from a site, then the public doesn't ever get to know about it, it's as simple as that. Not a lot of people seem to truly appreciate or care about how rapidly we're losing this information, but it's a precious resource. Preaching to the choir here, mines are so much more than just a hole in the ground, they're a timeline of technological development, they're part of the history of why people live where they do, they tell us much about the culture and attitudes of the time, they sometimes have surviving folk art, and in many cases they are the untold human story of the true unsung heroes of our world; the working class. The more we lose this stuff, the less our surroundings and historians are able to inform us of who we are, where we came from, and where we're going. A landscape absent of historical landmarks leaves us atomized and rudderless, because we lack that sense of a shared past. The ONLY person I've seen on youtube removing artifacts in an ethical manner is Brent Underwood of Cerro Gordo. His reverence and respect for the site, and his dedication to its history, should stand as a model for how these sites deserve to be handled. So big shoutout to Brent, I think if your viewers want to see it done right, which I'd bet they do, I'd highly recommend they go check out his channel "Ghost Town Living". When a historian such as myself sees someone like Brent trying to understand an entire site down to its most minute workings, we instantly recognize a legitimate fellow historian. To those of us who have that documentary mentality, everything is important, everything is an exciting find... unlike the magpie youtubers who will act unimpressed about an intact winze station "huh that's pretty neat" but get all animated over ore cart in good condition "wow guys look how perfect it is, and it still moves!", and you just know that cart will be leaving that mine site in the back of their pickup once the cameras are turned off. But in your videos I see the same dedication to every detail that Brent has in Cerro Gordo, trying to find a date stamp or a makers plate on everything, showing equipment from every angle, this is the kind of documentation that real historians want. I have a little chuckle every time I see you point out something seemingly mundane like a concrete drainage gutter, because I empathise with that and know that we're a pretty exclusive club that get excited about that kind of stuff. So in summary, huge kudos for calling this one out, your work in documenting stuff has even been valuable to my own research, so keep blazing that trail.

@d2sfavs

6 ай бұрын

well said

There is nothing better than someone who is very knowledgeable about the history and the machinery on the site... And the best part is, he sounded young-ish; thus I assume the younger generations are keeping the knowledge alive. Wonderful! Fantastic! Thanks to the owners for sharing with us all.

@EliteAmmunition

2 жыл бұрын

Buy it and make it a non for profit museum.

@bulletz9280

2 жыл бұрын

​@@EliteAmmunition that has been done before with some success. Geevor museum in Cornwall UK was purchased shortly after it closed, and now provides jobs to some of the miners as guides and caretakers. The mill, compressors, headframe, and other ancillary structures on the site all date back to the mid century so they represent a very interesting and rare survival of older practices in the industry.

@PhilJonesIII

2 жыл бұрын

@@bulletz9280 Same in S Wales with The Big Pit Museum. They closed the coal mine and made it safe (safer?) for paying visitors. The region saw the wholesale closure of coal mines, coal processing plants and coal by-product processing plants. Nearly all those sites have now been converted into parks and wildlife reserves. I've no beef with the site conversions, those parks are beautiful restorations to what the valleys once were before minerals were discovered. In many places, the workers just downed tools, never to return. I worked in a laboratory where we were tasked with a range of tasks from pollution measurement, and coal analysis to a lot of other, less conventional stuff like determining the best angle for conveyor belts when lifting materials. We had a ton of kit in that lab, including a new high-pressure chromatograph/spectrophotometer. This was some seriously expensive kit and it was left to gather dust until the bulldozers flattened the buildings. I like to think someone got some use out of it. As for the rest, a few processing plants were just left to rot and plunder. One even caught fire and was left to burn out (crude benzol and derivatives.....God help the locals) Also lost, is the documentation and knowledge that likely ended up burned or in landfills. There were decades of knowledge and experience there.

thats is cool and you forgot to mention the copper thieves as well .... on them old Governors they would use the term" Balls to the wall " when running at wide open ...so many cools things to see .....never seen so many drills in one spot ... we know that spot well ....and we did a video on the mill to the North of that spot ...yes you can separate fine Gold with static electricity and that would make sense how that machine was set up ...the Keene 140s Drywasher has the same thing incorporated into it to..... wow 7 ore cars ....that would have been amazing to see....pushed down the shaft ...what !!!! are they crazy . oh wait yeah you talked about that. Assuming you have more from this area....good job sonny Jim.

This mine site should be preserved immediately as an example for future generations.

I love that you are bringing the theft issue into light as I've personally seen too many mines get destroyed over the years due to thieves. There will never be a new abandoned mine as most the current underground mining is done by giant corporations that will always reclaim the surface and seal the portals, so we have to work to preserve what we currently have.

What a fascinating tour. Could you imagine the rush, seeing all that equipment in operation?! Wow!! Thanks, Justin! Oh, and a curse on all the relic hunters past, present and future..

That device between the boilers is a steam to water heat exchanger to produce hot water. The frame above it held the hot water tank. Looks like the Kewanee boiler was coal/pellet fired and the other boiler was oil or natural gas fired. Very cool to see them intact and unmolested as the gentleman stated. Justin you are 100% correct that these historical sites should ALL look like this. Thieves and vandals are among the lowest forms of life. The compressor room is amazing. I especially enjoyed seeing that Sullivan steam powered compressor. The hoist is something we don't often see intact too.

One precious mine, still mostly intact ... and far more "complete" than most mining museums full of "saved" artifacts. That's really sad when you think about it. Thanks for sharing this treasure! 🇨🇦

On the one hand, I agree with you 100%. On the other, I stand by my comment on a previous video. If the mine (like many you explore) is quite literally on the verge of collapse, or is slated for "closure".... Destruction...then I don't see a problem saving the history. Many of those mines, once fully collapsed or blasted shut, will be impossible to find again in a few decades. Nice, clean, dry mines like this one? They should have a guard or some type of security set up.

@Dwendele

2 жыл бұрын

Let me add, my perspective is coming from historic industrial buildings and such. I've been involved in the demolition and clearing of a number OLD mills and other production plants. Some of the stuff in the textile mills in the south is from the 1800s.... Like the mines. The owners usually hire a scrapper to come and haul off the big stuff, but literal TONS of small artifacts are left for whoever manages to grab them before the buildings are torn down. Then, it's all track hoes and dozers.

@xXAlexbXx-hl9nf

2 жыл бұрын

@@Dwendele that's awesome and tragic all at the same time.

@alexandervalaris72

2 жыл бұрын

Your probably that guy running his generator at a camp site and probably have a million reasons to justify that to. You can justify anything.

@aaronkeeth651

2 жыл бұрын

@@alexandervalaris72 xcpt bidens presidency

@Porty1119

2 жыл бұрын

@@aaronkeeth651 Nobody can justify THAT!

finallly, a mine worthy turning into a museum for the generations to come, this is really really rare find and worth preserving and teaching people about the past

I happen to be disabled and I love seeing what you find at the mines that you visit. Thanks again for the videos and the information you have given about them.

Bravo on your intro monologue! 🎉 Half the excitement of exploring mines is finding treasures of the past and should be left for all to discover.

Completely in agreement with your introduction. These abandoned mines belong to all of us to witness and see and imagine what it must have been like back in the days, what are its historical impact to the local economy and how that build a family/town/city. This is history that doesn't belong in your front yard for your kids to throw away when you pass away. This history belong to all of us and people who steal from these places steals from you and me. Thank you and always appreciative of these fascinating videos. - mid-aged IT Engineer who has never been in a mine.

I totally agree with you 100%. Your videos are my favorite mine exploration videos!!!

The ongoing pillaging of these mines, the thievery of important _and_ mundane informative artifacts, just deeply depresses me. I'm grateful to mine explorers, like you, for documenting the lives of these mines, as well as the miners. I've learned so much from you. Thanks for preserving these important windows into our history.

@KubotaManDan

2 жыл бұрын

I have to agree & Justin's been bringing the best of the best in abandon mine history to us.

@AGDinCA

2 жыл бұрын

@@KubotaManDan Dan, I can't tell you how happy it makes me that I find you on Justin's channel, as well as on any of the ROV dives. I get the feeling we are birds of a feather - learning is our greatest purpose. I am just as interested in the geology of mines as I am in the history of the miners themselves. And, on the livestreams (plus all the footage you kindly make available) I am just as interested in the land formations as I am in the biology. I'm willing to bet you feel the same way. I'm also willing to bet your scientific interests are not limited to these two fields... just as mine aren't. 😁👍

This is so cool! I could stay there for a week looking at everything. It brings back many memories. When I started working I found myself in a factory built in 1888. A lot of the old machinery was still there in use. I was there ten years until it closed. Lots of fond memories this video brought back. I can't thank you enough Justin!

Couldn't agree more, leave it exactly like you found it so the next person gets to discover it as well.

@worldtraveler930

2 жыл бұрын

Just like the old saying goes, "Take Only Photographs and Leave Nothing But Footprints"!!! 🤠👍

Totally agree with You! Hate when people take stuff from mines or any abandoned place for that matter. I know of some big youtube names that steal stuff all the time and have even gone as far as chainsawing down timbers to steal stuff. Pretty sad! I love seeing the old equipment left at a mine site. Thanks for the tour and the awesome mine vids you make Justin!

Love this mine! Nice to see some of the machinery has survived. I remember my father always insisted leave it right there so the next person could see it! We visited a lot of mines in the sixties. So much had been scrapped out for ww2!

@worldtraveler930

2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately in today's world they're being scrapped out for somebody's next fix of methamphetamine!!! 😠

@MinesoftheWest

2 жыл бұрын

Your father was a good man!

That was an awesome video here and I'm proud that you were very discreet of showing the location of it too cause of the damn thieves stealing the mines equipment and things that made it work back when it was still in operation too and now I'd love to see the actual workings of it too cause that's going to be an awesome explore for sure now proud to see you back at it after your recent family things that have happened with you now too

Most environmentalists consider this stuff to be a blight on the land. Various governmental units have removed all evidence of past mining. Very prevalent in CO. If the site hits the superfund list its as good as gone.

@aaronvienot

2 жыл бұрын

Fellow Coloradoan here, this here is exactly the problem. Anything that isn't already being preserved in a private or public museum is usually bulldozed, buried, and destroyed by the State or feds. I've seen a handful of attempts at historic preservation on some of their recent projects (e.g. Santiago Mill near Argentine Pass) but they've really stepped up the scorched-earth policy in the past 10-15 years. Unfortunately this has some justification. Many of these sites are not lost from public records and then further isolated by 10-15 mile overland hikes as seem to be the case with much of what TVR, A&FP, etc. are turning up. In some cases the mines are (were) 300-to-1000-foot deep sinkholes accessible 25 minutes out of Denver metro, and their leachate filters into the Front Range water supplies.

@yourMom-ic4wr

2 жыл бұрын

Do you know of any mines in co that hasn't been hit by the feds yet?

A big thank you to the family that shared this with you and with us all!

Hi Justin. Thanks for the video and thank you for what you said in your intro. I certainly agree with your thoughts on the vandals and thieves of history. Back home for me there are lots of old lumber camps hidden away in remote wilderness areas. An acquaintance of my mother's knows where many are. Being the owner of a logging company he has accumulated many old maps showing their locations but he does not tell many (or any in some cases) people where these camps are for fear of them being raided or destroyed.

Another fantastic video and I also have to say well done to that man who was showing you around, he has fantastic knowledge and is extremely polite so well done to him too.

Great video!! That young man knows his compressor stuff! We used to have several fifties vintage recip co pressers where I work. His explanation was pretty much spot on. I would be interested to know what voltage that motor was as well. There’s a lot of us out here that love seeing that old equipment! It was bullet proof and worked when you needed it. It’s so good to see the appreciation for this stuff passed on to the younger crowd! It’s also interesting to see the injury safety related stuff! We take safety glasses for granted now, but it’s amazing that they tracked this stuff but took no actions to prevent them back then.

Holy crap! That place should be a museum!

@worldtraveler930

2 жыл бұрын

I second that motion!!! 🤠👍

THANK YOU for commenting about ARTIFACT THIEVES!! Otherwise, what an excellent mine! I loved the descriptions of everything, including the staff, medical issues, etc.

Hi Justin, I agree it is a shame that so much is taken for one reason or another, I think the only time I have kind of condoned it is when a channel has created a museum for those who are not fortunate enough to go into these old mines so they can learn about mining and what equipment was used in a mine. This is one awesome mine site, so much history just left behind and so much to tell us about what day to day accidents happened there and what the miners were paid. A very cool video, thank you for sharing, much love. xx ❤

Thanks again my friend your the best in the business much appreciation for sharing the tour and the knowledge keep them coming also can't wait to see more from your active mine 👍

I'm not sure you can say "steal" since the mine company left the items behind. The mine company apparently didn't see any value in taking the equipment to another mine or selling the equipment. Having said that I'm glad to see what kinds of equipment was used.

I love that this stuff has been left here. It's awesome to see how things might have been placed for daily use

This is amazing great work locating this location. I really despise thieves because nobody owes you anything and what gives you the right to take something that doesn't belong to you but anywho still a lot of amazing stuff great work again

I understand your sentiment, because these things should be for all to enjoy. Unfortunately, history has some even worse enemies than thieves who poach items for yard art, vandals, or the few super douche idiots who think everything is made to be shot full of holes or lit on fire. The BLM in my area made contracts in the late 2000's, paying scrappers to go in and clear out anything and everything made of metal from areas of Mormon Basin mining district. That is no surprise here though as they also disc/block/destroy/plant over a lot of old roads to make them go away, mow down and/or burn Juniper forests in eradication projects, and raise many of the abandoned buildings to eliminate human history so the land will fit wilderness criteria. They even had a BLM employee here (not sure if they still do) who's job is/was to hunt arrowheads, log the location where they were found, then dig a hole and bury them 10" deep in the ground. His salary was over 40k a year to do that. Thanks for capturing what you can while you can on video because nothing lasts forever.

As you've pointed out before, and historical evidence shows, a considerable number of old mines were completely stripped of anything that could be reused during the war effort in the 40s - or by owners trying to get the last little measure of profit. The mines that survived to this degree were those still in operation during the war. I really don't think the average amateur explorer has the ability to haul this big stuff away and it seems unfair to blame them for mines being empty.

When I am scrounging stuff at clearance sales, I'm most interested in the unidentified junk in the corner. Because every successful mystery solved is another chunk of useful knowledge I can pass on. If something looks as if it was ever used as a tool, I always want to know its context. This is how I save things from oblivion at deceased estates and when people move house. As for taking things, it's not always black and white, ESPECIALLY if you are not purely selfish. Sometimes things are better off in the hands of people who value them, rather than at the mercy of random idiots and vandals. Historic paperwork: certainly! would not hesitate to remove that AND see it got to a local historical society. Or at least inform people with known interest. Apart from vandalism, you have the ever present threat of wildfire that could reduce this entire place to a pile of unrecognisable scrap in an hour. And if you do have a collection of treasures: leave it to a historical association in your will.

This was an amazing video, I truly get it why people need to leave stuff alone as seeing the almost complete workshops and blacksmith section is a great time travel back through history. Stripped and stolen places are so lifeless....

Love watching your video, they make my day so much better- thank you!

Only listened to the intro so far and I love it already

This is a long overdue PSA. Mine sites are everyone history and its a travesty how many of them are stripped clean. Keep documenting these sites its the only record that may exist of them.

Thanks for all the effort posting these videos…highlight of my day when I see a new posting.

That was a very interesting explore. I certainly agree with on people vandalizing and stealing things from mine sites in general. However, with the BLM and other authorities barring and back filling mine entrances, these artifacts are being lost for all time. There is a fairly high profile Mine Explorer here in BC that pulls artifacts out of very old difficult to access mines, restores them, and displays them in his museum. I have been there, and it is quite interesting to see them in working condition. So, I believe there are cases where it is reasonable. Your friend has a great knowledge of the old machinery, and it was quite interesting to listen to. I have worked on an Ingersoll Rand Compressor built in the sixties about twice the size of the ones you showed in the mine with a 4160 Volt 300 HP Synchronous Motor that was about 10 feet in diameter, and two cylinders that compressed in both directions. The Cylinders bores were big enough that you could crawl into them,. It was only 50 PSI, but at huge volume. This must be quite the mine if it has its own substation that I saw in the background at one point. It probably had a higher voltage transmission feed to it to meet the Electrical requirements. Thank you for the interesting and informative Videos.

Thank you for sharing and preserving the history

Generally speaking, archaeologists only excavate as a last resort and excavation is a destructive process. You can only excavate a site once, and what is deemed unimportant today might be critical in the future, hence the reticence to excavate unless necessary.

That pit (environmental tragedy aside) was AMAZING. It made those old shafts and tunnels look like part of a miniature movie diorama. Insane.

That place in and of itself. ...is a museum!

Beyond awesome! A great find that hopefully shall remain intact for many centuries to come. Another truly enjoyable mine video as well. Many thanks. LS

Wow! Just fantastic to see everything there like that! Thanks for the very sweet exploration.

There is no way I could leave them to rust and corrode if I had any control of the site.... I'd have all the buildings,compressors, & equipment functional and maintain the mine shafts ,adits & drifts. I love old things

@worldtraveler930

2 жыл бұрын

You and me both!!! 🤠👍

Thanks that was so educational and wonderful to see all those artifacts. Hope all that stays there.

So much to see here. I will go back and watch it again. Thank you.

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for the Tour, and the video. I would love nothing more than to be a care taker to an old mine like that. That would be a wonderful job to have. Plus it may even have some fringe benefits of thumping some heads every now and then. Again, I appreciated the video thank you.

Sir, amazing content as always.. thx and be safe

Fabulous ..someone who knows how these machines worked ..what a great Young man !!

those old machines looked great, just like a old mine should look, a great video again Justin thnx.

So awesome can't wait to see more

I am sure most people here know already. A high percentage of mine equipment was removed from the mines for the war effort during ww2. (melted down and repurposed) Copper was in such high demand, copper mines continued to operate, and the miners were considered doing their part for the war effort. Thats where alot of very large equipment disappeared to.

Sweet! So much cool stuff!

If I ever win the Powerball, I am going to buy a mine like this and preserve it.

This mine looks HUGE! It'll be nice to see it when you guys finally get to go down there and poke around!

Absolutely spectacular.!! Thanks a bunch for the amazing videos you do.!! Godbless

It’s a crying shame , it’s history of days gone by , how our fathers & grandfathers shaped the world of today

Really cool. Thanks!

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing

While studying for my BS in geology back in the late 80’s we were given the chance to visit/explore this mine in that remote corner of Nevada. Still looks like it did over 30 years ago. Having spent most of intervening years in the mining industry, I worry about the popularity of “mine exploration” has seen. I am worried about the loss of historical items and sites along with the undue risks I see many “mine explorers” on KZread taking just to obtain content!

What an awesome site! Great video! 👍👊😎

I hate making a second comment, but I just finished reading the article about your experience there. I hope that you are able to do a second part. I hope no one takes anything out of it. I am amazed that a 14yr old boy was working the slusher. If I was only able to document everything that is there. I can see you taking use though there on a weekly show. Thanks again for the video and Thank you to the Owner who let you and your friend look around.

Thank you, Sir

Wow so much cool stuff. Amazing video indeed mate. Cheers 👍😎🇦🇺

Fantastic!

it's crazy how much equipment these mines just left behind.

Absolutely Fascinating!!! 🤠👍

That drill sharpener is also forging the end of the drill, making it much tougher.

Great Demo, GC...! You have become a REAL MINING ENGINEER...! Congratulations...! The mine on Williamson Creek in S Basin, Level Three, had a couple of Ingersoll-Sargent machines in the portal, dated @ 1925. The Dr ? who owned the property in the mid 1960's scrapped them out - I think...! Good Co-op with Justin...! I'd like to tour a portal shop like this with you guys, too...! Still in Tucson.....

Very cool. I would love to see a more in-depth exploration of the mine if possible.

Wow.... WOW!!! This site is INCREDIBLE!! Breathtaking. I am really jealous of you finding (or being shown in this case) a site like this. I wish the mines I've been able to reach were like this. There's just so much cool stuff here! Keep this place secret. Keep it safe. I'd also like to know what this mine had against the left side of the body. Some many left-sided body injuries.

Good to see you you're doing your best to keep it secret this location. It's really sad when you see things like somebody came in and stole the anvils. I'm sure if there were brass valves and copyright items that those had been stolen also.

Imagine if public funds went towards preserving these sites and using them for education and tourism. A lot of artifacts there that really belong in a museum. Not to mention all the treasures that must be underground there, what a tantalizing mine, hopefully we get to see more someday!

Personally I prefer to see machinery preserved and running, not rusting away on some mountain top. Maybe this stuff will have value in the future and governmental units will preserve it in place. I assume it will mostly be gone by that time. CO. has done very little to preserve its mining past, mostly a few special preservation groups not really up to the task. The Mayflower Mill in Silverton operated as late as the 1990s and is a tourist stop. Its many miles long tram to the top of the mountain is disused.

WOW best deep dive i've seen on a mine EVER! so complete! shame its prob to remote to turn into a financially viable museum display still much

excellent video iv run a few of those old water liner drills.great narration by the young guy hope the place is protected from thieves.

Good on you mate. There are several well known YT Ch that are basically thieves. The excuses are as you say, ridiculous. Theres one YT Ch where he not only loots and pillages for himself, but for friends back home because they might like it. I tried explaining that the only reason they were there was because none of those who went before him were like him, but he pretty much poked his tongue out at me and so so what.

@worldtraveler930

2 жыл бұрын

And therein lies the problem with the world in front of us today!!!

This was cool thanks

Wow what a place, that's an insane amount of stuff left, really 😎

I find it funny how much some parts of mining haven’t changed much, compared to the advances in technology used today. All those incidents sound incredibly familiar and really highlight why safety glasses, gloves, and hard hats aren’t optional on site anymore. And a lot more of them would have been lost time and short term disability incidents on a modern site like the one I work at 😅

I really hope there is a part two!!!

wow frank,jeff and gang are going crazy over this place wow nice video

Always love the operations tours. Makes me wonder how many Man hours were worked here!

@TVRExploring

2 жыл бұрын

I don't know, but I can tell you that it was a lot!

Great video. I like your tour guy. He makes is seem less mystical and more realistic. I wonder if the electro static machine was supposed to help remove metals like iron, or anything magnetic so they could be processed easier? I imagine it's like what happens if you run a magnet over your garage floor, you'll end up pulling debris out of places you didnt know about.

Y'all are in the middle of a for real gold mine of artifacts if there ever was one. It's amazing that as much as thers hasn't been pilfered as most everything has been from other mine sites. How is it that this one has remained so intact after 80 some odd years? Is it on someone's land that has acted as security guards for the place, and I take it that your young tour guide is part of the family that has the task of preserving the site. Whatever the story, I'm glad someone has it, and the common sense to try and preserve at least somewhat, rather than just hauling everything to scrape yard to thrn if into rebar from Japan. I appreciate ya'lls efforts to take the time to record this for future veiwers to have a chance at seeing the setup of the mine site.

A very interesting Mine It was very lange in her glory days I am very sad to see all this destroyed and vandalt mashines and buildings . I hope the Rest which remains will be protectet against looters and vandals . Thank you for the Video Take care Yours Frank Galetzka

all that stuff really needs to be restored

@worldtraveler930

2 жыл бұрын

I second that motion!!! 🤠👍

For young man he sure is very knowledgeable.🇺🇲

That is a cool mine. Just the outside equipment made for a good video I am sure the inside is something to be seen as well

Thrives are the lowest of lives... Glad there is so much still there I pray and hope its protected now or ina few years there will b nothing left!

I just WOW that's amazing

Great words in the beginning, brother. Great words.

@TVRExploring

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you.

Cool site. Pretty neat that Ingersoll Rand still exists. I use their air tools all the time at work.

It will always amaze me how they got all the equipment and parts up to the mines. Then, just leave it.

i was using similar drilling equipment last year at that one place