Pushing Into Unexplored Areas Of A Large Abandoned Mine Complex - Part 3

In this video, we run out this great, unexplored level and start on the next level down, which turned out to be just as rewarding… The unexplored section of this mine definitely earned it a spot on my “Favorite Abandoned Mines” list. Given how damp and humid this mine was, I am very grateful that so many artifacts were preserved as well as they were. Most of the wood was a mess, but metal, paper, glass, carbide graffiti, etc. was fairly intact. I suppose I’m used to our mines in the Sierras where many adits are almost fully submerged for months at a time and never dry out completely (the water level just drops a bit) and many have thick layers of mud over everything.
The next video will be the last one from this visit and will be a bit longer in order to cover the whole level below. It was a good one…
As a reminder, this abandoned mine dates back to the 1800s and silver, lead, copper and zinc ore was pulled out of this complex... Several large, abandoned mines connect underground at this site, but the others are totally inaccessible from the surface. The mine we entered from will likely not be accessible for much longer either. We knew that the lower levels of the mine that we entered from were unexplored. So, our goals were to push as deep as possible into this mine and also to see if we could gain access to the neighboring mines.
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You can see the full TVR Exploring playlist of abandoned mines here: 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!
#ExploringAbandonedMines
#MineExploring
#AbandonedMines
#UndergroundMineExploring

Пікірлер: 42

  • @MrRobert22b
    @MrRobert22b2 ай бұрын

    J.R.Watkins company out of Winona, Minnesota made bottles for medicine. They started producing them in 1868. They still produce liniments to this day.

  • @EzraCannon-xp9is

    @EzraCannon-xp9is

    2 ай бұрын

    I found a small addition to your already accurate post..... the bottle contained a cough suppressing syrup

  • @The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST
    @The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST2 ай бұрын

    Bottle - The J. R. Watkins Company began in 1868 as a small home-based business in Plainview, Minnesota, founded by entrepreneur Joseph Ray Watkins. Watkins distributed many different types of household products including cleaning products, food extracts and flavorings, cosmetics, home remedies, and other products. (They did not actually make the bottles in which these products were contained.) As business increased, in 1885 the company operations were moved from Plainview to Winona, Minnesota.😎

  • @sierramountainsrailfanning2114
    @sierramountainsrailfanning21142 ай бұрын

    Hi from Sierra Nevada.

  • @I.Live4oldcars.prospecting
    @I.Live4oldcars.prospecting2 ай бұрын

    Wow awesome video and mine. Thanks for showing this.

  • @Carolb66
    @Carolb662 ай бұрын

    Yay! Wednesday night treat, hi from UK.

  • @archstanton9206
    @archstanton92062 ай бұрын

    Those blasting cap containers were incredible. Nothing like walking back in time and seeing the artifacts that complete the experience.

  • @beyond_civilization
    @beyond_civilization2 ай бұрын

    This is one of the best mines you've ever explored! You all were down there for what seems like an eternity.

  • @Jack-ne8vm
    @Jack-ne8vm2 ай бұрын

    Old fuses are fun to light - outside!

  • @kypparmstrong2775
    @kypparmstrong27752 ай бұрын

    This mine series wins the prize for Most Rotted Wood and Debris. Cool finds nonetheless!

  • @Hudstone-xf8td
    @Hudstone-xf8td2 ай бұрын

    The Watkins bottle was a patent medicine or extract from winona minnesota. If this mine is near a great northern railroad line, that would be how that bottle got there.

  • @anonymoos
    @anonymoos2 ай бұрын

    This is an amazing mine. Wishing I could be there with you all exploring, but this is the next best thing :) Thanks for sharing as always!

  • @williamwintemberg
    @williamwintemberg2 ай бұрын

    This mine just keeps giving. Beautiful! Thanks Justin and Crew!

  • @danielflinn3571
    @danielflinn35712 ай бұрын

    Thanks from Australia good luck stay safe

  • @VegasCyclingFreak
    @VegasCyclingFreak2 ай бұрын

    5:51 I got a good laugh out of that!

  • @frankgaletzka8477
    @frankgaletzka84772 ай бұрын

    Thank you for your work and the Risk you all take do bring the Video to the audience. Glück Auf and greetings Yours Frank Galetzka

  • @paulcooper9135
    @paulcooper91352 ай бұрын

    Amazing! Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

  • @MikeOrkid
    @MikeOrkid2 ай бұрын

    She just keeps on giving and giving. Stoked to see what's next.

  • @billbrown5640
    @billbrown56402 ай бұрын

    Awesome finds in this one. Watkins makes all sorts of stuff and has been around since early 1800's if I recall correctly. They've made everything from extracts, ointments, to spices, etc so that was cool to see that bottle down there in the video.

  • @kerzwhile
    @kerzwhile2 ай бұрын

    Damn... awesome episode!!!❤

  • @seldoon_nemar
    @seldoon_nemar2 ай бұрын

    NOOOOOO. I don't have time to watch this now! 😭 Here's a like, a comment and a download until I have a chance ❤

  • @jilbertb
    @jilbertb2 ай бұрын

    About time! 😂 ❤Thanks❤

  • @gerardange
    @gerardange2 ай бұрын

    Thanks Jason!

  • @SueGirling68
    @SueGirling682 ай бұрын

    Hi Justin & team, at 16:02 I think those white formations are Chalcedony, I could be wrong. What a fascinating mine, so many twists and turns and up's and down's to it, how on earth do you remember your way out ?? Thank you for sharing, much love. xx

  • @genechronister7085
    @genechronister70852 ай бұрын

    Another great vid

  • @Rick-ne6wy
    @Rick-ne6wy2 ай бұрын

    Love this mine!

  • @ALeAnn365
    @ALeAnn3652 ай бұрын

    I know that watkins bottle my dad had one that was fully intact, the bottle we have with watkins on it is dr. Titus opium cough medicine.

  • @davec3459
    @davec34592 ай бұрын

    Great vid!

  • @MrShotlighter
    @MrShotlighter2 ай бұрын

    Wonder what they were using, that needed those no.8 caps to set it off? The other ones you found, all seem to be the more usual (for the time) no.6's.

  • @bebeandjohnnotsonomadiclif5287
    @bebeandjohnnotsonomadiclif52872 ай бұрын

    thank you.

  • @crazycjk
    @crazycjk2 ай бұрын

    This mine is fantastic. Looking forward to the next long installment. Do you map the mines as you go, or just navigate by memory and features? Seems like this one is particularly big, or maybe it just has more interesting things worth showing :)

  • @raymondheckard234
    @raymondheckard2342 ай бұрын

    Watkins is a lineament, spices and other extracts, The never sold drinking alcohol

  • @EzraCannon-xp9is
    @EzraCannon-xp9is2 ай бұрын

    The Hercules blasting caps tin was from early 1900's

  • @no_name4aday
    @no_name4aday2 ай бұрын

    The natural formation was cool wondering if they were geo'ds part 3 sucked 🙄wait for part 4 thanks Justin 🤨

  • @dirkhartman9572
    @dirkhartman95722 ай бұрын

    First watching💯

  • @TalRohan
    @TalRohan2 ай бұрын

    Thats the first time I've heard you use the F bomb that must be a horrific bit of roof. And again perspective gets the better of me when I see a relatively small looking cave in then see the tiny humans standing next to it lol The bit below the gobbing sort of reminds me of the top of a cave in. Actually a lot of it looks caved rather than mined? is there a natural area in there? This might sound odd but this part looks an awful lot like the mines at Cerro Gordo, same sort of rock and same crumbly dusty sort of look to the mine in general. Quick search and Watkins seem to do things like lemon and vannilla extract more than Alcohol but theyre still going today so you might be able to find out more from the company.

  • @TVRExploring

    @TVRExploring

    2 ай бұрын

    Yes, there were some natural caves that were intercepted during the development of the mine.

  • @MiamiMillionaire
    @MiamiMillionaire2 ай бұрын

    👍

  • @timothymilam732
    @timothymilam7322 ай бұрын

    I know this isn't y'all's normal way of doing things, but since you believe that its only a matter of time before this mine becomes totally blocked from acces all together. Is there no local are regional museum that some of the artifacts could have been given to at least save some of it for those who aren't capable of going into such places themselves. Then at least it's preserved for everyone to see that have no clue as to what's left in places they can only imagine or at best see on such channels as this. I'm all for leaving places as they've been since the original workers left it, but in cases such as this, and you know that the probabilities of someone ever being able to get there again are basically not ever going to happen again Then I believe that things that can be saved for museums to display should be done if at all possible. But i understand to the logistics of moving some things is impossible, but I waa speaking more about the smaller items and such as that. Just curious about preserving some if it, and general thoughts about in situations like this Appreciate the ride along with y'all as always, be safe

  • @jackbelk8527
    @jackbelk85272 ай бұрын

    Dynamite was nitro glycerin in sawdust or, later, diatomaceous earth. Be cautious of piles of sawdust unless its where the carpenters were working. Close inspection of toilet paper? 😲