Nice video once again. Thank you for sharing. You know, it just boggles my mind to think how the miners brought all the heavy equipment up to these locations. Yes, a road to the lower sites but the higher elevations with no road access, that's a feat in and of it's self.
Garry Stebbings Thanks, Garry! Glad you liked this video. Yes, this was a great site to hike to. Due to its location in a National Park, it does have some protection. The hiking distance to reach it also affords the site more protection, too. Hard to believe that stuff has been sitting outside there for more than thirty years.
cigarzan Thanks for checking out the Moser Mine video. Yes, this site is definitely worth the 3 mile hike across the desert to reach it. Some people DO drive out to the site on the old road by removing the slatted border fence, driving past it, and then replacing the slats. That is taking a chance, though, of getting caught by a park ranger, I'd guess. The hike was a challenge, so I didn't mind doing it. In a couple more months when summer arrives, it will be way too hot and dangerous to do that hike, though.
This site should be protected as a museum. Impressive collection of what is left. The marine corps compressor might be a item that sold at a government sale, the buffalo forge blower is a item i am looking for, but i hope this one stays put for ever. Thank you for your video.
Arjan Wilbie Unfortunately, there was a lot more stuff a decade or more ago. It has gotten picked over and removed piece by piece over the intervening years.
+Folfie “LeKrix” Lukather That's when I was there! I think it got up to about 80 or 85° that day, so it was not the deadly hot temperatures they get later in the summer.
Exploring Abandoned Mines the only thing to worry about during that time of year is flash floods, but they usually happen closer to April when the storms start popping up, i love the way the stars go down to the horizon in the mojave, reminds me of Wyoming, but it has a much wierder feel too it than Wyoming
KaliKomrade It is a good hike. Just take lots of water. Going in mid-summer would be suicide, I think. Best to do it now before the summer temperatures set in. Or wait until next fall/winter.
My brother would have freaked if he saw that spider! Lots of intriguing stuff in that mine. That exhaust blower was cool. Also, that was a gorgeous view of the valley from up on the ore dump.
so well preserved, in places its like the only upped and left for the night, ie where they still have helmets on the post, oil filters neatly in boxes and such.
I love your videos. I've been interested in mines and abandoned structures since I was a kid. My Grandfather used to take me to old mine sites in the mountains near his farm in Idaho. There was even an old moonshine still resting miles into the thick woods. My favorite site visited is still an Unknown mine but I think we were the first to find it since it was abandoned in the early 1900's! The mine shaft opening had collapsed but there were lots of artifacts. We saw an old wood stove sitting in a clearing and wondered why it was just sitting there. Then we realized we were actually standing in an old cabin. Just the foundation remained under all the shrubbery and trees. My Dad metal detected the area finding a lot of bullet shells, pots, pans, old wood saws and even an old rabbit trap buried about a foot down still chained around a stump. It was still rusted in the open position ready to trap. Later we cleaned it up and it still worked! We also found a wood beam that has the date of July 1902 inscribed on it with some peoples initials. I still have all of these artifacts (accept the stove). I was only 8 years old when we found this site. Now in my 40's but I remember it all like yesterday. Another great find was an old Jammer left by a logging crew maybe in the 1940's. There were trees growing through the cab. Anyway I just wanted to thank you. Your videos brought me back to my childhood when my Grandfather was still alive taking me on endless journeys every summer vacation to abandoned mines. Take Care. Kerry.
Scrapping4aDart Thanks for the comment, Kerry! Yes, there is a LOT of history at these old, abandoned mine sites. That's one of the reasons I like going to them. Hearing stories like yours is also cool, too. I've even had ancestors of some of the owners of the mines I've been to contact me after they've seen my videos, and they were able to provide even more historical information. Another great thing is finding the miners' names and dates at the end of a tunnel deep in an old mine. Another viewer was able to look some of the names up last year and found out even more detailed family and personal information about the names that I showed in my video. Thanks again for commenting and taking the time to watch. I appreciate your support very much.
Your so very welcome! If your interested in any photos of the items I've collected over the years I'd be glad to send them to you at an email address? I have dozens of photo albums too from the Bunker hill mines to the nabob to many unknow mines. I visited many as a kid like I mentioned before and went back in the 90's and took photos again. Comparing my Dad's/Grandfather's photos from decades ago to my more recent photos you can actually see the years of decay. Many sound structures 30 years ago are now just foundations. It's sad but I'm glad I was a part of seeing these old mines before they were destroyed. I visited Burke many times too. Now most is either long gone or is fenced off from the public. Wild fires over the years too and some arson have destroyed a lot of sites. One small grouping of houses in Burke still had the original owners clothes on the hangers in makeshift closets. Although the clothes were in ruin you could still make out pants and shirts. Kitchens still had pots/pans/forks and knives on counters. Dishes were scattered and broken. I've seen abandoned generators, cars, trucks and tons of mine carts scattered around mountain sides. I love the history which sadly is literally rotting away. I wish I could send you copies of my photos. You would love them. Thanks for sharing your passion of a history that is fading. Take Care. Happy 4th. Kerry.
Well there are some good channels here which deal with mine exploration aren't there, but this is the best one of them all in my opinion. The tone of your voice has just the right amount of sobering tension so we don't forget how dangerous it really is. I think you are called Frank (I'll call you Frank anyway.) -Good Job Frank.
Exploring Abandoned Mines and Unusual Places Apparently, just under 1 year after your video was uploaded, they have closed access to this area due to theft and vandalism. The article says that an original ore cart had been stolen a few years ago. Also some other sites nearby were vandalized and closed to visitors as well. They referred to this mine primarily as the "El Sid" mine, but mentioned that its also called the Moser mine.
Definitely! It's interesting to hear the correct terminology or even the basic blueprint ideas of what the builders were thinking whilst making the mine. Can keep your videos on a playlist and nothing is ever boring. :)
I think Schramm (maker of that yellow compressor) is still in business. I believe one of their drilling rigs was used in Chile to bore the hole needed to rescue the 33 trapped miners.
Although flat walls may indicate a "fault line" ... What you keep calling "fault lines" are more correctly called bedding planes and indicate the original horizontal when the sediments were laid down eons ago.
Have you ever been in the Dessert Queen Mine in JTree? I was in there about 23 years ago, it was all fenced off, but it wasn't hard to find a way in past the fencing. I have never made it out to this one, but will have to try on my next visit to the park. I have been to, but not inside, a lot of other mines in the park. Watching (binge watching) your videos has reignited my love of old mines. I love the history and unbelievable hard work and conditions those miners endured. Thank you for sharing your adventures.
+MS Earthworks I've heard of that Desert Queen Mine in Joshua Tree National Park. Never been to it, though. When you were there years ago, did you go inside it? I would imagine that it's not that extensive inside. Regarding the Moser Mine, I received news a month or two after I posted this video that the Park Service gated the mine tunnels. While I have no way of proving this, I believe they saw my video and went out there and installed the gates. This is why I seldom use the real names of mines anymore in my videos. It sucks that it has come down to this, but I will not let my videos and documentation be used by the BLM , National Park Service, and other agencies to gate -off or destroy old, abandoned mine sites.
Yes, I was inside the Desert Queen 23 years ago. We were just inside to be inside, not really exploring, if you know what I mean. I do remember ore cart tracks and multiple tunnels, but that's about all I can remember after all it was quite a while ago. As far as the Moser mine it doesn't surprise me that the NPS would do that, and that's really to bad. I will make the trek out there anyway just to see the remote site and cabins. I had a hunch that some of the mine names you use were not real. Keep up the good work. I envy your ability and desire to take the time to visit and document these lost places.
Went to the Moser Mine once a long ago the Joshua Tree mines are dry and that is nice. I went back to the Big Horn Mine the other day and made a video. The main entrance was open with one bar cut making it a tight fit. It is really wet right now with the spring and winter rains. The "danger explosives" markings turns out to be talking about dynamite charges in the tunnel walls. Some of the dynamite fell on the floor in another tunnel that branches off the following chamber because the wedges rotted away. It was a good picture though of dynamite being used in the mine. Either they planned to collapse that tunnel or they planned to expand it before closing.
Avi Wangler I must've missed the dynamite inside the Big Horn Mine. If you post your video footage of that mine, let me know. How long ago did you visit the Moser Mine? Did you hike in or drive? At some time in the past, the mine site was NOT inside Joshua Tree National Park. When the park expanded their boundary at some time ago, it swallowed up the Moser Mine site and included it within the park boundaries.
Ah, yes! The old Moser Mines. Unfortunately, the BLM or National Park Service gated these mines a few months after I was there thus preventing any future access. Such a shame. Such a waste of money, too. People do go out to these mines and cut the gates open, so it's an apparent never-ending battle for the BLM and NPS from what I've heard. And it's a battle they'll never win. Anyway, I'll say it again: Get to these mines as fast as you can because they are going under fast!
Barnekkid Thanks for checking out the video! Yes, it was an interesting site. Little bit of everything for everyone: a tarantula, mine tunnels, old cabins, old machinery, cyanide, old bottles and cans, etc..
+doris layman Hi, Doris! Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate it. Always glad to hear when an enthusiastic viewer like you is enjoying the videos here and getting something out of them. Thank you for your support.
Frank, I think you said it was a 2 mile hike to the mine. I see a road. Couldn't you drive to the mine? I always rode my motorcycle to all the mines I've explored. I would also think that there must have been roads to get all their equipment there. I so enjoy your great videos.
Dan Miller There is a road going out to the site; however, the national park boundary cuts right across the road two miles from the mine site, and the Park Service has a "fence" at the boundary. The fence is easily removable and can be driven around and then put back in place. However, the fence is also heavily signed with "NO MOTOR VEHICLES ALLOWED" and stuff like that. We didn't mind the hike. Made it all that much more worthwhile. Glad you are enjoying the videos, Dan! Thanks for watching and commenting.
5:57 Marvel Mystery Oil is the shit! haha. i use it in my impact tool and you can add it to you vechiles to help lube and remove deposits in your motor.
+Clayton Hartin MMO has been around since at least the 1920's. The airlines used to buy it by the barrel in the days of radial engines. It's is great for sticking valves.
War surplus compressor marked USMC. The large red letters were for selling gas at a gas station. In the old days, people would drive a ways to get gas a cent or two cheaper. That's when they started the practice of selling gas marked to the tenth of a cent in price. Of course these days its always .9 cents, but then it varied. Desert gas stations often used huge letters. Usually something like 29.9 a gallon, when fewer digits were used!
These two videos are well done. Thanks you so much for the tour. I used to use Marvel Mystery Oil back in the day.If you find yourself in need of an exploration partner hit me up.
Thanks for checking out both of the latest videos! Glad you enjoyed them. I had never heard of Marvel Mystery Oil until I saw that can at the mine site.
The site was visited in 2004 and posted online anonymously by Guy Starbuck as the “Moss Mine” in 2013 when it still had an ore cart and numerous steal signs where used to line the walls. Death Valley Jim visited the site and documented it on-line anonymously as the mystery mine in Feb 2015. In March of 2015 famed TH-cam mine explorer Frank Hood posted the Moser Mine on his channel publicly ‘outing’ the mine and its location. By the time of our visit in December 2015 the adit had been sealed with a bat gate and the welds were still fresh. Much of the artifacts we saw in previous explorers post were gone, looted. Hence the controversy of weather or not to reveal mine locations despite most are public information anyway.
Loved it man! Gotta be one of the greatest feelings when you get to a sight and see that hardly any dumb ass's haven't looted everything! An unfortunate occurrence that happens to much in historic places this country.
Very interesting video! Lots of interesting artifact. Just curious if you pay attention to the geology where the mines are and what types of minerals you might find inside and around the mines. Any interesting tailing minerals perhaps?
That's Buffalo Forge Company, a well known manufacturer of blacksmith's blowers. That is a squirrel cage fan of some sort, whether it started life as a blacksmith blower, or if Buffalo Forge branched out into other blowers, I don't know.
With regard to the compressor, it was used to power the jack leg drills, mucker, etc. It is/was common for mine operators to buy these compressors from Govt. surplus auctions. Used one in a mine in CA bought from the USAF.
This is the first video of yours I have seen, great job on that by the way. Decades ago I did a lot of mine exploring and wish I had video of back then as so much has been destroyed or filled in since then... I have a question if your familiar with the dale district and gold crown road area mines which I suspect you might be.. On the road in after the couple jugs just before entering the hills that will drop you down into the park, if coming from 62 on the right hand side was a large operation with a large tailings silt flow that I think was actually named the gold crown mine. If you know the area you will know that one. But if you turn left from there instead there is a road that goes up the hill to a good sized mine but just before you go up the hill a smaller trek veers off left and around the foot of the hill to a couple short low level shafts... The slightly hilly area there below those shafts someone at some point in time extensively made paterns on with rocks... If you have ever seen it then you will know where I mean, I also have photo's ive taken but I dont think I can share those here.. If you know where to look you can even see them on google earth etc... Ive never seen anything like that done by minors anywhere else and Ive been pondering itand researching what I could for a couple decades now since first finding that about 30 years ago... If you have ever been there or have any insights or ideas about it Id really be keen to hear them... I have a couple working theories but but could rally use any more info I could find on the area right there.... I would direct email you if I can find an address to do that... Was just out in the park last weekend but didnt do any exploring... Thanks for posting this video I will be looking for any others you have up...
Dave Greaves Dave, Thanks for your comment, and thanks for watching the videos here. I appreciate your support. Regarding the area you mentioned, I have never been to that Gold Crown Mine. Are the patterns in the rocks maybe petroglyphs? I know those can be find at various spots out in the desert. My email address is under the ABOUT tab at the top of the page. Drop me a line and let me know what you think!
At 4:17, that is a blower. I've seen ones like it in Blacksmiths shops and they were hand operated. Someone attached an electric motor to that one later on.
Streamlined Steamroller Buffalo Forge made all sort of industrial blowers and fans. The company is still in business under the name, Howden. The blower depicted looks more like a ventilation blower than a hand cranked for forge blower. The latter had a flywheel/gearbox to step up the fan RPMs.
Yeah, it looked similar to a blower in a blacksmiths shop, only bigger and electrically powered. It wouldn't surprise me if they made different sizes for different uses although having the same appearance. As if the molds were expanded in size.
o2wow I did not know that company was still in business under a different name. Thanks for providing that information. I really have not ever seen a blower like that in any other mine that I've been in. It's amazing that it's still there in the tunnel! Just proves how remote and seldom-visited this mine is. Thanks again for your comment!
1:39, I wonder if that can of Pepsi is unopened. Reminds me of an episode of American Restoration where they were restoring this vintage Pepsi cooler, and the cooler had an unopened bottle of Pepsi which one of them drank when he lost a bet.
I was disappointed that the poster did not bother to stop and pick up one of those cans that were lying right in front of him, and look at it carefully to determine how old the cola can might be.
hi frank,great video as allways,a few years ago(may 2011)i droved from highway 62 in to joshua tree national park presumed to come back out a few miles further up back on the 62 because we had to go to flagstaff Arizona,but after a few hours we came out south on the highway nr.10!!small mistake that took us a few hours extra on the road to get back up north on the 95 to end up on highway 40,in the park we just saw the remaines and pictures from the silver bell mine(i think it was just there for tourists like us)we hiked up to a big ore bin but that was the only thing that remained of the siver bell mine ;) but anyhow it's a very beatifull area over there,we helped a turttle (so that he will not be crushed by a car) that crossed the main road,greetings from cold Belgium :) ps were did they use cyanide for?
kamandalu This was my first time inside Joshua Tree National Park. I have heard about that Silver Bell Mine you mentioned. I think it got gated or backfilled a long time ago to keep people out of the underground workings. In fact, many of the mines inside the park have been gated, backfilled, or razed to keep people out. That's why I haven't spent a lot of time in there exploring. The cyanide was used in processing the ore. Before that, they used mercury. However in the 1960s or so, cyanide became more common -- especially at smaller sites like these where the ore was of a lower grade and lower quality.
+Exploring Abandoned Mines- AAAH, yes. That makes sense. Oh well, it doesn't matter to me anyway. The thrill is seeing what's inside of these places really. I just love all the tense dusty moments and occasional relics and it's fascinating to see how these mines were tunnelled out. What a dangerous life it must've been, eh ? Keep up the GREAT videos and many many thanks.
one day the foreman said "we won't be working tomorrow, we are out of money" and everyone left and never returned. I love places like this that haven't been picked clean.
Since the miner's helmets are still tagged on the wall, it leads me to believe very few visitors make it here. Frank, always glad to see your posts. I think you'll agree, the desert is a place that's full of wonder. BTW, thought you might be interested in this place in Gila County AZ. I just learned abt the "79 Mine", may go out there if I can get some time, forums.ghosttowns.com/showthread.php?39942-79-Mine-Arizona
Stan Jefferson I looked up that 79 Mine. Looks like an interesting site. Not sure if any underground workings are accessible, though. If you plan on heading out there, let me know. Perhaps we can meet and head up there and check it out.
I herd story's of miner boys who had to go down tramlines in the buckets to grease the cable and any way towers. Hell of a punishment for miss behaving
A fault line is a crack in the surface of the crust were to plates meet each other. As they move towards each other or grind past one another it can lead to an earthquake when the tension on the faultline has become too much for both plates to bear and a result they will move thus causing an earthquake.
clockguy2 Probably so. Was really surprised to see a piece of United States Marine Corps equipment up there, though. That's the last thing I would expect to see at such a remote place.
Moser mine seems really difficult to get to? The nearest road is 177 (Desert Center RD) and then you have to walk across the open desert from the aqueduct into the Coxcomb mountains. But good stuff nevertheless.
+1400VID I know someone who went there after I was there, and they drove all the way in. The fence made up of wooden slats that goes across the dirt road that leads to the site is "removable," so you can remove it, drive past it, and then replace the slats. There are signs on it, though, saying "No Vehicles." There is some deep sand right before you make the approach to the fence line, so a regular 2WD sedan probably wouldn't make it. We hiked it, and it wasn't too bad. I wouldn't recommend making this hike in the summer, though, unless you have a lot of water with you! Better to wait until the fall or winter when daytime temps aren't so bad.
Coolnventions Through research. And for a small-time mining operation such as this one, it wouldn't be out of the question to have cyanide on hand like this. Thanks for watching and posting your question.
Why no ore piles? If god was mined here, they would need a crushing mill and water supply-so I assume the ore was shipped out for processing. How on earth was that done? No rail lines, so had to go by truck. Looks like it may have been marginally profitable.
EDIshames Thanks! In the distant past, I would often use musical soundtracks in my videos with no narration at all. Gradually, it became apparent that people liked the narration better.
mine close is has golg alot,,,,, depend stud dust or rock in cave tradicion lont time some thing hapend lst permision autoritation no renovation papel,o eligal in mireali clse,,, for fianiecia bank litle mine close big corporetion for corrution
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Nice video once again. Thank you for sharing. You know, it just boggles my mind to think how the miners brought all the heavy equipment up to these locations. Yes, a road to the lower sites but the higher elevations with no road access, that's a feat in and of it's self.
Thanks Frank, looks like it was a reasonable sized set up, lots of machinery and artifacts on both the surface and underground.
Garry Stebbings Thanks, Garry! Glad you liked this video. Yes, this was a great site to hike to. Due to its location in a National Park, it does have some protection. The hiking distance to reach it also affords the site more protection, too. Hard to believe that stuff has been sitting outside there for more than thirty years.
Coolest thing I've seen in a good, long while. I've camped out there many, many times, but I have never been there!
cigarzan Thanks for checking out the Moser Mine video. Yes, this site is definitely worth the 3 mile hike across the desert to reach it. Some people DO drive out to the site on the old road by removing the slatted border fence, driving past it, and then replacing the slats. That is taking a chance, though, of getting caught by a park ranger, I'd guess. The hike was a challenge, so I didn't mind doing it. In a couple more months when summer arrives, it will be way too hot and dangerous to do that hike, though.
This site should be protected as a museum. Impressive collection of what is left.
The marine corps compressor might be a item that sold at a government sale, the buffalo forge blower is a item i am looking for, but i hope this one stays put for ever.
Thank you for your video.
Arjan Wilbie Unfortunately, there was a lot more stuff a decade or more ago. It has gotten picked over and removed piece by piece over the intervening years.
Very interesting place, looks like something you would see if you were wandering out in the west
i love joshua tree, went hikeing with my dad and sis, it was in march so the weather wasnt too bad, it was amazeing
+Folfie “LeKrix” Lukather That's when I was there! I think it got up to about 80 or 85° that day, so it was not the deadly hot temperatures they get later in the summer.
Exploring Abandoned Mines the only thing to worry about during that time of year is flash floods, but they usually happen closer to April when the storms start popping up, i love the way the stars go down to the horizon in the mojave, reminds me of Wyoming, but it has a much wierder feel too it than Wyoming
Wow .. what an adventure! Great commentry too!
+harirao12345 Thank you for your comment! Glad you enjoy the adventure.
That looks like that would be a fun little hike to go check out... Good one...
KaliKomrade It is a good hike. Just take lots of water. Going in mid-summer would be suicide, I think. Best to do it now before the summer temperatures set in. Or wait until next fall/winter.
Another great mine video! Thanks Frank! Can't get enough of them!
Rob Farrow Thanks, Rob! Hope things are starting to thaw where you are.
Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ Unfortunately it snowed 2" last night and is forecasted to be -4c today, so spring is a ways off yet!
My brother would have freaked if he saw that spider! Lots of intriguing stuff in that mine. That exhaust blower was cool. Also, that was a gorgeous view of the valley from up on the ore dump.
***** Jeremy also came across a baby rattlesnake, but there is no video footage of that.
Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ Wow! That would have been nice additional footage to this video.
so well preserved, in places its like the only upped and left for the night, ie where they still have helmets on the post, oil filters neatly in boxes and such.
Thanks, Alex! Yes, most of this mine was pretty intact for the most part. Thanks for commenting!
I will be heading up there tomorrow. Show the kids some history, cant wait
I love your videos. I've been interested in mines and abandoned structures since I was a kid. My Grandfather used to take me to old mine sites in the mountains near his farm in Idaho. There was even an old moonshine still resting miles into the thick woods. My favorite site visited is still an Unknown mine but I think we were the first to find it since it was abandoned in the early 1900's! The mine shaft opening had collapsed but there were lots of artifacts. We saw an old wood stove sitting in a clearing and wondered why it was just sitting there. Then we realized we were actually standing in an old cabin. Just the foundation remained under all the shrubbery and trees. My Dad metal detected the area finding a lot of bullet shells, pots, pans, old wood saws and even an old rabbit trap buried about a foot down still chained around a stump. It was still rusted in the open position ready to trap. Later we cleaned it up and it still worked! We also found a wood beam that has the date of July 1902 inscribed on it with some peoples initials. I still have all of these artifacts (accept the stove). I was only 8 years old when we found this site. Now in my 40's but I remember it all like yesterday. Another great find was an old Jammer left by a logging crew maybe in the 1940's. There were trees growing through the cab. Anyway I just wanted to thank you. Your videos brought me back to my childhood when my Grandfather was still alive taking me on endless journeys every summer vacation to abandoned mines. Take Care. Kerry.
Scrapping4aDart Thanks for the comment, Kerry! Yes, there is a LOT of history at these old, abandoned mine sites. That's one of the reasons I like going to them. Hearing stories like yours is also cool, too. I've even had ancestors of some of the owners of the mines I've been to contact me after they've seen my videos, and they were able to provide even more historical information. Another great thing is finding the miners' names and dates at the end of a tunnel deep in an old mine. Another viewer was able to look some of the names up last year and found out even more detailed family and personal information about the names that I showed in my video. Thanks again for commenting and taking the time to watch. I appreciate your support very much.
Your so very welcome! If your interested in any photos of the items I've collected over the years I'd be glad to send them to you at an email address? I have dozens of photo albums too from the Bunker hill mines to the nabob to many unknow mines. I visited many as a kid like I mentioned before and went back in the 90's and took photos again. Comparing my Dad's/Grandfather's photos from decades ago to my more recent photos you can actually see the years of decay. Many sound structures 30 years ago are now just foundations. It's sad but I'm glad I was a part of seeing these old mines before they were destroyed. I visited Burke many times too. Now most is either long gone or is fenced off from the public. Wild fires over the years too and some arson have destroyed a lot of sites. One small grouping of houses in Burke still had the original owners clothes on the hangers in makeshift closets. Although the clothes were in ruin you could still make out pants and shirts. Kitchens still had pots/pans/forks and knives on counters. Dishes were scattered and broken. I've seen abandoned generators, cars, trucks and tons of mine carts scattered around mountain sides. I love the history which sadly is literally rotting away. I wish I could send you copies of my photos. You would love them. Thanks for sharing your passion of a history that is fading. Take Care. Happy 4th. Kerry.
wow. all those old artifacts
Great you had a chance to document the site. Being in the park it's unlikely it won't be destroyed once "reclamation" funds become available.
Well there are some good channels here which deal with mine exploration aren't there, but this is the best one of them all in my opinion. The tone of your voice has just the right amount of sobering tension so we don't forget how dangerous it really is.
I think you are called Frank (I'll call you Frank anyway.) -Good Job Frank.
+MungoidHen Yes, you can call me Frank. Glad to hear you are enjoying the videos. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Very cool! It's always worth the hike if the trail takes you to an untouched site like this one. Great video!
Thanks, Graham! Looking forward to hearing how your explorations went over spring break.
Exploring Abandoned Mines and Unusual Places
Apparently, just under 1 year after your video was uploaded, they have closed access to this area due to theft and vandalism. The article says that an original ore cart had been stolen a few years ago. Also some other sites nearby were vandalized and closed to visitors as well. They referred to this mine primarily as the "El Sid" mine, but mentioned that its also called the Moser mine.
Awesome!!!! I'd like to own/operate a mine about this size in a decade or so.
Aww, the helmets were waiting patiently for 30 years. I find that cute for some reason.
awesome, your explorations are fascinating. thanks guys
Fun with so much stuff and it's so good condition of all things in and outside the mine. Great video and nice explore!
I’m From Michigan and watching your Videos totally makes me want to pack my belongings and Head West! 🤘🏼
Schramm was famous for compressors; They made / sold a conversion kit to turn a Ford Flathead V-8 into 4-cylinders power and 4-cylinders ump air.
Definitely! It's interesting to hear the correct terminology or even the basic blueprint ideas of what the builders were thinking whilst making the mine. Can keep your videos on a playlist and nothing is ever boring. :)
I think Schramm (maker of that yellow compressor) is still in business. I believe one of their drilling rigs was used in Chile to bore the hole needed to rescue the 33 trapped miners.
Kevin Thomas Thanks for that interesting bit of information, Kevin!
Great video man! Love the can of Marvel! That stuff rocks! That's crazy having cyanide laying around like that!
Have a great one Frank!
Brian
DippinMinerDean Thanks, Brian! Yeah, never thought I'd see the day when one of our national parks has jars of cyanide laying around. Go figure....
Although flat walls may indicate a "fault line" ... What you keep calling "fault lines" are more correctly called bedding planes and indicate the original horizontal when the sediments were laid down eons ago.
Have you ever been in the Dessert Queen Mine in JTree? I was in there about 23 years ago, it was all fenced off, but it wasn't hard to find a way in past the fencing. I have never made it out to this one, but will have to try on my next visit to the park. I have been to, but not inside, a lot of other mines in the park. Watching (binge watching) your videos has reignited my love of old mines. I love the history and unbelievable hard work and conditions those miners endured. Thank you for sharing your adventures.
+MS Earthworks I've heard of that Desert Queen Mine in Joshua Tree National Park. Never been to it, though. When you were there years ago, did you go inside it? I would imagine that it's not that extensive inside. Regarding the Moser Mine, I received news a month or two after I posted this video that the Park Service gated the mine tunnels. While I have no way of proving this, I believe they saw my video and went out there and installed the gates. This is why I seldom use the real names of mines anymore in my videos. It sucks that it has come down to this, but I will not let my videos and documentation be used by the BLM , National Park Service, and other agencies to gate -off or destroy old, abandoned mine sites.
Yes, I was inside the Desert Queen 23 years ago. We were just inside to be inside, not really exploring, if you know what I mean. I do remember ore cart tracks and multiple tunnels, but that's about all I can remember after all it was quite a while ago. As far as the Moser mine it doesn't surprise me that the NPS would do that, and that's really to bad. I will make the trek out there anyway just to see the remote site and cabins. I had a hunch that some of the mine names you use were not real. Keep up the good work. I envy your ability and desire to take the time to visit and document these lost places.
It was because of thefts...
www.pe.com/2016/02/17/joshua-tree-national-park-thefts-shut-down-two-sites/
The equipment was most likely bought military surplus, Nice video, thank youi
very nice video!
I'm surprised about all that stuff inside the mine!
love your videos!
Cool video man. That fault line was cool to see. Didn't know miners would dig on fault lines. I would not feel comfortable digging on fault lines lol.
Ore veins tend to form near/along faults.
Went to the Moser Mine once a long ago the Joshua Tree mines are dry and that is nice. I went back to the Big Horn Mine the other day and made a video. The main entrance was open with one bar cut making it a tight fit. It is really wet right now with the spring and winter rains. The "danger explosives" markings turns out to be talking about dynamite charges in the tunnel walls. Some of the dynamite fell on the floor in another tunnel that branches off the following chamber because the wedges rotted away. It was a good picture though of dynamite being used in the mine. Either they planned to collapse that tunnel or they planned to expand it before closing.
Avi Wangler I must've missed the dynamite inside the Big Horn Mine. If you post your video footage of that mine, let me know. How long ago did you visit the Moser Mine? Did you hike in or drive? At some time in the past, the mine site was NOT inside Joshua Tree National Park. When the park expanded their boundary at some time ago, it swallowed up the Moser Mine site and included it within the park boundaries.
Nice work and footage Frank and Jeremy!
Super cool! I just dropped a video exploring an abandoned mine we found in Joshua Tree too. Lots of cool places to explore out there!
Very cool!
another great video :)
Really great video!!!
Ah, yes! The old Moser Mines. Unfortunately, the BLM or National Park Service gated these mines a few months after I was there thus preventing any future access. Such a shame. Such a waste of money, too. People do go out to these mines and cut the gates open, so it's an apparent never-ending battle for the BLM and NPS from what I've heard. And it's a battle they'll never win. Anyway, I'll say it again: Get to these mines as fast as you can because they are going under fast!
That was a really interesting site.
Barnekkid Thanks for checking out the video! Yes, it was an interesting site. Little bit of everything for everyone: a tarantula, mine tunnels, old cabins, old machinery, cyanide, old bottles and cans, etc..
what an awesome channel! can't stop watching :)
+doris layman Hi, Doris! Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate it. Always glad to hear when an enthusiastic viewer like you is enjoying the videos here and getting something out of them. Thank you for your support.
Frank, I think you said it was a 2 mile hike to the mine. I see a road. Couldn't you drive to the mine? I always rode my motorcycle to all the mines I've explored. I would also think that there must have been roads to get all their equipment there. I so enjoy your great videos.
Dan Miller There is a road going out to the site; however, the national park boundary cuts right across the road two miles from the mine site, and the Park Service has a "fence" at the boundary. The fence is easily removable and can be driven around and then put back in place. However, the fence is also heavily signed with "NO MOTOR VEHICLES ALLOWED" and stuff like that. We didn't mind the hike. Made it all that much more worthwhile. Glad you are enjoying the videos, Dan! Thanks for watching and commenting.
5:57 Marvel Mystery Oil is the shit! haha. i use it in my impact tool and you can add it to you vechiles to help lube and remove deposits in your motor.
+Clayton Hartin MMO has been around since at least the 1920's. The airlines used to buy it by the barrel in the days of radial engines. It's is great for sticking valves.
War surplus compressor marked USMC. The large red letters were for selling gas at a gas station. In the old days, people would drive a ways to get gas a cent or two cheaper. That's when they started the practice of selling gas marked to the tenth of a cent in price. Of course these days its always .9 cents, but then it varied. Desert gas stations often used huge letters. Usually something like 29.9 a gallon, when fewer digits were used!
LOVE Marvel Mystery Oil!
Oldie but a goodie
You sir, have quite the soothing voice. Reminds me of Alec Baldwin.
Cool!
Cellofellow199X Gaming Thanks for watching!
These two videos are well done. Thanks you so much for the tour. I used to use Marvel Mystery Oil back in the day.If you find yourself in need of an exploration partner hit me up.
Thanks for checking out both of the latest videos! Glad you enjoyed them. I had never heard of Marvel Mystery Oil until I saw that can at the mine site.
The site was visited in 2004 and posted online anonymously by Guy Starbuck as the “Moss Mine” in 2013 when it still had an ore cart and numerous steal signs where used to line the walls. Death Valley Jim visited the site and documented it on-line anonymously as the mystery mine in Feb 2015. In March of 2015 famed TH-cam mine explorer Frank Hood posted the Moser Mine on his channel publicly ‘outing’ the mine and its location. By the time of our visit in December 2015 the adit had been sealed with a bat gate and the welds were still fresh. Much of the artifacts we saw in previous explorers post were gone, looted. Hence the controversy of weather or not to reveal mine locations despite most are public information anyway.
What metals were mined here?
@@genekelly8467 Gold I believe
@@genekelly8467 lol
Loved it man! Gotta be one of the greatest feelings when you get to a sight and see that hardly any dumb ass's haven't looted everything! An unfortunate occurrence that happens to much in historic places this country.
Really sad when people vandalize these historic sites!
Very interesting video! Lots of interesting artifact. Just curious if you pay attention to the geology where the mines are and what types of minerals you might find inside and around the mines. Any interesting tailing minerals perhaps?
That's Buffalo Forge Company, a well known manufacturer of blacksmith's blowers. That is a squirrel cage fan of some sort, whether it started life as a blacksmith blower, or if Buffalo Forge branched out into other blowers, I don't know.
I love it when viewers like yourself contribute meaningful and educational comments like yours. Most appreciated on this end. Thank you!
Nice video
another goodie frank.
With regard to the compressor, it was used to power the jack leg drills, mucker, etc. It is/was common for mine operators to buy these compressors from Govt. surplus auctions. Used one in a mine in CA bought from the USAF.
+jdeluisa Thanks for that information. Makes sense.
This is the first video of yours I have seen, great job on that by the way. Decades ago I did a lot of mine exploring and wish I had video of back then as so much has been destroyed or filled in since then... I have a question if your familiar with the dale district and gold crown road area mines which I suspect you might be.. On the road in after the couple jugs just before entering the hills that will drop you down into the park, if coming from 62 on the right hand side was a large operation with a large tailings silt flow that I think was actually named the gold crown mine. If you know the area you will know that one. But if you turn left from there instead there is a road that goes up the hill to a good sized mine but just before you go up the hill a smaller trek veers off left and around the foot of the hill to a couple short low level shafts... The slightly hilly area there below those shafts someone at some point in time extensively made paterns on with rocks... If you have ever seen it then you will know where I mean, I also have photo's ive taken but I dont think I can share those here.. If you know where to look you can even see them on google earth etc... Ive never seen anything like that done by minors anywhere else and Ive been pondering itand researching what I could for a couple decades now since first finding that about 30 years ago... If you have ever been there or have any insights or ideas about it Id really be keen to hear them... I have a couple working theories but but could rally use any more info I could find on the area right there.... I would direct email you if I can find an address to do that... Was just out in the park last weekend but didnt do any exploring... Thanks for posting this video I will be looking for any others you have up...
Dave Greaves Dave, Thanks for your comment, and thanks for watching the videos here. I appreciate your support. Regarding the area you mentioned, I have never been to that Gold Crown Mine. Are the patterns in the rocks maybe petroglyphs? I know those can be find at various spots out in the desert. My email address is under the ABOUT tab at the top of the page. Drop me a line and let me know what you think!
That is a nice turbo
At 4:17, that is a blower. I've seen ones like it in Blacksmiths shops and they were hand operated. Someone attached an electric motor to that one later on.
Thanks for adding that bit of information! It was very helpful.
Streamlined Steamroller Buffalo Forge made all sort of industrial blowers and fans. The company is still in business under the name, Howden. The blower depicted looks more like a ventilation blower than a hand cranked for forge blower. The latter had a flywheel/gearbox to step up the fan RPMs.
Yeah, it looked similar to a blower in a blacksmiths shop, only bigger and electrically powered. It wouldn't surprise me if they made different sizes for different uses although having the same appearance. As if the molds were expanded in size.
o2wow I did not know that company was still in business under a different name. Thanks for providing that information. I really have not ever seen a blower like that in any other mine that I've been in. It's amazing that it's still there in the tunnel! Just proves how remote and seldom-visited this mine is. Thanks again for your comment!
That old blower at 12:30 would make a bitchin lookin turbo mock- up for a rat rod turbo!
1:39, I wonder if that can of Pepsi is unopened. Reminds me of an episode of American Restoration where they were restoring this vintage Pepsi cooler, and the cooler had an unopened bottle of Pepsi which one of them drank when he lost a bet.
I was disappointed that the poster did not bother to stop and pick up one of those cans that were lying right in front of him, and look at it carefully to determine how old the cola can might be.
hi frank,great video as allways,a few years ago(may 2011)i droved from highway 62 in to joshua tree national park presumed to come back out a few miles further up back on the 62 because we had to go to flagstaff Arizona,but after a few hours we came out south on the highway nr.10!!small mistake that took us a few hours extra on the road to get back up north on the 95 to end up on highway 40,in the park we just saw the remaines and pictures from the silver bell mine(i think it was just there for tourists like us)we hiked up to a big ore bin but that was the only thing that remained of the siver bell mine ;) but anyhow it's a very beatifull area over there,we helped a turttle (so that he will not be crushed by a car) that crossed the main road,greetings from cold Belgium :) ps were did they use cyanide for?
kamandalu This was my first time inside Joshua Tree National Park. I have heard about that Silver Bell Mine you mentioned. I think it got gated or backfilled a long time ago to keep people out of the underground workings. In fact, many of the mines inside the park have been gated, backfilled, or razed to keep people out. That's why I haven't spent a lot of time in there exploring. The cyanide was used in processing the ore. Before that, they used mercury. However in the 1960s or so, cyanide became more common -- especially at smaller sites like these where the ore was of a lower grade and lower quality.
Just visited the Moser Mine. It has a bat gate now. :{
+JB Bergmann Now you know why I tend to NOT use a mine's real name in my videos....
+Exploring Abandoned Mines- AAAH, yes. That makes sense.
Oh well, it doesn't matter to me anyway. The thrill is seeing what's inside of these places really. I just love all the tense dusty moments and occasional relics and it's fascinating to see how these mines were tunnelled out. What a dangerous life it must've been, eh ?
Keep up the GREAT videos and many many thanks.
one day the foreman said "we won't be working tomorrow, we are out of money" and everyone left and never returned. I love places like this that haven't been picked clean.
john g I think that is what happened at a lot of mines -- the miners received no advance warning that the mine was shutting down.
Where in Joshua Tree National Park is this mine? Ive been there a dozen times and LOVE the park, but Ive never heard of it.
Since the miner's helmets are still tagged on the wall, it leads me to believe very few visitors make it here. Frank, always glad to see your posts. I think you'll agree, the desert is a place that's full of wonder. BTW, thought you might be interested in this place in Gila County AZ. I just learned abt the "79 Mine", may go out there if I can get some time, forums.ghosttowns.com/showthread.php?39942-79-Mine-Arizona
Stan Jefferson I looked up that 79 Mine. Looks like an interesting site. Not sure if any underground workings are accessible, though. If you plan on heading out there, let me know. Perhaps we can meet and head up there and check it out.
Exploring Abandoned Mines in CA, NV, and AZ Sounds good. Will keep that in mind.
amazing some of these mines still have tracks that I'd love to rip out & use
I herd story's of miner boys who had to go down tramlines in the buckets to grease the cable and any way towers. Hell of a punishment for miss behaving
I was wonder why you do not take samples from the ore shut.
Have you guys ever been to Corn Springs?
I'm sure it's just an optical illusion, but at 11:29 I see what looks like a baby or a doll's face just outside where the wall is open at the bottom.
what is an earthquake fault line?
A fault line is a crack in the surface of the crust were to plates meet each other. As they move towards each other or grind past one another it can lead to an earthquake when the tension on the faultline has become too much for both plates to bear and a result they will move thus causing an
earthquake.
How far off the main road going through Joshua Tree National Park do you have to walk to get to the mine?
Scott Martin It's a three-mile hike one-way to the mines. Take a LOT of water.
Great job!! Thanks for taking the risks so I don't have too!! :O
The yellow air compressor was most likely purchased from a government surplus auction.
clockguy2 Probably so. Was really surprised to see a piece of United States Marine Corps equipment up there, though. That's the last thing I would expect to see at such a remote place.
Moser mine seems really difficult to get to? The nearest road is 177 (Desert Center RD) and then you have to walk across the open desert from the aqueduct into the Coxcomb mountains. But good stuff nevertheless.
+1400VID I know someone who went there after I was there, and they drove all the way in. The fence made up of wooden slats that goes across the dirt road that leads to the site is "removable," so you can remove it, drive past it, and then replace the slats. There are signs on it, though, saying "No Vehicles." There is some deep sand right before you make the approach to the fence line, so a regular 2WD sedan probably wouldn't make it. We hiked it, and it wasn't too bad. I wouldn't recommend making this hike in the summer, though, unless you have a lot of water with you! Better to wait until the fall or winter when daytime temps aren't so bad.
I suspect there is still gold/silver/lead etc in these tunnels just not enough to produce at a profit.
john g I think that's absolutely correct, John. Thanks for watching!
7 5 7 metal numbers were probably muck sheets.
How did you know it was cyanide?
Coolnventions Through research. And for a small-time mining operation such as this one, it wouldn't be out of the question to have cyanide on hand like this. Thanks for watching and posting your question.
HEY did you see any semi precious stones like quartz?
All that stuff is still in the Mine cause mines are creepy to most people lol
At 1:39 that is an old Pepsi can
Cyanide in a milk bottle, bowl of rusty nails, are you sure it isn't just Chuck Norris's house at breakfast?
Really dude? That power unit is military surplus. Can be bought at auction by anyone.
Why no ore piles? If god was mined here, they would need a crushing mill and water supply-so I assume the ore was shipped out for processing. How on earth was that done? No rail lines, so had to go by truck. Looks like it may have been marginally profitable.
Am I the only one who heard that sound around 4:32, it kinda sounds like a rat but any idea? It’s right after he says “pulley”.
USMC surplus bought after WWII.
Makes sense now. Thanks for your reply!
you do such a good job of narrorating
EDIshames Thanks! In the distant past, I would often use musical soundtracks in my videos with no narration at all. Gradually, it became apparent that people liked the narration better.
after world war 2 the military bacicly surplused every thing including tanks planes generator and othes
Its closed by bl
m now
mine close is has golg alot,,,,, depend stud dust or rock in cave tradicion lont time some thing hapend lst permision autoritation no renovation papel,o eligal in mireali clse,,, for fianiecia bank litle mine close big corporetion for corrution
Alec Baldwin commentary
For a national park theres a lot of junk lying around...
6:20 it's just military surplus equipment. The US Murder Machine sells more than just old backpacks and combat boots.
***** You're probably right, James. The miners probably got it at a dirt-cheap price and trucked it out there to the mine site.