Abandoned Mercury Mine - Cle Elum Mining District Washington

Our adventure to a abandoned mercury mine retort and cinnabar mining area from the late 1880's located deep in the Cle Elum mining district of Washington State. Along the way we investigate numerous miners cabin sites from a bygone era of Washingtons mining history.
The Nickelodeon mining claims were operated by the Washington Quicksilver Company in 1904. At the time it was the only operating mercury mine in the area.
This abandoned mine produced cinnabar, the ore of mercury.
We appreciate you and thank you for Watching!!
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WARNING
Abandoned mines and ruined structures have many hazards and can severely injure or even kill you. Do not attempt to copy or re-enact situations or scenarios seen in this video.

[@123Goldhunter11]

Long nights without TH-cam and long trips to town with no Amazon. Still beats hell out of city life. But mining mercury wouldn't be the best thing for your health.

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

No doubt. Thanks!

[@kenbaker2850]

I grew up in Ronald, Washington. And went to school in Cle Elum. The whole area is famous for the coal mining, and as kids we would find sulfur mixed in the slag piles. Never knew they actually had sulfur mines in the area. 12:56

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

Appreciate the comments. Thank you.

[@billbradley2480]

I always wondered how Mercury was created. Thanks! Mercury is a weird substance. A heard a lake of mercury was found beneath a South American Pyramid. Wonder what that was for?

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

Thank you very much for the comments.

[@bugvswindshield]

from Ellensburg. I spent a many weekends camping and hiking and riding my bike around Centeral Cascades. Cle Elum is a wonderful place.
Along with the Brick just down the road ;)

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

Very cool, appreciate your comments.

[@glennmiller2494]

There was a big mercury mine here in cottage Grove Oregon the black Butte mine. When they shut down the gold mines in ww2 the mercury mines kept going.they needed it for making weapons.

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

During World War II, the U.S. War Production Board issued Order L-208 on October 8, 1942, which closed down the gold mining industry in the United States. The order classified gold mining as nonessential and required operators to immediately shut down their operations. After seven days, operators were also prohibited from using, acquiring, or consuming any materials or equipment for development work. Thank you for the comments!

[@billbradley2480]

Wow I grew up in Oakridge and never knew that. I did hear about the Bohemia gold mine up in the mountains near Cottage Grove and gold claims on the river near there.

[@r.awilliams9815]

That's some tough country. I used to spend some time every year around that area chasing Bambi, back in the 80s and 90s.

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

Yes, it most certainly is. Thanks!

[@ihatedietcola7920]

I wonder if there is any geocaches up in there.?.

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

Not too sure on that one.

[@randya.mitchell1722]

Wouldn't there be a logging road to haul out the ore?

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

They built the Mercury oven or retort because it was too difficult to get or out in the early 1900s, given how remote and rugged the area was. It was more cost-effective to process the cinnabar ore onsite.

[@greybone777]

At one time there were actual pools of mercury above Wenatchee.

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

Very interesting. Thanks for the info.

[@randya.mitchell1722]

at 17:45 is that some sort of kiln?

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

Yes, a mercury retort for processing the cinnabar ore.

[@kenbaker2850]

Whoops, this is about mercury not sulfur. Often wondered how they made mercury. 0:22

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

Was wondering for a second. All good!!!

[@billysgarden-u9s]

look up TCARR bricks. there is something big missing here. the bricks came all the way from the UK either around south america or by land from the east coast. no way they are moved that far by horse or ox cart. mud flooded history

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

Thanks for the information. We did see this later upon research.

[@outdoorloser4340]

You'd be surprised what the old timers could drag up into the middle of nowhere.

[@randya.mitchell1722]

Why don't you bring a metal detector and look for coins?

[@ghosttownsandminesofwashington]

Legality mostly.