Wild Mineralization In This Rodent-Infested Mine
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- We’d already had a long day of exploring abandoned mines by the time we got to this one, but that wild mineralization you see in the video definitely made the effort worth it... As you can probably imagine with the number of mines that we have visited, we have seen some pretty exotic mineralization over the years, but we’ve never seen anything quite like what is seen in this mine. I know the geology of the Sierra Nevadas fairly well, but I am far less familiar with the complicated geology of Nevada. As such, I’m hoping that one of the geologists in the audience can weigh in and tell us (or at least speculate) on the mineralization here.
This mine was originally developed for gold and silver, but actual production amounts are vague and, reading between the lines, a couple of reports were suggestive of a swindle. Peak work appears to have been from 1909 to 1915.
Deposits of barite were worked in the district more recently.
*****
You can see the full TVR Exploring playlist of abandoned mines here: goo.gl/TEKq9L
You can see the gear that I use for mine exploring here: bit.ly/2wqcBDD and here: bit.ly/2p6Jip6
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!
*****
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
A UV Blacklight would be handy to look for beautiful fluorescent minerals, I bet some of those rocks would glow nicely.
My guess for the yellow efflorescence would be an arsenate; perhaps mimetite or vanadinite. The blue green crust looked like a sulphate mix maybe melanterite, gypsum, etcetera. These are the oxidation products of a metallic sulphide deposit.
Neat rocks! Wonder if someone wanted the motor out of the bulldozer and was in a rush ha! Thanks for taking us along on this one!
Copper sulfates and pyromorphite is the green and yellow
Can't say but I recognize the process in the moldy rock. That is a water soluble precipitate. The back rock is wet and the tunnel is dryer. That sucks whatever to the surface as long as it is wetter behind. Like frost on brick.
The technical-ish term is;- Efflorescence.
You never said it reeked like sulfur so I didn't even suggest it.
This is where we need Jeff Williams. He's the resident geologist.
@rockbutcher what is this mineralization at time stamp 11:56 ?? Thanks bro. You rock!
Maybe Ziploc bags are an idea. A few small samples for the geologist at your mine and he could likely tell you what things are. 🙄. Thanks as always for the video Justin.
Or just show them the video?!
The light blue-ish mineral is probably aurichalcite. Lots of sulfur though for sure, probably had a large amount of hydrothermal activity for quite some time in that area.
Take a radioactive monitor next time, check for Uranium
The engines in that old equipment might be something like a Hall V12 if it is pre-war. Those are worth cutting a dozer apart for.
If that dozer was a Cat D8, the engine is a 6-cylinder with a 2-cylinder gas pony motor for starting. The pistons would be about 6 inches in diameter. The max RPM would be 1000.
Man I would be worried about getting hantavirus in a place like that
Green fluorite? Kinda cubic. I have two pieces and one looks the same. Both are green shades one is milky. I know green means little but it really does b/c copper ores wouldn't still be left in a mine and things like amazonite are very desirable also. That leaves something as common as dirt and as valuable. Its only mined for flux in furnaces really beside the crystal trade and there are much better places for it for collecting like cotton candy cave, which was for flux too.
Jeez Justin, I expected you to be more excited when you declared that it reeked of rodent urine…
The soft white material is probably gypsum or other sulfates from the effervescent decomposition of sulfides.
When you lost your echo and the walls and back started looking Yery sketchy I found myself thinking "You know a Really Aggressive Fart would probably bring down stuff you don't want it to"!!! 😶🌫️👎
I'm no geologist but i believe all that brilliant yellow mineral is sulphur. As far as that moldy looking stuff, I honestly have no idea. Very cool looking mine, thanks for taking us along!
it reminds me of a massive ash flow
I'd agree abandoned mines shelter rodent residents
who utilize human garbage but worse infestations
can't be bothered to do a lick of work a miner would.
I don't know anybody who does assay work on-line
and don't expect a miracle worker to visit either.
Notice: The assessment work has been done on this property for 1932. (signed) ***ve May
Crazy minerals at 1:04
The face is where the action happens. The back is the top of the hole you are in..😢 Belly is on the bottom where you walk. Does that mean that the portal is actually the poo hole and people are just churching it up?
Why are there never rodents actively in the mines, just the remnants of them being there?
Because the stope cats ate them all!
I wonder what a black light might have shown in the mine? But, very cool and exciting, plus the equipment up top was so wonderful to behold!
I can smell these ones through the screen haha. Living in Colorado I have the pleasure of exploring mines like these quite often, however we get quite a bit more water so supports and drifts fail quickly underground. This means more crawling! Have always been in awe of the cleanliness of Nevada's mines. Thanks for the tours.
Hey Justin, Great looking mine, I wish that I did know. Thanks for the show
Whoa thats huge difference in sound, it's reallymuch more obvious on video than usual, somebody was good with rail, they certainly knew how to access spaces....as for the minerals,
I went looking for Yellowcake ...I doubt it is that since that is 99% Uranium238 ..
The blue green I am certain is Chrysocolla meaning the yellow is probably limonite
Thanks for sharing,
All that yellow mineral and blue ish mineral looked amazing like the sort of thing u see under the sea with all that colour . Definitely crumbly for sure u wouldn't want to knock any off. Ps I noticed like blue long ribbon as well and was wondering what that was for?
Reminds me of the reefs in Australia.
Interesting.. the reddish-brown inclusions in the whiteish ash flow looks interesting.
A UV lamp and a geiger counter would be interesting tools
That yellow stuff is sulfides I’m thinking. Look for contact zones?
Cool mines....Thank you.
Definitely is sulfur deposit leaching through the rock above
I just want to add that radioactive minerals or alteration minerals of uraninite are bright yellow, orange, and green. It might be a good idea to know what they were mining. Some of these mines could have high radiation counts. Please invest in a small Geiger counter. Cool mine. Maybe take a few samples and ask a geologist.
Absolutely...😮
Crazy mineraliztion in that one, J. I can't stand the damn rodent stink, had a bad experience as a kid and it...stuck with me.
They must have wanted the power plant on that Cat pretty bad to spend that much time and gas torching it all apart. Would have had to have a substantial boom to lift it too.
I love exploring old machinery like that...ya might get an email on this one...LOL
We are headed over the hill tomorrow to do some exploring...a 4 day mission.
Looks a lot like the gold reefs in the lovitt mine. Lots of sulfer in the lovitt. Wonder of you can smell any sulfer over all the pack rat shit and piss lol
I was contemplating the Same Thing!? 🤔
Another great vid!
You know what would be fun to do for April 1st? Do an explore of the active mine you're working on as if you were exploring an abandoned mine, and speculating on what the workers (who you can see, but who are ignoring you) are trying to do.
I would love watching and laughing at that!!
Copper sulfate can do that blue.
Yellow stuff looks like sulfur.
Great video Justin.
6:10 I think the last two words are "Five May" (finishing the date for 1932.)
Your eyes see if they’re glowing!
You spent all that time exploring the mine, if your hands were clean I'd be questioning it
Given the level of rodent infestation, I am pretty sure the yellow stuff on the ribs is urinite
Awesome mine. Very interesting
Your videos are the best!
Thank you.
Green Flourite crystals taking a wild Guess
Fluorite?
They wanted that cat motor
A mine with many faces, and the next one had a Mc Murphy ceiling wow could fall any time, like some other parts, but they left quit a lot outside for a master tinkerer lol, nice explore again.
The Yellow mineral looks like Halilsarpite, a form of an arsenate arsenite. I hope you didn't touch it, it can turn you into a Liberal. 😃
Ugh... so unnecessary...
5:02 It would be awesome to have a mine cart, clear out the debris, and go for a wild ride through the mine on the rails.
SLAY BROTHER
First!