Well, we certainly did not expect this tiny hole to lead to such a huge mine! The only comparable experience I can think of is the “Lost Worlds Project” that I introduced a couple of videos back… There are some big mines in this “Lost Sierra” region of California, but to stumble across one of this size that has dropped from the public consciousness and maps is extraordinary.
The enormous, historical mine I referenced us hunting for in the video is the Sierra Buttes Mine. We have found several of the portals and have even gotten underground in some of the adits (and in those mines that connect to it like the Independence Mine). However, in each instance, we were prevented from going more than a short distance by collapsed workings. We still have some areas of the mountain to scour (the Sierra Buttes Mine had 9 levels - with adits at each level - and a shaft!), but the terrain is quite rugged and severely overgrown with brush. So, it is challenging to explore there.
We’re also still hunting for maps of the Sierra Buttes Mine... With such a huge mine that was in production for so long, there must be a mountain of records! I’m sure that there is a treasure trove of maps of the Sierra Buttes Mine collecting dust in someone’s attic. We just haven’t been able to connect with that person yet.
We initially thought the mine in this video was one of the levels in Sierra Buttes Mine, but after seeing more of it and doing a lot of research, we now believe it is another forgotten mine. I’ll talk more about that particular mine in one of the future videos in this series.
Longtime viewers should know that when we’re in the mountains in California, it is almost invariably a gold mine that we are dealing with. The only question is usually whether it was a lode mine or a placer mine. That is the case here as well, of course... Off the top of my head, the only “gold mine” exception that I can think of that I have shown in the Sierras is the Faro Quartz Mining Company where they mined copper.
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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!
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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!
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28 авг 2024
