We’ve seen some pretty impressive blues in abandoned copper mines before, but the blueness in this mine took things to the next level… To those unfamiliar with the properties of copper ores: when various copper ores are exposed to the air (oxidized), they take on the brilliant blues that you see in this video. Check out pictures of chalcanthite and azurite for a couple examples of this phenomenon.
The valuable ore body at this particular mine was discovered in the early 1900s and it was worked off and on (like almost all mines are) until the 1940s. Although the copper certainly dominates as a theme at this mine, there are also large amounts of tin present. In addition, respectable quantities of silver, gold and lead have been reported as byproducts of production.
We have noticed a marked increase in surveying and sampling activity at abandoned copper mines over the past couple of years as our economy becomes increasingly electrified and demand for copper is projected to soar. I’m sure that you noticed the ribbons and spray paint from such work at this mine as well. Given what we saw underground here, it would not surprise me to see the entire mountain hosting this mine turned into an open pit. As such, I’m glad that we documented what was here as I expect it shall soon be gone. As always, once I confirm that an abandoned mine site has been destroyed, I go back and change the video title to the actual name of the site and, usually, provide more details in the description below the video. I’ve already explained many times why we cannot share locations and so I won’t bore you by repeating that again.
I found it exceedingly difficult to not mix lyrics from the “Blue” song by Eiffel 65 into the title, thumbnail or commentary on this video. In fact, two other titles I considered using were:
It’s A Blue (Underground) World
Living In A Blue World (All Day and All Night)
I should be commended for my restraint in using a more sober title.
• Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da B...
“Yo listen up, here's the story
About a little guy that lives in a blue world
And all day and all night and everything he sees is just blue
Like him, inside and outside
Blue his house with a blue little window
And a blue Corvette
And everything is blue for him
And himself and everybody around
'Cause he ain't got nobody to listen
I'm blue da ba dee da ba daa
Da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa
Da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa
I'm blue da ba dee da ba daa
Da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa
Da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa
I have a blue house with a blue window
Blue is the color of all that I wear
Blue are the streets and all the trees are too
I have a girlfriend and she is so blue
Blue are the people here that walk around
Blue like my Corvette, it's in and outside
Blue are the words I say and what I think
Blue are the feelings that live inside me”
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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!
*****
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
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26 сен 2023
