Abandoned Gold and Copper Mines in California's El Paso Mountains
Abandoned Gold and Copper Mines in California's El Paso Mountains
The history of mining in California’s El Paso Mountains begins in 1893, when placer gold was discovered in Goler Canyon. Dozens of prospectors began searching the nearby dry gulches for placer gold, while others combed the hillsides looking for veins carrying precious metals. Small deposits of gold, copper, and even tungsten were found across the mountain range. While the placer gold deposits proved the be very rich, the many hardrock mines were hardly profitable. Mining in the El Paso’s would revive in the 1920’s, but again, most hardrock mines proved to be failures.
Dozens of abandoned mining sites now dot the range, many of them well hidden in steep canyons. In this video, you’ll see the remains of several gold and copper mines of various sizes. The history about these individual mines are vague, but they showcase the amazing amount of effort put forth by the miners.
The geology! I say NOPE to rocks like that in front of a portal. Good luck!
Hi, some cool mines but I think the rats got there before you lol. The rats seemed to have two classes, the rich rats got the bigger mines and the oh so shiny mylar balloons and the other rats just got the trash mainly. Thanks for sharing this cool location. xx
Goler wash?
@ 5:00 that looks like Zinc oxide to me. @ 11:20 Kerosene cans. Cool explore, new sub !
I did not know mustard came in a can. Thanks for the explore.
From the shape of the can and the word mustard, it was probably sardines in mustard sauce.
Nice colors in this mine
I’m your 2,000th subscriber : )
Cool, keep exploring..
All those old helium balloons, and stacked rock walls around were interesting, enjoy your vids look forward to the next one.
So much good stuff in the el pasos
Great video. I’ve never seen that first site
A little different than the air raid shelters in Europe.😎
Cool. I grew up in Ridgecrest/China Lake for 30 years and loved to ride Goler Wash after the killer Desert Rains… 33 years in NW Montana and I miss that Desert! Those stupid ballons are found in Death Valley all the time and inside of mines there as well!
Is it illegal to cut open the gates of a abandoned mine ?