Exploring New Mexico's Largest Abandoned Mine- The Cavern to Hades and Unexpected Finds! Part 1
Exploring New Mexico's Largest Abandoned Mine- The Cavern to Hades and Unexpected Finds! Part 1
Happy Halloween everyone!!!
Today’s abandoned mine exploring video features possibly the LARGEST accessible abandoned mine in New Mexico! I’ve conducted many abandoned mine exploration trips across the desert southwest, but in terms of size, this is the largest I have experienced to date. In many areas, the underground scenery resembles a massive cave system. This is truly one of the most interesting abandoned places near me that I have explored!
History of this mine is rather colorful. It started in the early 1900s as an underground lead, zinc, and silver mine. In its later days it became a test site for experimenting with underground munitions storage and the effects of explosives detonating in that setting. It is part of a massive and elaborate network of an underground ore zone that spans for several miles under the mountain.
This mine is so massive, we have made several trips to it, and still are discovering new areas! This video is the first of many documenting this astonishing man-made cavern with sights resembling scenes from cave exploring videos!
Joining us on this adventure are @Zia Mountain Adventures and @Headframe Hunters Mining & Exploration . Together, we take our underground abandoned mine exploring experiences to another level. We have hiked several miles underground documenting this historic place, each one of us with a different perspective. I hope you enjoy our videos, and I encourage you to check out and subscribe to @ZiaMountainAdventures and @Porty1119 channels as well!
This abandoned mine exploring video is shot and presented in 4K and HDR. I recommend for your viewing experience to watch this video with a TV, monitor, or mobile device with a 4K/HDR compatible display. It really does make a difference!
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Hey man my friends and I are looking for mines in southern New Mexico, any recommendations??
At the 3 minute mark, those metal cylinders look like they could be belt rollers. Immediately after that, when you find the EMT board, above it you’ll notice chain-link fencing on the ceiling. That fencing is the heavier commercial gauge wire and it’s put there and has been bolted to the roof because it’s a weak spot that is prone to collapse. Be careful walking under that fencing when you see it one the walls or the ceiling. It was bolted in the ceiling right there because it’s sketchy af and has probably crumbled before. When you see those, be sure to inspect it before you walk under it or next to it. Those bolts sometimes slip out.
Idk about this specific mine, but the bolts along the rib (walls) are sometimes anchored into the walls to hold power cable, communication cable or ventilation, depending on which tunnel you’re exploring. The mine potash mine that I worked in operated on a 3 tunnel system that ran beside each other when we were cutting out an area. One tunnel was for travel and power, the other was for the belt, and the third was for ventilation. They would cut through the walls and connect the first two tunnels every so often and leave pillars. The third would be left alone until the vein ran out and they were retreating. When that happens, you basically work backwards and cut out the pillars that you left going in. This can get dangerous and the engineers tell you which pillars to cut and which to leave. Sometimes it looks sketch af and you can actually see the ceiling lower and almost collapse as you retreat the area.
Great video, as a native New Mexican, I like to see people enjoying the state. When you get to the next level of exploration and feel confident enough to tackle caves, they apparently have plenty of that around NM as well. One more thing I might add is to do a little research on the type of mine you’re entering and when it was operational. The type of mine could tell you the stability of the walls and ceiling that you’re exploring. For example, gold mines are going to be more solid than potash mines; potash mines are going to be more stable than coal mines, etc. The other thing about the age of the mine could tell you how they were refining the ore of what they were mining. Back in the day, they used to use harsh and extremely toxic chemicals to mine for certain metals and minerals. That could tell you what might be in the water, on the walls, and in the air before you enter, so you guys can make a judgement about whether it’s worth it.
Other than that, y’all be safe out there and keep posting cool vids. 👍
Can’t believe you kidnapped Miner49er’s dog named Bear! LOL Jeremy and I found a mine full of flies. The Jupiter Mine in AZ. There was a flooded shaft nearby in the mine which probably attracted them. It was gross, though. We could hear them humming, too, like you heard yours do. You found your first ore cart! Finally! They almost always seem to be missing the wheels. That leaching, dripping clay stuff was interesting. Superb editing with the music added in here and there. 👍
Probable best to avoid monsoon season when exploring mines. BTW, do you know if there are any books about the history of this mine? You say accessible, do you mean on BLM or USFS land? And I’m curious about how many miles of tunnels/workings it has?
Awesome. One day we need to collaborate