Exploring New Mexico's Largest Abandoned Mine- The Cavern to Hades and Unexpected Finds! Part 2

Exploring New Mexico's Largest Abandoned Mine- The Cavern to Hades and Unexpected Finds! Part 2

Welcome back, everyone!!!

Today’s abandoned mine exploring video is part 2 of 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!

In part 2, we enter where the main ore body used to be. After the valuable minerals were extracted, massive stopes were left behind, leaving an underground void that is a sight to see! After traveling for several thousand feet, we encounter an underground weather system where clouds are forming and moisture precipitating from condensation. This is obviously not good for any iron or steel implements within the mine, as much of it is severely oxidized. We also come across a unique system of cave formations actively growing within one of the stopes in the clouds, where minerals within the mountains are leeching into the formations, creating colorful soda straws and stalactites!

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 second 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 @Zia Mountain Adventures and @Headframe Hunters Mining & Exploration 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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#mineexploring

7 Comments

  1. Exploring Abandoned Mines and Unusual Places on March 3, 2023 at 11:24 pm

    Very impressive lighting by how you got all of those stopes illuminated! It was interesting how the ore cart tracks at the beginning kind of meandered through and down those huge, cavernous stopes. So used to seeing ore cart tracks confined to a narrow tunnel. Rare to find a honeypot (toilet) like you did — yuck, though. That shot at 7:51 was incredible! Good music there, too, that matched the awe and wonder. That hanging blasting cap/tree ornament was a cool find. Good demonstration of showing how easy it was to get turned around in the stopes and get potentially lost. Cool shot at 16:16. Does resemble a roller-coaster like you had said. Cool music during the last two minutes of the video where it was more cave-like. A+ video!

  2. Sue Girling on March 3, 2023 at 11:30 pm

    Hi Justin, so many area’s that were just awesome to look at, thank you for sharing, much love. xx ❤

  3. p aa on March 3, 2023 at 11:51 pm

    The colours are a wow factor….huge mine.

  4. Stuart Hobart on March 3, 2023 at 11:55 pm

    Wow👍

  5. R Threat08 on March 4, 2023 at 12:03 am

    Hey bro, I live directly across from the Robledo mountains here in Las Cruces. There is a cave that supposedly runs all the way through the mountain and was used by Geronimo. If you ever want to swing by it should be a good video. Thanks for another great upload

  6. Zia Mountain Adventures on March 4, 2023 at 12:06 am

    Great video! Awesome explore! One we’ll remember forever I bet! 👍

  7. Don Marion on March 4, 2023 at 12:09 am

    It’s good to see some mine exploring in my home state of New Mexico. My dad worked at IMC underground potash mine in Carlsbad from 1945-1965. I live in southern Arizona now and the land mgmt agencies are closing mines at break neck speeds. Thanks for sharing your adventures.

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