Exploring Several Levels of an Abandoned Gold and Tungsten Mine Near Randsburg, CA
Exploring Several Levels of an Abandoned Gold and Tungsten Mine Near Randsburg, CA
Come join us as we descend into the depths of this abandoned gold and tungsten mine in the California desert. This is the largest mine featured on my channel so far.
We entered this mine through an adit that was dug below the 384 ft. main shaft. Within this adit was a winze that provided access to the 90 ft. level of the mine. After exploring the 90 ft. level, we climbed down another ladder and squeezed through a collapsed area to reach the 120 ft. level. This level featured some interesting timbering and stopes. After this, I descended a pair of dangerous ladders to reach the 155 ft. level. This level connected to the shaft and served as the main haul level of the mine. All of the ore was sent down to this level, as the levels above do not connect to the main shaft. The 155 ft. level was also the most extensive level, and featured some interesting artifacts.
When I arrived on the level, I could see that the main shaft had experienced a significant fire. This fire was most likely started by vandals, and a few other mines in the area also feature burned out shafts. Unfortunately, arson has been the fate of many abandoned mines in recent years. Luckily, there wasn’t much timbering on the 155 ft. level so it remained in good shape. On the level, there was a stope down to 170 ft level. It would have been very easy to climb down it using two short ladders, but I opted not to do this as I figured I already put myself in enough danger. However, I really regret not exploring that lower level, so I plan on returning to this mine with better equipment. This is why I am not giving out the name of this mine, as the main shaft has already been gated. The BLM either missed the adit or decided it wasn’t much of of a danger. If they see a video that gives away this mine’s name and location they will probably gate it.
This mine was discovered in 1898 and was worked extensively up to the 1940’s. Mining reports describe around 500 ft. of horizontal workings, but there is definitely a lot more than that. Apparently, this mine was quite rich, producing several million dollars worth of gold and tungsten in today’s money.
Once you reach 300 feet of vertical or horizontal distance underground, you’ve reached "international ground", which is the same as international waters, where the drinking age is lower, and gambling is legal. That’s why there are lots of alcohol containers there, because lots of teenagers travel there to buy their beer and wine coolers!
U must be into cans, crv?
Who’s that cool dude in red?
I grew up in Brandenburg on weekends and holidays
Interesting how the grain of the rock seems to be at an angle in most cases..
how far from randsburg
Narrative by Napoleon Dynamite
Randsburg
Have you ever found gold or others things in the walls
Craziest video yet!
Nice explore. Wasn’t expecting the station on the shaft on that 155 level.
Would love if you could point out and show some close ups of the veins they were chasing.
you need a black light to see the tungsten
You can’t help but get the feeling, anything of real interest, would have been removed from these mines years ago. 10 points though, for sharing us what is left, before they are lost to time.
whats with your flashlight? i mean mine is on after only 1 "click" up to 5 k Lumens🤭
Thanks for the tour!
Great work! But upgrade your light, and slow your pan.
Hello, I hope you are doing well during this pandemic. My name is Lauren and I am a third year college student at James Madison University. I am currently enrolled in a geology course focused on the study of mines. For my final project in this course, I have been asked by my professors to research an area of land that has been negatively impacted due to previous mining activity and come up with a project proposal on how to reclaim the land and surrounding area. In researching possible locations, I came across Randsburg, CA, a town you covered during one of your desert travel destinations. Since we are all quarantined during this time, it has been difficult to get in touch with someone who knows what the town truly means to those living there and what their hopes are for a possible reclamation plan. Seeing as how you were fortunate enough to travel to Randsburg, I was hoping you could give me some insight on what the town means to its people and what the best approach might be for coming up with a reclamation plan the town members would whole-heartedly embrace. My goal in researching this unique place is to grasp the emotional ties the town members have to their historic home and how those emotions can be honored and respected while exploring ways to heal the land that was scarred from the mining activities that took place there years ago. Please let me know not only how your visit to Randsburg was, but also what insight you have on the people living there. Thank you!
Best regards,
Lauren
Awesome video! This is now my new favorite mine exploration channel! You’re the only guy I’ve seen on youtube with the balls to get deep in the shafts, while still remaining respectful of the artifacts. Others will remove things like those cans and keep them, or treat them poorly to the point they’re destroyed, and others wont repel or decend into the shafts to see whats left there in the first place. Keep up the good work!
That can label picked up a bit before 19 min was pretty modern… It was barcoded.
Hello the "fibres" were gypsum needles, the big rocks that slid of the foot wall in the shaft station level fell because theres a clay joint between the foot wall and lode, the miners called these areas slicken sides, when you next look at a lode check out the bands in the lode between the footwall and hanging wall.my favourite type of mine short winzes lots of levels following the load and easy access to the stopes,I’ve subbed I like what you show ,
Very nice. Not a popular video, so I’m glad I found it. Very thorough.
We have a lot of Tungsten up in Carson City. Very familiar colors in there.