Exploring a Multi-Level Gold Mine in the San Gabriel Mountains
Vložit
- čas přidán 24. 04. 2019
- Los Angeles County Mines #13:
This multi-level gold mine is a hidden gem of the San Gabriel Mountains. It features two explorable levels that include some interesting stopes and winzes. The only point of entry is through the upper portal, as the two lower ones are either gated or collapsed. The lower level can be accessed by a winze with a ladder.
Two portals that were closed the last time I was at this site have been reopened. One of them was the second portal to lower level. However, according to modern maps there is a total collapse not too far inside. The other reopened adit was even lower than the others. This adit has been mapped in an old study of the area, and it probably goes in about 100 ft or less. The opening has re-eroded so I may come back to widen it. It should not connect to the main workings.
This mine has an interesting history. Apparently, most of the workings were dug in the late 1800’s by an unknown operation. It is possible that during this period it was known as the Tujungo Group, which is an old mine reported to be in the area. During this phase the ore was crushed in arrastres. The second period of mining was during the 1950’s when a 24-bucket aerial tramway was built from the mine to a 5-stamp mill in the canyon below. The tramway was either too unreliable or too expensive to operate so a road was built instead. The third phase of operation was in the 1970’s. During this period the 5-stamp mill was burned down in a fire and a new mill was built to replace it. However, the forest service has since destroyed the cabin and mill at the site.
Crazy to think this is in my backyard! Awesome video! Stay safe out there!
Excellent mine dude! I'm so glad some generous individual defeated that anti-fun gate! I always forget my acetylene torch when I go out!
Thank you. I really enjoy your work. Please keep it up.
Glad you enjoy my videos! Thanks for commenting.
I'm so glad your okay. I was anxious watching this video
Amazing finds though man! Love going through what I find on mindat
My hands were sweeting so much. Glad you made it out okay. Thank you for this upload
Best example I've seen in your country of a Roman style driven level or coffin level .keep up the good work.
The tunnel shape in this mine certainly isn't typical for the US, though, I'd imagine it's quite spacious compared to those old coffin levels. Those must be a blast to explore. Thanks for watching!
How they get the drifts so straight is amazing, it looks like it was chiseled out by a stone mason instead of blasted by miners.
I'm not sure what method was used to dig the drifts. Someone else said it reminded them of old roman coffin levels. From what my research tells me, most of the tunneling was done in the late 1800's.
Nice! This reminds me of a spot near Monte Cristo Campground that I stumbled upon a few years ago.
It does kind of look like one of the mines up there haha
The uniformity of the passages is impressive for such a small mine. I bet they had grander hopes for this mine. That Winze on that steep dip is impressive. I wonder what they used to bring the material up it. I wonder if that lowest adit you found connects and they raised from it along the hanging wall and met thst higher drift... Hmm
I was also impressed by the shape of the passages. This mine was surveyed in the 50's, and none of the maps showed a connection between the lower adit and the winze. I'm guessing they brought material up with a small windlass.
That was awesome. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Courageous thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching :)
Great video where exactly is this ?
You got alot of heart bro!👍
Wow! That was fantastic, thx for sharing. Your illumination is great, what kind of head lamp do you use?
The main light I use is a Neewer cn-160 video light. It has a hot shoe mount for a camera.
Super cool!
😮😮😮 so much ore!!! I couldn’t help myself but to grab a specimen or 300.😂😂
that was a great video dude. great video handling. i feel like i don't need to go in there. but, i got that g fever. im kind of surprised you didn't run into someone pick axing that quarts vein. do you think people are scared? im scared, but thats solid rock, a little pick axing won't cause anything..i dont think.. you found some very interesting veins.. i wonder why they stopped.. the g is there, so it appears. it must be that the gold there wasn't worth its retrieval. did you sample it yourself?
This mine is pretty solid. It most likely won't collapse from a little digging. There's certainly gold in there, but there needs to be enough of it to make a profit.
Crazy stuff
I wish I knew if the upper portal was still open.
Were miners able to extract gold from these mines? Is gold still there?
where exactly is this?
Where was that mine?
Hey bro I live in LA county and I always like going to up to the canyon in Azusa. I was at crystal lake yesterday and finally seen the amphitheater and read the history of it. Where exactly is this location at? I want to go see it for myself.
I don't give out exact locations in order to protect these sites. However, I'll point you in the right direction. Look up the Tujunga Mining District. This is near Mill Creek.
@@forgottenmininghistorythank you for not sharing , idek where this is at but I respect your keep saking
Hey do you think it is still open in 2024?
you got coordinates for this where do you get the maps
I don't give out directions to any mines in order to protect them. I find them by doing lots of research and lots of hiking.
@@forgottenmininghistory dont tell anyone ur doing good, i found them, i didnt have to ask.
What are all those black freckles on the board on the ground at 11:47 and earlier? Looks like pill bugs or rat shit.
Something is messed up with your timestamp, but I'm assuming your talking about the floor of the mine. It's rat shit or some other shit. Not the nicest part of exploring mines.
I dug it out more since if u down road around one Calley u will hit another mine next to monti
What is the name of this mine? I've been to Allison and Stanley Miller. Just curious about this one
I live in pomona wold love to go
Hey brother I’m out in your area and adventure around all the mines you check out it be awesome to get together some time and check them out! I know tons of good stuff for your channel.
I'm always in need of new places to explore. Let me know if you want to go check someplace out: forgottenmininghistory@gmail.com
I dug it out black cargo
Oh nice! The last time I went back there I saw that the lowest adit was gated inside. Shame.
Tujunga Group, Arial tram, Mill rebuilt in the 70's..... hmmmm, The Black Cargo Mine. There was also a murder at that mine. Did you run across a ghost named Ron?
That's crazy! I didn't know the mine had such a dark history. I didn't seem to run into any ghosts when I was there.
U got gold bar and lucky strick right next you did h no there's 3 more mines above them 4
I went to the Gold Bar a few years ago. The only adit I found was about 10 ft. long. I didn't know there were more mines higher up. Thanks!
What is the name of this mine in this video
"Any mine that could pay in the 60's or 80's is big pay dirt IN 2020."
I read somewhere that there were $80,000 worth of reserves in that mine. That assessment was back in the 70s or 80s so that number would be quite a bit higher today. However, the potential success of the mine was in question back then, and even if it could be worked profitably today it simply could not happen. This area is now part of the San Gabriel National Monument and no new mining claims can be made.
Yea black cargo had one way in but 3 Gates and one portal if u like dining I found 40 mines all in area your talking aabout and dub them out some have been closed for 80 years more sure u love get some good video I love finding and. Keeping history going im up at nine working monti christo maybe I'll see yea
40 mines? Damn that's a lot. Respect for digging them out.
@@forgottenmininghistory yes sir over 40 I dug um out same blackcargo here
@@manyfacesrunsquickly3782 did you use a metal detector?
@@forgottenmininghistory do you own a metal detector, u bring them with you?
@@Alpacabowl98 No, I'm more focused on documentation.