The Richest Silver Mines Of Guanajuato
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2023
- Most of my prior international mine exploring trips have been planned, but this visit to the silver mines of Guanajuato was a product of circumstance rather than planning… The highly mineralized veins of silver, gold and zinc in this part of Mexico had already been discovered by the natives before the arrival of the Spanish. The natives used wedges of wood and lime to extract the prized minerals.
In 1585, the Spanish discovered the rich veins that the natives had been working in this area, and in 1592 the Jesuits obtained permission to work them. Perhaps it is simply due to the amount of time that has passed, but it is difficult to locate much in the way of records relating to the period in which the Jesuits were operating mines in the “New World” aside from rumors on treasure hunting forums of lost Jesuit mines.
A few little hiccups along the way, such as the Mexican War of Independence, eventually idled the mines. However, in 1888, advancements in mining technology, an industrial revolution hungry for raw materials and sufficient social stability brought investors back into this region to open up the mines again. Most, but certainly not all, of the mine infrastructure and workings seen in this video dates to that era…
One of the most prolific mining operations was the Hacienda de los Cinco Senores, which had mines such as the La Joya, Nayalito and Justicia. The “Five Senores” name stems from the fact that, in 1889, the year of its development, five European businessmen pooled their capital to exploit the minerals here. It soon became one of the most productive mining operations in the area and shipped its ore as far away as Mexico City for processing.
Some of the other richest mines producing on the Mineral de Pozos veins were the Santa Brigida, Escondida, Triangulo, Potosina, El Dorado, Trinidad, Ocampo, Nona and the Angustias Mine.
The Angustias Mine (the last mine shown in the video) was owned by the Angustias y Anexas company, and its heyday at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries centered on the fat vein that ran underground directly beneath where I stood while filming the video. The Angustias Mine employed more than 1,000 workers that operated in two shifts. So, there would have been constant activity at this abandoned mine.
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You can see the full TVR Exploring playlist of abandoned mines here: goo.gl/TEKq9L
You can see the gear that I use for mine exploring here: bit.ly/2wqcBDD and here: bit.ly/2p6Jip6
Several kind viewers have asked about donating to help cover some of the many expenses associated with exploring these abandoned mines. Inspired by their generosity, I set up a Patreon account. So, if anyone would care to chip in, I’m under TVR Exploring on Patreon.
Thanks for watching!
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Growing up in California’s “Gold Rush Country” made it easy to take all of the history around us for granted. However, abandoned mine sites have a lot working against them - nature, vandals, scrappers and various government agencies… The old prospectors and miners that used to roam our lonely mountains and toil away deep underground are disappearing quickly as well.
These losses finally caught our attention and we felt compelled to make an effort to document as many of the ghost towns and abandoned mines that we could before that colorful niche of our history is gone forever.
I hope you’ll join us on these adventures!
#ExploringAbandonedMines
#MineExploring
#AbandonedMines
#UndergroundMineExploring
Hope your dad's doing okay. I caught your community post so I know this isn't a purely business trip. Wishing the Italian some peace in her heart right now as well. These moments in life are never easy but they are manageable when those we love are by our side.
Take care you two. Tell her it's nice when she makes an appearance in your videos. Just wish it was under better circumstances.
Thank you very much. I'll pass on your kind words to her... My father is declining fairly swiftly, but he has been in a great mood every day that we have visited him and he tells us often that he is happy. To my mind, that is the most important thing at this point in his life.
By the mid-18th century, Guanajuato was the world's leading silver district. The crown jewel for the district was the La Valenciana mine, which began production in 1774. Supported by Veta Madre, Valenciana was once the largest silver-producing mine in Mexico, providing 25 percent of the world's silver
The air purification idea might have used something connected to the smelting to create air movement by drawing air for the fire from within the mine in one spot far away from the entrance. That would pull fresher air in from the main entrance. Many thanks as always Justin. Glad to see you and "The Italian" getting a chance to disconnect from the rest of life.
Thank you very much. Yes, I wish that more of the infrastructure for the air system remained so that we could more easily understand how it worked.
Staggering the stonework and masonry employed here. Simply incredible, the labor and material processing required in primitive times. Arrow-straight lines, beautiful arches, and massive building architecture...amazing. Thanks for this content.
Yes, I was quite impressed by the quality of the work as well. They definitely built it to last!
A smelter from the 1500's would most likely have used charcoal as a fuel. Wood isn't capable of getting to high enough temps because a lot of the heat energy is wasted on driving the moisture, sap and other impurities out before it can even start to burn.
Charcoal on the other hand has already been subjected to the high heat needed to dry out the wood. So now when you burn it, and use something akin to a bellows to force in oxygen, you can easily reach the 1000c temps needed to smelt many metals.
That's an excellent observation.
@@TVRExploring And I believe the pyramid structures were more likely coke ovens to help fuel the smelting.
Grab some Libertads while you're there. I hear they are just above spot. Great video again!
Great combination of historical buildings tied to silver mining. As a history major, I'm drawn to all that's 'old'. Great video! Looks like they've had some good rain.
Thank you. Yes, I love the historical side of these sites as well.
Air purification? Maybe amigo was talking about an air compressor for pumping fresh air into the mine.
And the man made ravine was their version of an open pit.
A lot of that silver made its way to Spain.
Thanks, Justin and the Italian!
The way that he was talking described it as a non-mechanical system for purification/ventilation. I still don't understand it.
What an interesting place. Thank you for taking us along.
WOW That was a great cluster of mines and it was cool to see a little something different. Glad you had a little time to take advantage of your unplanned trip to show this area.
Thank you. Yes, I enjoyed checking them out... Like you said, they are pretty different from our normal fare.
This is way different than what we see in the States. The buildings must have been beautiful when the mines were in operation. Thanks for taking time out to make this video! So different and interesting! Nice work Justin!
Thank you. Yes, in the States it seems like most of the mining infrastructure is just thrown together with the idea of it being very temporary in nature. By contrast, the infrastructure here seems like it was built to last!
@@TVRExploring Yes! Exactly!
Great video Justin! Say hello to your Italian for us.
Just take one day at a time with all that is going in your lives!
Thank you for taking a some time to make a video!
Interesting to see another time period and country concerning mining. It will get me to do some research. Take care of yourselves and family!
Thank you, I will. Yes, it is definitely a little outside of our normal mine exploring fare. However, I think it is an interesting slice of our history in North America. I didn't know anything about the Jesuits running mines in Mexico back in the 1500s, for example.
THANK YOU.,HAVE FUN,AMAZING..
Glad to see you back....hope things are doing better
Thank you. Everything will work out. It was just a lot to get hit with all at once, you know?
Welcome back! Great video, nice to see old Mexico. And no anxiety of you crawling through mines. Rock steady.
Great to hear from you brother and also awesome to see another video. Shafting from the 1500s and there structural art is pretty amazing and durable to withstand everything up to this point. That's bad ass + i don't mine giving credit when it's do. Thanks man.
Thank you. Yes, as I observed to another viewer, the mining infrastructure here seems like it was built to last!
Great explore and beautiful guide🤩
I clicked on this and was glad it was you. Thanks for sharing more of your life and much more of your wife. Maybe let her take the lead.
A surprisingly sunny video this time, I seem to remember from another video that some of these mines are extremely deep but I can't remember who's video.
Reading the other comments I hope you and your special people find some peace and tranquility at this time.
Thankyou for taking some time out to share some of the local mining history.
Thanks!one of the best mine exploring channels you never disappoint so original
Thank you so much for the kind words and generous contribution.
Beyond gorgeous out there!
Fascinating stuff. Looking at those waste piles there must be miles of tunnels beneath. Also I bet there is still a lot of ore amongst that waste material.
Yes, I agree on all counts!
Thank you for the tour and the time of making the video
Thanks this is very interesting 😊
Glad you think so!
great video. cool place.
Glad to have you posting, sorry you had to make that trip. Praying for peace for you and your family, you've had a rough last few year!
Thank you very much. Yes, hopefully, I'm paying my dues now and things over the next few years will be more smooth! I'm staying in good spirits though.
Fine looking stone work
Yes, it reminded me of some of the work of the Cornish miners that we have seen.
Very intriguing and great coverage of a fantastic slice of history. Perhaps the "air purification" he was talking about, was the fan house, here is New Zealand we had certain mines with huge dedicated brick buildinds known as the fan house, to circulate oxygen deep underground. Hope you guys consider going back here and roping down, i bet the workings are incredible.
You bring us the best videos hands down. They went to extreme care in there mines.
Thank you very much! Yes, they put a lot of work into these mines...
A very interesting explore, and that was a very big mine, saw a big bathroom and kitchen, thanx for a great tour around those mines, hope your dad will be a bit better soon, guess it will make him feel good seeing you guys.
Great video. Love the history!
Thank you.
So neat to see your videos it’s like I’m there but I’m not able to travel so I get to watch the videos and get the feel I’m there
Good day above ground. Thank you for sharing
Thank you for your video!
That introduction line is what people say right before footage of testing their car modifications 😂
Very cool seeing what left there.
Perhaps the local Cowboy ment air ventilation not purification. That was the only thing I could think of LOL. Stay safe bro happy travels.
I was thinking the same. Fresh air for the underground workings.
@@nefariumxxx that's what I was thinking
Thank you. Yes, there may well have been a mistranslation there. However, I still struggle to understand the mechanics of how that long structure enabled the transfer/flow of air underground...
@@TVRExploring I don't either but it was the only thing I could think of. 😁
@@TVRExploring Yeah, hard to say. Maybe further research would clarify. I suppose they could have used mule teams or steam power.
a very interesting video.the buildings were impressive in the way they were built.thanks to you and the lovely young lady for sharing it with us.
Very cool, safe travels. 👍
Thank you.
Always enjoy your videos. Thanks for uploading them given your chaotic life schedule
Thank you. I'm glad you like them.
Good evening from Southeast South Dakota
Thank you.
The “air purification” part I would assume the local was trying to say that the feature in question was part of a ventilation system to draw bad air out of the mine. Also the man mad “ravine” would be called a cut, or open cut and or mining cut…. Good content 👍
Pretty cool! Solid looking buildings are interesting. Would have been neat if you had the time to find a local who could have given you a guided history tour of these mines.
Wow amazing locations! Would have been impressive operations back in the day. Cheers mate 👍😎🇦🇺
My great grandfather had a silver and gold mine in Mexico where they also did their own smelting and other processes. But around 100 yrs ago, a freak storm caused torrents of rain water to cascade down the hills and into all the mines in that section. Had you heard of anything like that happening?
It was the Inde Reduction outfit. I googled it one time and the overhead map displayed the ruins of all the abandoned equipment.
Yes, I have heard of incidents like that before (it also happens underground if the miners accidentally punch into an unknown aquifer)... Mining is a tough business to be in!
Very nice
Gold rides an iron horse 🐎
Yes!
Always heard it is that Gold rides a quartz horse ball wearing an iron hat!!! 🤠👍
If im right but did the cornish miners come over to mexico as well to do mining ⛏️? Over wise its good to see a different perspective on what the mexican miners did .
I don't know if the Cornish were active miners in Mexico or not. At these particular mines, I know that a lot of native labor was used. However, perhaps that was just for the grunt work and the higher level work was done by the Cornish?
love your europe vids!
Thank you. I thought those mines were really cool as well, but the videos never get as many views.
Nice to see you bring your Italian translator to Mexico,you never know right :D I remember her from one of your excursions into a former USSR republic,again you never know where you might bump into a sculptor or a pizza place
Exactly! People just don't get it even though I warn them repeatedly that you never know when you're going to need an Italian... I figure better safe than sorry, you know?
If that place is as old as I think it is, the Spanish Missionaries and native people built aqueducts to supply water.
Here is an example: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapultepec_aqueduct
It is mind blowing to me that most of the oldest mines in mexico are literally just very deep vertical shafts.
Thanks!
Thank you very much, Bryan. We're starting out on a new exploring trip this weekend and this will go directly toward that. Hope you can rejoin us soon (although you picked a very good time to be out of the area)...
Hi Justin, this was actually a pretty cool look of the mines in that area.
How is your Dad doing ?? hopefully much better.
Thank you for sharing, much love. xx ❤
Thank you, Sue. My father is continuing to decline. However, he is in great spirits when we see him. So, I think at this stage of his life, him being happy is the most important metric to focus on.
@@TVRExploring Sending him love and prayers, and to all of the family too. Yes him being happy is the best thing as it will keep his spirits up bless him. xx 💞
"Did a rock test and its still going"
Interesting place. I would've never guessed some of these structures were from the 1500s! Built to last.
Yes, much more so than the temporary, thrown together infrastructure we see so often now...
Hello Justin: This visit from you was totally unexpected, given all that you your wife have on your plate right now......but rest assured it was much appreciated! Hope Viola is starting to feel better, and I'm still sending you all good vibes. Those old timers in Mexico were awesome stone masons. There is a lot of impressive stone work in the Napa valley surrounding vineyards and such, and often in passing by you see Latino workmen building such structures, so maybe it's a cultural thing, or just done out necessity due to lack of available wood.
I always found it amazing the amount of labor, and money that was used to build the buildings to magnitude that they did back then.
It's as if everything was built to withstand a full on assault with heavy cannons and such.
But the reality is that it was insulation from the extreme temperatures of that part of the world.
Similar to the castles around Europe, and UK, but theirs were built to withstand an army as well as fiend off the cold winters that they had to endure.
The European and UK's were also used as a status symbol too, as if to say look what we have, and you really don't want to mess with us either type of design too.
Although I am sure the Mexican owners were probably throwing a little of that around too, because Mexico was invaded by several countries which I'm sure greatly effected the style of building practices used by them back in those days.
Because the native Aboriginals built stone cities, but in a entirely different perspective on the appearance and functions of their's compared to the Spaniards, Portuguese, and the Moores.
The invasions were all based on greed, and exploiting the Aboriginals of the America's, for the free slave labor to mine the valuable minerals that were in some areas.
Moores left their mark across the islands and counties they plundered that much is very obvious if you know to what I speak.
But to conclude what I started with, is that they just up and abandoned such huge settlements with the whole infustruture in place, as if the effort it took to make such a place functional is mind blowing.
It's not like a ramshackle mining town that was the stereotypical ones in North America.
That the majority of the structures were returned to nature within a few years, and a century later were all but invisible to the average person.
Surprised that you didn't run across any of the underworld society while you were out in the back country down there.
Especially since they have taken to making an effort to make their presence known to everyone in whatever area they have their base of operations at.
Nice lady you have, how you were blessed by such as her is one of the great mysteries of life I suppose.
I'd say that your dad has made his peace, and has reached the point in life that he's probably the last of the ones his age, and older.
Like my Ma, she's the last of her family, her sisters, brother, parents uncles aunt's and cousins are all gone.
Although she still has myself both my brother and sister, and I don't know how many grand kids great grand kids and I think one or two great great grand kids.
She tells me she's lonely for her family, and my dad been gone 25 or more years now..
Plus I only know of one friend she's got left alive, otherwise she feels alone and lost at the age of 86.
She was very independent and active until last few years, and although she still has her DL, and a very nice low mileage luxury car, she gets confused I think, and it scares her.
Even though she lives with me, I can't hardly get her to go do anything, tells me she doesn't want to be a nuisance.
Can't tell her any different she doesn't want to hear it, because she's made up her mind that they way it is, and nothing or no one is going to change her mind about it.
Sorry for the long novel, but the area interests me y'all are in, and I'm history nut sort of, and the reason for your visit down south of the border remained me of my Ma, and dealing with her occasional moods.
As always great video love the content as well as the depth you go into in the description section.
Remember Peace n Harmony is all the world really needs for everyone to get along.
Take care, and may your travels be safe.
Tell the nice lady she has my heart felt empathy if that is the correct verbiage, if not please correct it for me please.
PS
We all have our time, and some have longer than others, but it always comes to an end sooner than those around us want it to, but it's not their choice to make.
If he's made his peace, and he's happy then that's the best way for him to be at this point in time.
Wish him well on his travels to come, and tell him you love him, and that what he wants more than anything is for you live your life.
Peace
Bro Im fan of your Job long time ago and Im from mexico ! Wish i could have done an exploration with you
Thank you. I would have loved to have you along!
That's a huge amount of rock taken out.
Yes, I am very curious about the extent of the underground workings there.
That's a beautiful camera quality you are using ..what awesome buildings ..love them .
What camera are you using if I may ask ?
From Australia ..great video you shared ..thank you .
Thank you. This wasn't a planned trip and so I was just using my phone, mate. It's a Samsung Galaxy. An S21, I think...
Boy I beat metal detecting that place would be a blast!
The mine flooding is similar to the Knox Mine disaster that happened down the road from me. Was basically what pulled the plug from coal mining in my area.
Yes, that will put a mine out of commission very quickly...
Yes, that will put a mine out of commission very quickly...
Well just in here's my 2 cents worth the large owl that you saw if it was Large then it can only be the Great Horned Owl as it is the only Large Owl you're gonna find in the Texas Mexico area, Some of the buildings you're wandering through look like it could have been part of the old Jesuit Missions in which I can Only Guess perhaps You were looking at part of A Baptistry, It has also been a very long time since I did any research but I seem to remember that the Ancient Romans had a ventilation system for their mines that used something like a tower or chimney that would burn through a Lot of wood to create a forced draft to supply air to the deeper parts of the mine can't swear to it Way Too Many Years since I studied about it, It's good seeing you and your wife active, I have a some limited understanding regarding your father as a little more than a month ago my father informed me that he is in stage 4 kidney failure and the doctors basically told him just to go put his Life in order due to his age and height which I never could figure out what height has to do with kidney failure but they basically told him to go home and prepare for his Final days!! 🤨😒😠
Thank you. That Roman system for ventilation that you described must be similar to what they were doing here. I was struggling to make sense of the mechanics of it.
I'm sorry to hear of your father. I hope that he has lived a good life up until this point... I do see a silver lining when someone actually does have the time to get their affairs in order and to say their goodbyes. It is so much harder when someone's death is sudden (like a heart attack or a car accident) and there is no chance for goodbyes or asking questions, etc.
@@TVRExploring Actually! Thank You!! For your Words and your Labors with the camera!!! 🤠👍
good times
I hope you and your family are doing better.
Thank you. My wife's stepfather died several days ago. As difficult as that is for her (he was an amazing guy), he was suffering terribly and that experience is finally over... My own father continues to decline, but he is in great spirits whenever we see him. So, I think at this stage of his life, him being happy is the most important metric to focus on.
Wow lol i didnt relise that i have been watching your veidos for this long lmao we have grown ummm older togather buddy .
It seems to happen to even the best of us, I'm afraid...
first time i see your face... it is a perfectly alright normal face, but it did surprise me was not the image i made up in my head .
love the vids big fan, just to help you imagery im fat and old :P
nice to see these clean with no graffiti unlinke in europe
Nice to see things that aren't covered in graffiti, huh?
i find the lack of any safety stuff at some of the southern european minesites incredible
Ha, yeah, that's pretty awesome, huh?
@@TVRExploring yeah, but some idiot will end up falling in some of them holes soon. i wonder who is the owner of the land now
1595, wow.
That is very cool!
Thanks for the video!
They had a very long lasting construction by using stone rather than wood, and having the buildings still standing is a bonus!
It is too bad the US is so hell bent on destroying all traces of the mining history of American South-West, as once it is gone and sealed off, we will not be able to show the younger generations what was once our greatest industry.
It is too bad they surrendered when they hit the water, as the mine was a good source of work and money for the area.
I agree with you on all points.
Cool Thank you. Cartels hot right now. Careful.
Its amazing that he has'nt been ambushed by the cartels. I'd never go there. Loco.
In America we have law enforcement.
America incarcerates more people per capita than any other country in the world.
Many times more than Mexico!
Google it!
Land of the free?
It's not safe. I work for global company and Mexico is off limits due to heightened risk of kidnapping and worse. Employees at our subsidiary in Mexico City are not allowed to travel on company business. Cartels have highly sophisticated intelligence networks and they monitor international companies operating in Mexico and will kidnap employees if they believe the companies will pay ransom. If you are foreigner and look like you have money, you are at risk of being kidnapped.
I recognize that I may represent an extreme when it comes to embracing danger. However, I have two observations... When I was working as a war reporter, I spent years (collectively) traveling alone through places like Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, etc. and I assure you that the hype rarely matches the reality. The news media loves to sensationalize death, danger and destruction. Furthermore, while certain parts of a country might be sporty, very rarely is an entire country dangerous. I've been to all of the states in Mexico (and, yes, I encountered cartel operatives on numerous occasions) and I have never had any trouble with the cartels. And just in case you think I might have a darker complexion and blend in, that is absolutely not the case. I am about as white as they come. My second observation is that I believe our society is sickened by fear, which has led to a pernicious health and safety culture. A society that is constantly in fear will not be daring and heroic. Yet, so many decisions made in the West are fear-driven decisions.
@@TVRExploring you are mistaken. Oh well, live and learn must we all.
purified the bad air sound like ventilation to me.
bellows air pump i dont know
I don't know either, but, yes, it was probably that. I still don't understand the mechanics of how that long building ventilated the mine.
This was interesting. The furthest I have been into Mexico is outlying areas of Juarez.
There is a lot that I still haven't seen, but I'm chipping away at it.
@@TVRExploring Be safe south of that line. May you and yours be blessed.
The outside spines, the little ones, are called glochids. Goddamn i hate glochids. Sucks when they get deep enough to not come out. Sucks even more when they get deep enough to transit within the body.
Ive had some in my fingertips for 10+ years.
10+ years?!? That sounds horrible! I hope that you're not able to feel them when they are absorbed that deeply into your body. I hadn't heard the term "glochids" before. So, thanks for teaching me something.
@@TVRExploring they only hurt if you hit them just right. The real risk is them going elsewhere like organs and whatnot then things can get spicy in a very bad way.
@@k_froggy That doesn't sound like a lot of fun.
Does she have a Name?
cucuriguu
They knew they would be there awhile., permanent buildings etc. ,some one knew they were into the mother lode. The smelter thing you found that she thought was water. That were brick making kilns. Stack the different sections full and control the heat.. They made millions of bricks...clay pit. For bricks.
Thank you.
;) ;) ❤😂
The Spanish court made all the money.
What you waiting for, rope down to the ground, we want to see how it looks down there.😅
Working on it!
looks likw old town not mine
It was a big operation...
This can't be in Mexico, it's not sepia toned!
G-day Justin and Your Italian Happy Belated Independence Day I presume you on Holiday chears Hastela -wego 🌹🫶✌️🇺🇸👍🇲🇷🦘🇦🇺