How To Dig Out An Old Mine

[Deleted member 122652]

What did the sampled dirt from the entrance show? Barren? Silver? Gold?

Electrum. More silver than gold though. Tiny specs. Through the loupe they're little octahedral shapes (I think that's the right term). A few have more gold but it's a lot of silver. It's coming from the vein as it's eroding. But the only stuff I could pan was an iron oxide rich clay, but the ore itself is a honeycomb quartz (eroded brecciated quartzite).

 

[Deleted member 122652]

There's another mine that's 1500 years old or more. It was here when the Spaniards got here. They called it the Josephine (no not the uintahs). I found it but it's completely caved in and collapsed. Supposed to be rich ore still inside. I have no clue what to do with that one. Same vein as this mine.

 

[Deleted member 122652]

Sorry the picture isn't great. I can't figure out how to take good close ups but this is the quartzite.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

Sorry the picture isn't great. I can't figure out how to take good close ups but this is the quartzite.

The photos are as blurry as the rock treasure signs we see posted here. What are you using for a camera?

 

[Deleted member 122652]

My horrible phone. Worst camera ever. Rock treasure signs? I'll try to get a better picture.

 

[Deleted member 122652]

The first item of business would be to make sure no one has a claim filed on this piece of ground.With all these mines you have off this Spanish trail you sure do not want someone showing up as the owner it never goes well.Especially if you are close to the Res.

No claim. I'm a claim owner myself so I respect that kind of stuff.

 

[ARC]

Great thread... please keep us up to date for i for one am interested in this adventure.

 

[russau]

All this advice is great and you need to know BEFORE entering a mine or a cave! This will be a costly adventure & a dangerous one if you do not heed the advice ! GOOD LUCK !

 

[Deleted member 122652]

 

[Tesorodeoro]

Throw a shovel full of dusty dirt in the air and pay attention to which way the air moves. Could be an interconnecting audit that you’re not aware of. Really no other way than digging and shoring, wearing an air meter. In areas where gold is known to exist, MANY a man has explored and dug holes chasing it. I’d check for where a vein surfaced or for a parallel vein.

 

[Deleted member 122652]

Throw a shovel full of dusty dirt in the air and pay attention to which way the air moves. Could be an interconnecting audit that you’re not aware of. Really no other way than digging and shoring, wearing an air meter. In areas where gold is known to exist, MANY a man has explored and dug holes chasing it. I’d check for where a vein surfaced or for a parallel vein.

Already done

 

[Deleted member 122652]

Throw a shovel full of dusty dirt in the air and pay attention to which way the air moves. Could be an interconnecting audit that you’re not aware of. Really no other way than digging and shoring, wearing an air meter. In areas where gold is known to exist, MANY a man has explored and dug holes chasing it. I’d check for where a vein surfaced or for a parallel vein.

Just have no clue how to get to anything. I need an expert an that's where I'm stuck. Lol

 

[sgtfda]

I just get Woody to dig.

 

[BAW]

Also, the Spaniards did not leave tailings near the mines. They usually moved them miles away to process at a spring.

I think you are conflating tailings and ore. The ore (the mineral bearing rock) may indeed have been hauled to another location for processing, but the tailings (the worthless rock that is dug out of the way in order to get to the ore vein) is always much larger in quantity than the ore, and is just shoved out of the way. If there is no tailings pile, there was probably no mining done.
As for your original question-how to clean out what you believe to be an adit, it would be possible but would be expensive and time-consuming to do right. Do you know who owns the property? Do you have legal authorization to even be there,let alone to start digging holes and moving dirt? Before you start hiring help or taking on partners, some research needs to be done. The fact that some “local “ says it was a mine is an unverifiable old wives tale, if I may use the expression, and no basis on which to spend time and money.

 

[Deleted member 122652]

I think you are conflating tailings and ore. The ore (the mineral bearing rock) may indeed have been hauled to another location for processing, but the tailings (the worthless rock that is dug out of the way in order to get to the ore vein) is always much larger in quantity than the ore, and is just shoved out of the way. If there is no tailings pile, there was probably no mining done.
As for your original question-how to clean out what you believe to be an adit, it would be possible but would be expensive and time-consuming to do right. Do you know who owns the property? Do you have legal authorization to even be there,let alone to start digging holes and moving dirt? Before you start hiring help or taking on partners, some research needs to be done. The fact that some “local “ says it was a mine is an unverifiable old wives tale, if I may use the expression, and no basis on which to spend time and money.

They didn't leave tailings near the mine. That's historical fact. I've done years of research. It's nobody's land, it's public. Please see the article I posted. Like I said, I have done plenty of research. Thanks for your response though! I appreciate it!🙂

 

[Deleted member 122652]

I just get Woody to dig. View attachment 2224003

Is he for hire? Loan? Free? Hahaha!

 

[Deleted member 122652]

They didn't leave tailings near the mine. That's historical fact. I've done years of research. It's nobody's land, it's public. Please see the article I posted. Like I said, I have done plenty of research. Thanks for your response though! I appreciate it!🙂

One more thing.....I think you are referring to waste rock (desmonte/esterile)? Cause if so, then that is present. The ore and tailings however will not be at the mine.

 

[pepperj]

Sorry the picture isn't great. I can't figure out how to take good close ups but this is the quartzite.

Take your photo using a neutral background.
The lens will not be picking up the fuzzy material the sample is on.
Are Canaries still reasonably priced?

 

[Deleted member 122652]

Take your photo using a neutral background.
The lens will not be picking up the fuzzy material the sample is on.
Are Canaries still reasonably priced?

That's not very humane. I couldn't do that. I don't kill animals. Lol

 

[Tesorodeoro]

One more thing.....I think you are referring to waste rock (desmonte/esterile)? Cause if so, then that is present. The ore and tailings however will not be at the mine.

That’s what BAW said.