if a mine is abandoned and has been for years should i go and check it out? there is no registered claim there or anything i just want to bring some material home and test it. just don't want to get in trouble
That would depend on the type of mine Golden. A surface mine can have its hazards with sudden drops, loose rocks etc. but a "Tunnel" mine is a death trap. Many tunnel mines were abandoned not because they played out, but other reasons like Ground water, gas, cave ins etc.
I know it's very tempting to go in and check them out, but doing so is like playing Russian Roulette. Sooner or later you're going to loose! No amount of gold is going to be worth your life. There are old miners and foolish ones. You just won't find any old foolish ones.
I would test around the entrance to see if you can find any color... Don't go exploring inside though :P If there's a river or stream right next to it than that would be something to look into as well. Just take samples & test pan areas. Make sure you know which dirt came from where..
Ya start with a test of the material pulled out of the mine. They always had tailing piles not far from the entrance. If it shows color Place a claim on it if it's not private land. If you can claim it you have a lot of work ahead like shoring up the tunnel, testing the air, and metal detecting. Those guys swinging minelabs have found the veins just barely missed by the miners. So thinking they had played out the mine they would leave.