Found a old mine or cave, very well hidden and crystals

[Ashman]

So yesterday on the way to take a hike and check out a waterfall I spotted a place off the road about 600+ yards or so that you could see some nice quartz veins and what looked like where maybe someone popped a few holes down the wall.

I told myself and more importantly the wife that today we would just take a break and get some things done around the house. Truthfully I was sore as hell after the last few days.

Well after thinking about that stupid spot all day that we saw yesterday, well it got the best of me. So I told the wife I need to get some things from the grocery store and I really want to run by the place we saw yesterday and take a quick and closer look.

So when I got there I could quickly see I was right about there were spots on the wall where others have been digging. Then I looked the other direction and I could also see what looked like some even older places that had been dug up. I added some pics to this post. Think I can even see some crystals in there.

I went down to take a look and then I found a small opening that looked like it opens up to a cave or old mine. The small opening is roughly 3’ wide and one and half feet tall. I looked a little close and it seem to open up inside to a much larger area. It was really dark inside and no way was I climbing down in there without someone with more experience. From where I was standing to the bottom looked to be at least 6 feet down if not further.

The odd part to all of this was where was all the dirt to this mine/cave ? I just looked at all the maps I could find over the last 20 years of this area and nowhere on them did I see any piles or dirt. I didn’t see any trace of any dig of any kind.

My guess is at a minimum this mine/cave is at least 5 feet wide, 5 to 6’ tall and a minimum of 5 feet deep. But I really could not see anything past 4 to 5 feet back. It could be a lot deeper.

This is also at the base of a mountain, its like this goes under the mountain.

 

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[Slingshot]

Might be natural, also could have a welcoming committee in there waiting for you, so be careful!

 

[hvacker]

Lucky find. Your right about hooking up with someone who has experience. Especially caving experience. Caving is basically rock climbing in the dark.
If me I might want to do some samples of the loose rock to try and figure out what others might have found.
Might want to throw a stun grenade in the hole if you have one.

 

[diverrick]

Naw! Just dig the darned thing out until you can get in.be careful and look everywhere before each step. Only go in a fw feet to begin with. If inis good try a few more feet. Take someone with you as well. If it here in Nor cal I can help.

 

[DDancer]

Looks to be natural to me and if there are no mine heaps its either a really old dig or animals have been making a home.
I would not recommend skipping off to the grocery store to go into those holes. Take a buddy and let people know what your upto. I'd rather think that an upset wife's honey do list is better than other alternatives.

 

[Ashman]

lol, thank you for all the replies. I have talk to a couple younger guys out here by me that I have met through a FB metal detecting group just the other day. They both have grown up here and just recently in the last 6 months have gotten into rock hunting, they are both excited about this and want to meet up with me and check this all out. I am big scared cat when it comes to diving into dark holes like this one or hunting anywhere way off the main path. Looks like I might be able to hook up with one tomorrow for both of us to take a closer look at all this and then this Saturday the three of us taking a much deeper look into this hole.

I hope to have more updates to post back about all this really soon.

 

[huntsman53]

It is hard to say if the hole is natural or man made without someone going in and taking pics. No matter which, be very careful going into places such as this! As others have stated, there could be unknown dangers in the form of critters or rocks that could collapse. If the holes is indeed man made, then most of tailings piles were carried off and processed or they were carried off and disposed of elsewhere to not alert anyone to the mine. I can say, that from the few pics you posted of the rocks and hillside, it has excellent mineralization, Quartz and other rocks that a Gold Prospector would want to see if looking for Gold. Now, is there Gold in the rocks and/or mine, only a lot of hard work...sampling...crushing rock and panning will determine this!


Frank

 

[Ashman]

I went this morning for a closer look and this is what I could see without going inside. I did almost step on a little friend on the outside.

 

[DDancer]

Well now that is a mine hole. Must have been something good coming out or the oldtimers just took a serious prospect on a likely spot. Huntsman's suggestion is a good one however I'd probably just do some potholes down hill from the mine to see if any color is showing up. Hard to say what was being dug on but the mineralization is very good.

 

[Tigger]

Looks to be natural to me and if there are no mine heaps its either a really old dig or animals have been making a home.
I would not recommend skipping off to the grocery store to go into those holes. Take a buddy and let people know what your upto. I'd rather think that an upset wife's honey do list is better than other alternatives.

I second what DDancer said about letting someone know where you're going and when you expect to be back. Hate to come off preachy, but you have contacted the land owner and received permission, right? Not only for the standard moral issue, but there may be prior mineral claims, liability issues as well. Widening a mine/cave opening can lead to future problems with others entering it, etc.

Good luck, and be safe!

 

[Claim Jumper]

Normally I'd agree with diverrick and say "get in there", but in the southwest you need to be careful around Spanish mines. They were often booby trapped when they covered the entrances up. If that's different material inside the arch (and it appears to be from the pics) be careful! Good eye dude!

 

[Ashman]

I have only walked and looked at the landscaping in this area. I have not personally tried to open any places along the walls, I have only looked and took pictures. As far as the entrance goes I have not even tried to venture inside it. This morning when I was there the sun was not shinning directly on it like it was when I found it and posted pics the other day. So today with it being all shaded over the entrance I laid down and stretched my arms and used the flash on my camera. The only things I have removed is a small handful of rocks on the ground. I have checked and there are no active claims here. This is a small stretch or patch of BLM land that I am walking on. But I do believe where this mine or hole in the wall is at is maybe less then a 100 yards off the BLM land and on to someone else's property. I have a good idea who owns the land and I wouldn't attempt to dig on someones wall/land without permission first. I also had someone with me. When I do venture out alone I always send me wife an email with screen shots of the area with some what of an address and of course a time when I should be back. I hate hunting alone but more then that I would hate having a broken leg and stuck somewhere stupid because I didn't take an extra 5 minutes to let someone know.

 

[huntsman53]

I went this morning for a closer look and this is what I could see without going inside. I did almost step on a little friend on the outside.
View attachment 1118854 View attachment 1118855 View attachment 1118856

It appears that the mine hole on the left was probably abandoned after not finding anything or anything of significance. Now, what you note as a Cave is a different matter. I may be wrong but to me, it appears to be a mine hole (i.e. adit) that has been sealed off to conceal it. There is usually no reason to seal and conceal a Mine adit unless there is something there that the Miners don't want to be found. If you decide to venture into it, I would advise first throwing in a lot of Moth Balls into the Cave (hopefully Mine) to run any snakes out it. After that, be watchful for snakes on the outside of the Cave each time you go there as it may be a well known shelter for them from the heat of the summer and warmer location when cold weather hits.

Good luck and be very careful!


Frank

 

[Ashman]

Sorry if I mislead the pictures above. The one that shows the cave entrance, is the entrance to the picture on the left.

I had laid down and leaned into the mine where the mine entrance is and took that pic this morning. This mine goes down and under the ground level.

 

[huntsman53]

Sorry if I mislead the pictures above. The one that shows the cave entrance, is the entrance to the picture on the left.

I had laid down and leaned into the mine where the mine entrance is and took that pic this morning. This mine goes down and under the ground level.

That is a completely different matter and as Walter Cronkite used to say "And now for the rest of the story"! Not trying to be sarcastic even though it is but most of us often leave out little tidbits of information that is vital for folks to make a determination and reply with.


Frank

 

[Ashman]

I was talking to a friend out here this morning and next week we are going to hit the National Archives that he has been to several times and see what other info we can find on this area. I know there is a lot history that took place along this stretch dating back in the 1800's. This is also an area that is within a stones throw of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail which happened in the late 1700's. Here is an old post on this forum about Lambs Canyon which is only a mile or so as the crow flies from the area I found this mine in the pictures above. http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...ia/73152-lamb-canyon-california-treasure.html

I know the info I just typed above is some what getting away from rocks and gems but I am one that sure it is great to get out and look for gold, gems, metal detecting etc... but I love knowing the history of any area I might be looking at, feel like it gives more if an edge or a better idea of what someone may or may not find.

Treasure hunting, its the kid in all of us...

 

[BurntBear]

Great stuff man and I would definitely say it's a mine. Is there any mica flakes nearby? If you can find the name of the mine via USGS documents or a resource like US Mining has mines, mining companies, mine owners and mine information.; it could tell you the occurrence of types of minerals. -Luke

 

[Ashman]

Great Link you posted. I was able to find a marker on the map but the markers and the mine list are not connected to each other. Hmmm now I need to figure out how to put a name to this mine and maybe see what they were digging here and how long ago. Thank you for posting that link, super helpful in researching this all out.

 

[BurntBear]

Awesome stuff! Have you tried the maps from Welcome to Land Matters ?

 

[huntsman53]

Great Link you posted. I was able to find a marker on the map but the markers and the mine list are not connected to each other. Hmmm now I need to figure out how to put a name to this mine and maybe see what they were digging here and how long ago. Thank you for posting that link, super helpful in researching this all out.

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If it were me, I would metal detect the floors inside the mines as well as the flats up against and at least 10 to 20 feet away from the rock face of the mountain. Also, I would pan some of the material in both of these locations. If there is Gold in the rocks in and on the mountain there, surely some has eroded out or was mined out and more than likely can be found in the loactions I noted.


Frank