Mining Expedition of 2000
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The miners get ready |
Before entering the mine we are outfitted by the owner with hardhats and lights. The lights don't look like much out in the sun but they are more than bright enough when you get into the mine. To hold the batteries you are given a wide leather belt. All this equipment plus the tools you choose to bring is a bit awkward at first but once you get into the mine you tend to forget you even have it on. (Pictured at left, from left to right: the mine guide, Clyde; Guy Wicker; Rich Rostrum; Amy Proni; Matthew Alschuler; Rich Whiteman, owner of the mine. Photo by Tullio Proni.) |
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Into the mine. |
The mine entrance is the lowest point in the mine so there is always a trickle of water coming out. The water can usually be avoided but sneakers are a bad idea. The entrance is also the lowest point as far as height goes with most of the tunnel having a 12'+ ceiling. In fact the thing that surprised me most was how big the tunnels and stopes were - claustrophobia was NOT a problem. |
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Entering the stope. |
Here we enter the stope. Behind Matthew (and 15' down) is the main shaft. We are about 1200' into the mountain. When the mine was producing copper in quantity the rock would be dropped through this hole and into the mine carts. Now, the owner (Richard Whiteman) mines the copper to sell to museum shops and at gem shows. This is a full-time business with the mining going on in the warmer months and the samples being cleaned and prepared during the winter. |
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Working away in the mine. |
Looking back toward the main shaft from the face. Though it is hard to tell we are 100' up a 45 degree slope. The rubble on the ground are the results of blasting and this is where most of our party found their copper. I had to do it the hard way and actually chiseled my piece out of the rock face. Finding copper here is easy but finding "The big one" was not. Several weeks earlier a group found (and brought out) a 200 pounder! |
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Guy finds the big one. |
This is a big one; however Guy does not get to take it home. The mine owner left it there to show us what to look for. Just the part that has been dug out is well over 200 lbs. Other than this piece though anything that we could find AND haul out (without using the mine carts) we could keep. I figure I hauled out something like 20 pounds of pure copper. But I'm going back this year to look for "The big one". |
