A curious question

[Lone Ranger]

Well, I will openly admit that albeit I have explored a lot of mines, I really don't know what drove those ol' buggers to start a shaft in the first place.

Modern day mining is a lot more simple, fly over with a magnatometer (sp) and then start taking core samples of sections that are more dense than those around them, but go back 100+ years and that technology wasn't even dreamed of yet.

I have never taken any courses on geology or mining (albeit, in a perfect world I'd have the time and money to do everything I'd like to) so I don't have much of a clue what would spur someone to start digging/blasting a hole in the side of a rock face. Is it shear guessing knowing that there have been other finds in the area, or did those ol' boys really know their geology that well?

Take for instance this shaft that KootenayCat1 shows:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/kootenaycat/SalmoConsolidatedentrance.jpg

To me it looks like just about any other rock face around, but maybe there was an exposed quartz vien or something originally?

For now I just explore these shafts because its something I love to do, but its always something that I've been curious about and I always like learning something new. Cheers

[kootenaycat1]

I asked a hardrock miner one day out quadding what would make these guys start drilling and blasting where they did 100+ years ago. He said they would see an "outcropping" which would look like a seam that was different from the rocks around it. I don't know the proper terms, but they would know that gold is associated with a certain type, and silver with another, etc.

Also heard that prospectors used to set forest fires, then come back at another date and look for these outcrops after the ground cover had been burned off! Makes sense 100 years ago, no civilization around to harm, and fire is a natural process in a forest, and of course a lot easier to glass a hillside all at once rather then walk every square foot of it!

Some of the old mines I've been to absolutely amaze me where these old timers worked. There are lots of mines at 7000' +, bored into the hill side right in the path of avalanches, narrow pack trails on near vertical cliffs! I definitely have respect for those guys who worked their a$$' off for enough money to live in the next town for a few weeks boozin and hangin in the brothels!

This is Mt. McKinnon near Revelstoke, elevation 8000'+
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/kootenaycat/MtMcKinnon.jpg

This is the entrance to the Teddy Glacier Mine right beside Mt.McKinnon, portal elevation is about 7300' and covered in snow from Oct to July!!! Tell me how they ever found this one, 100 years ago!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/kootenaycat/TeddyGlaciermineentrance3.jpg

[Lone Ranger]

Yeah, its pretty amazing eh?

One that comes to mind is the Kicking Horse/Monarch Mine site in Field, BC. You an see them on each side of the valley about half way up the mountain (on a scree slope) and holes bored into the rock outcroppings at the top of the slides. Would be a terrible climb to get to them!!

They definately were an incredible bunch of people I tell you..

[Spencer M]

For sure! Talk about a lot of work getting all that rubish out of the mine shafts. And when you are looking for the shaft, somtimes you gotta look for the tailings or evidence of previous activity. Not always easy to see, but when you find the shaft, it sure feels great!

As soon as this summer comes (or the snow melts) I am game for any mine exploration. Around the lower mainland mind you, caves/mines are hard to come by. The kootenay's on the other hand are full of them!

[kootenaycat1]

Originally posted by Spencer M


As soon as this summer comes (or the snow melts) I am game for any mine exploration. Around the lower mainland mind you, caves/mines are hard to come by. The kootenay's on the other hand are full of them!

You bet they are! Can't wait 'til the snow melts! Going to be at least April-May before we can head out to explore the lower elevation ones, and mid July before getting up to the 7000' plus levels. And it's snowing again as I speak! Good thing I've got a sled, otherwise I'd be cursing right now!

[Spencer M]

Do you re-jet for the higher elevations?
Once I get settled in the powerline technician trade, I'd hope to move up to the Kootenay's and see how things are up there.

Maybe I'll meet you in a cave? haha

Cheers

[kootenaycat1]

SpencerM, I have never rejetted for up to 7600', 4 strokes aren't effected as much as 2 strokes. My '99 400 Xplorer was a dog above 6000', but my '02 Kodiak performs about the same, not much noticable lack of power up high.

And they're called "adits", not caves! :D And yah, this summer you'll more then likely find me either in one or looking for one!

Actually, I guess there are some natural caves here too, Cody Caves park north of Nelson, haven't been in there since I was a kid before they privatized/commercialized it. My Dad used to take me in there, was pretty cool!