Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Thank you Angler!!!
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Thank you, Nalu for looking and commenting!!
I've seen one open pit SW of Salt Lake City. That is one huge hole!!
There is another one between Cripple Creek and Victor. I don't know if they are set up for visitors or not. Will check it out next summer.
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Thank you, Granbob!!!
I don't know how big this claim is (surface area). They put in a lot of shafts.
I like the info board that shows the underground shafts and tunnels.
Putting in a shaft just looks like hard work with not much room to work in.
Pat

cam20000 Loc: NH

Very Interesting & Love your tour!! Thank you for sharing Jay

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Thank you looking and commenting!!!
Technology, has progressed from a gold pan to open pits. All kinds of techniques have evolved over the years. They had plenty of challenges such as winters, accessibility, funds, etc.
Pat

cam20000 Loc: NH

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Leadville was just one of the many mining towns of the west that my family lived in while Dad worked in those dark dangerous mine- my father left the ranch in Pagosa Springs, CO at age 16 as close as I can figure that was around 1933- to work in the mine in Summitville,CO - I was born in '37 in Pagosa Springs,CO and family history tells me it was a constant move from one mine, mining town, state for the next 17 yrs.Icount 14 towns in 6 states with more than one mine worked in some of those towns,. In our early teens my brother ad I had the experience of going "under ground" on a few occasions when Dad would have to make sure things were ready for the crew on Monday morning in a small mine my father was running in Mullen. ID this is where I really learned I did not want to follow Dad's occupation.
i could go on and on with stories of my adventures as a son of a "Tramp Hard Rock Miner" but this is a photography forum.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I would love to hear them!! I'll bet others would too!
Also, are there mine tours and museums, SW of your area?
Pat

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Pat, the next time you are in Colorado, visit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. You can drool over some of the things that came out of some of those mines. Another museum close to you, is the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, located in Dallas. The interesting thing about the Perot, is that the 'rocks' on display, are owned by individuals, just on loan to the museum... enjoy!

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

Very interesting, Pat! Thanks for sharing!

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Hey Jay (and others ) If you get to the Florida area (especially Key West), be sure to visit the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West. Mel and his family have spent their lives investigating old Spanish Galleon wrecks in the area around Florida and world wide. They have a huge treasure trove of gold bullion, artifacts, old canons and pieces of old sailing ships (along with their history) in this museum. They had (and I don't know if they are still doing it after the robbery a couple of years ago) a gold bullion (brick) from one of the galleons that they explored and recovered. (The brick was in a plastic case that was designed for the visitors to be able to reach in and hold the brick to see how heavy it was. Someone managed to break the case and steal the bullion. http://keysnews.com/node/25682
The bar was recovered a few weeks later out of the country. They think that a group of thieves used a visiting cruise ship to transport them in and out of Key West. The ship that they used sailed about an hour before the discovery. They think that the thieves were among the last to return to the ship just before she sailed. They were caught and returned for prosecution. Great museum though and very camera friendly. Also, if you get there, be sure to visit the butterfly conservatory too. It has a very large building that is airlock controlled housing hundreds of live butterflies, birds and turtles in a very tropical setting. Visitors walk along trails through the building and see all kinds of butterflies and birds in their (semi) natural habitat. While its not mining it is a great area for photo ops when you are in the area.

Jim Carter Loc: Momence, Il.

Excellent series Pat. Thanks you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

There are two close by the Kennedy Mine surface tour in Jackson - seen in attached photo - and an underground one in Sutter Creek just 4 mi from the Kennedy i never been to either of them but do recommend them - there is an excellent "working" mine tour in Virginia City, NV that I have seen short videos of that is pretty authentic and the best I've seen is one in Wallace, ID that is totally authentic and very educational .

My first recollection of being near and in a mine portal was when I was about 3 or 4 (1940) we had moved from Virginia City,NV to Alleghany,CA small town in CA where dad got a job of running an exploratory drift (tunnel straight into the mountain side) the house we lived in was on the mountain away from the mine and every day when the house shook from Dad blasting Mom would start fixing dinner.
Alleghany is the site of the famous "16 to 1" gold mine - good history to read on it.