Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Very interesting gold/silver mine with regular tours in the summer.
22 images.
Pat

#1

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#2

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#3-Modern Hoist House

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#4-Early days of drilling. 2 man jack (one guy holds and rotates the bit and the other guy swings the hammer). The guy in the black jacket is bending a rail for the ore car. See the next image for the rail bending apparatus.

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#5-Rail bender

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#6-Mine guide demonstrating air powered drill. The drill moves forward by turning the handle on the back end. The large vertical pipe is wedged in, tightly and holds the drill.

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#7-This drill is pushed forward by the cylinder that is between her legs.

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#8-After the holes are drilled, the dynamite is loaded into the holes. Ready to go boom. There is a firing order.

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#9-Air powered mucking machine and ore car. The mucker loads up the rock after blasting, into the ore car. As the mucker advances, the rails must be added.

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Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

The next two images is a slushing setup. It moves the blasted ore from the back wall towards the machine. One side of the double winch is attached by cable to the front of the scraper/bucket. The other winch cable goes to the back wall thru a pulley and is attached to the back of the scraper/bucket. The scraper/bucket is designed to dig into the ore when pulled towards the winch, thus pulling ore towards the winch. When pulled towards the back wall, the scraper/bucket rides over the top of the ore. I show why they do this shortly.

#10

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#11

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#12-Chasing a vertical vein, looking upwards. Or, mining up. When you do this, I think it is called a stope. Please correct me if I’m wrong. Miners are drilling overhead with dust or mud raining down on them (depending on the technology at the time).

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#13-The round looking car is an air pressured powered locomotive. Used in mining to move ore cars. In this image, it is attached to people moving cars.

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#14-This image ties it all together. Mining, using gravity to work for them.

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#15-Work shop in the mine.

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#16-This area was the miner’s lunch area. In the early days, this was the stable for the donkeys that move the ore cars around. The yellow thing above is part of the ventilation system.

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#17-This sign is above a new cut or drift, that was made as a mine tour improvement. This image shows vein of gold rich, ore.

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Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

This is the complete description for Image #17
This sign is above a new cut or drift, that was made as a mine tour improvement. This image shows vein of gold rich, ore. This was about 3-4 feet from original mine. Sitting there all these years and nobody knew it. This is what the miners would go vertical to chase this vein as far as it would go. This vein will never be mined as all the current rules/mining laws make it too expensive or just prohibitive. Even at today’s gold prices.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

This next series is the old way of bringing ore up out of a hole and dumping the bucket. In the first image, the important part to watch is the bucket with the chain & flat washer attached to the bottom and to the right of the bucket, the vertical metal plate with small chains attached. Also, in the lower right corner of the image is the top of an ore car. This series of images will show the action.
That's it, 22 images.
Pat

#18

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#19

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#20

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#21

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#22

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RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

Good set. Thanks for taking us there.

Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL

Great series, Pat. You covered the tour very well...so I guess I can strike it off my bucket list.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I’ve toured a lot of mines in Colorado and this one rates at the top.
There is more to experience in the mine.
Lots of old mining equipment on display around the grounds.
Lots of things to explore in and around Cripple Creek.
Pat

Cruisincpt Loc: Breaux Bridge, La.

Well done Pat, thank you. I believe my wife, son, and I went in this mine 25-30 years ago on our first trip to CO. Thanks for the memories.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I hope you came back to see the rest of the images.
Pat

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Thanks, for looking!
Pat

twiceeagles

That was very nice, Pat. My son went down there years ago. I was chicken. Always wondered what it was like, but not enough to go down in it. Thanks.

rlaugh Loc: Michigan & Florida

Excellent set!!

GalaxyCat Loc: Boston, MA

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Cool! Thanks for posting.

Cruisincpt Loc: Breaux Bridge, La.

Do they still use a two level elevator? They packed us in like sardines.