Mine dives

[rjack321]

I'm reposting this here from another board. We did these dives last summer. Flooded mines (at least around here) are sorta like a cross between a cave (the rock parts) and a wreck (the human artifact parts).

This particular mine was actively worked from ~1900 to 1930-ish for copper. I suspect the drop in commodities prices with the Great Depression forced it to shut down. Various owners tried restarting it a few times but its now essentially abandoned.

Dive 1 - August 1, 2009
Objective
Initial Exploration of Mine 1, Entrance 1- search for 2 of 3 passageways at or above 100ffw
mix 32%

Results:
Max depth: 91ffw
Water temp: ~42f
Line laid: 120'
Found passage 1 - 35ffw
Found passage 2 - 76ffw




Dive 2 - August 23, 2009
Objective
Search for 3rd passageway at or above 200ffw (we believe the passageway to be at ~175ffw)
mix 18/45 + EAN50 and O2

Alternate objective
Explore second entrance with passages between 45ffw and 100ffw

Results
Max depth: 115ffw
Water temp: ~42f
Found passage 3 - 53ffw
Found passage 4 - 115ffw (south)
Found passage 5 - 115ffw (north)



Despite historical records to the contrary the bottom of this mine isn't all that deep. Probably because the historical records were written by enthusiastic promotors of the mine who were attempting to show how viable and investment worthy the endeavor was. While we weren't the first people to ever dive here, there are no more passages to explore at this point and DNR has gated the access road a long way away due to ATV use in the area. It may open again in the future, we don't know. Right now its unrealistic to dive here again.

We are planning a different mine expedition in May, but right now the new mine area is under a considerable amount of snow. I tried but wasn't able to scope it out last fall and it may or may not "go". Stay tuned.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Sounds like a cool project. I hope you guys can get back in there.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I think "yt" are the correct YouTube tag extensions for ScubaBoard, but I can't remember for sure.



Ninja Edit: Yeah, just use yt, and just put the video code between the tags, not the entire web address. Quote me if you need to see how its layed out.

 

[LiteHedded]

that's so awesome

 

[rjack321]

Thanks guys, thought you'd like something different. I fixed the "yt" links. Why does every board have to be different??

We are hoping to get into the new mine in May once the snow's melted. We've got a bunch of other dives and projects going in 2010 and the new mine is 5+hrs away from here. So for right now we only have one long weekend planned. Limeyx should be able to get better, brighter HD video. Jeanna does an awesome job with her point and shoot and only a 10W HID, but we're upping the ante this time.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Looking forward to more, whatever it ends up being. Always good to hear about different types of dives.

 

[Cave Diver]

Very cool! How about a little perspective on differences in prepping for this vs. a cave dive and some unique dangers to the mine environment that you had to take in to consideration.

Logistical issues? Dragging gear down a tunnel to get to the flooded part, etc.

 

[rjack321]

Yeah the whole "cave-in" factor is scary, no doubt about it. Here's the cliff notes version of how this sorta went down... You get a sense for the "progression penetration" at work here.

First time I drive up to the general area with my wife. Nothing, directions don't make any sense, we can't even find the road. (Sound familar AZ_Techdiver? Just like MX

Second time my dive buddies and I trek up there with 4WD. We get close in the truck but are nervous about a washout. We have tanks, but have to hike the last 1/3rd of a mile on the road. Poof mine, just no gear. We walk in but hadn't realized how deep (knee to waist) or cold (40f?) the water would be. We are in shorts, climbing over floating timbers in zero vis mucky water wearing sneakers. We head out after getting to a raise (vertical shaft going up). So far the actual rock in the tunnels is solid, granitic of some type. Barely any shoring holding things up (a very good sign). The water beyond the raise was just too deep for shorts and we were way too cold. The raise has some shoring but its just holding up a pile of gravel on top, seems to be mostly for protecting your head from stuff falling from above. 200ft walking penetration 1 frog seen (water quality must be "ok") and some rocks...

3rd time we get a better 4WD drive (the white one in the video) & helper sherpas to haul us in there. We bring 32% cause its cheap and we had no idea if this goes anywhere. We haul the tanks in wearing drysuits but with no undies cause its sweltering. We get past the raise now since we're not in shorts. Hiking 400ft with doubles over logs and on old railroad tracks in the flooded floor is scary. Broken legs seem like our biggest risk in this section

Dive 1 we get into the incline shaft and just standing there the vis goes to zero. The timbers framing the shaft are huge (18"+) but they are not rotted nor do they really seem to be holding anything up? Hmmm this is going to be interesting....

I led down and surprisingly the vis opens up below about 20ft. The timbers are anoxic there and so there's less fluffy brown tannic stuff coming off of them. The incline shaft has little incline, 120-130ft of line laid with a max depth of ~95ft. Nearly straight down. Couple little side passages found that were ~1 body length. No shoring holding those ceilings up is inspiring. We video the air/compressor driven pump at about 90ft. Looking down its just a black hole, wow this really "goes"! Not much else to do but go up. ~25min dive, but dang this feels cold with all the sweat we worked up getting in here. Min deco 40,30,20,10ft stop ascent. Not really necessary to pad the deco, altitude is <2500ft.

Next month we return... (I'll write more when I have a chance.)

 

[Cave Diver]

1 frog seen (water quality must be "ok") and some rocks...

Frogs: The amphibious equivalent of canaries.

 

[rjack321]

Frogs: The amphibious equivalent of canaries.

Cave diver equivalent! We actually saw quite a few frogs in there and a couple salamanders. There's basically a stream flowing out the portal (surface opening). Poor water quality was an initial concern but if semipermeable skinned critters are doing well it can't be that bad for us in drysuits etc.