Searching for Lost Mines in Southern Minnesota
Searching for Lost Mines in Southern Minnesota
In the late 1800s, there was something of a mining boom along the Minnesota River. Prospectors claimed to have found gold, as well as coal, and mining companies began digging for these minerals. Not much was ever produced, and several of the mines were likely investment swindles, but the mining did leave some ruins behind. I took a look to see what I could find from these historic operations.
I shot the 1968 flood high water sign off that steel framed bridge in 2011 with a .38 special. Didn’t think it would knock it off into the river.
They were all millionaires, they just had to get it out of the ground… Big waste of money. You were better off buying the miracle glasses, picking one of the churches to go to, and listen to the preacher tell it it like it is; Devil lurks in them woods my childs! Ain’t nobody found nothing, in them no good for nothing no good pits! Praise the Lord-a!
Loved it. My grandma s first husband was a coal miner. Back in the 20s and 30s. He passed away from black lung. Around 1941. My mom was 11yrs old and she was born 1930 in Minneapolis.
Why didn’t you save the truck for parts? Haha LOL haha
That truck is probably stolen. Did you notify police?
I love the adventure videos! Do more!
Many caves or tunnels along 169 between St. Peter and Mankato…. Most are visible from the Highway, but many have been covered…
Where are you at 10:43?
I’m gonna check out more of your videos!
If you haven’t already been here you will like this site:
https://cse.umn.edu/mgs/minnesota-geology
https://cse.umn.edu/mgs
That roch you have found is conglomerate,thanks for the video,just found it,keep going bro!
I’m from northern Minnesota so I see a lot of mines.
Love this! As soon as I read "late 1800s…Minnesota River…claimed to have found gold," I knew exactly where you were. I’m a history buff, too, and love researching, locating, and exploring sites in Minnesota, as well as other states. You created an enjoyable video! Thanks for sharing!
Really the only mineral to mine in the Minnesota River valley near Redwood Falls is kaolin clay. The largest known site estimated at 26 million tons sits mostly under the Redwood Falls airport. Kaolin sits in a bowl type structure of which some of one side is exposed near the Minnesota River and was mined. Other sites are known near by. One produced kaolin clay for a brick manufacturer which closed years ago. Google Earth does show some very small kaolin clay mining operations.
There are a number of products that kaolin clay is used in with the majority is used in paper and paint. Back in the early 1980s, a company out of Colorado did send a representative to look at developing a possible kaolin processing plant near North Redwood Falls. A viable railroad line was needed to ship out processed materials and bleach in. Bleach was used to whiten the clay. The rail line still exists but is not used much because of its condition. Local politics helped kill the kaolin processing plant which at that time would have employed 35 people and cost $85 million dollars to construct (1980 dollars).
thanks
Where were you at 10:35 I’ve been to gold mine which is pretty cool I would love to get locations to the other areas I love down that way and want to go explore more!! Great video definitely earned a subscriber.
There was some logging railroad lines in that driftless area of SE Minnesota. There was also some coal mined in NE Iowa years ago.
Until you FALL down the MINE SHAFT! 🤣
WOAH, did you see BIG FOOT! 👀
That was DINOSAUR POOP! 🤣
TURKEY DINNER! 👀
Are you from the area? I live along the Minnesota river and wonder where exactly you were hiking. I didn’t specifically recognize any of the places.
That was a really nice rock wall, some quality construction.
In places where there is limestone karst it’s normal to find things that look like human made pits in the bluffs like that. I’ve been to places where they look like big bomb craters, but it’s just a depression formed very slowly as water finds some crack to flow through and dissolves bedrock along the way. Fountain, which is in the southeast, claims 20 sinkholes per square mile. And features "Karst Brewing LLC".
Technically in this video you are saving old mines for parts so it still fits within the channel’s name as long as you take something from them like a piece of coal or rock to check for ore content ect…
Keep looking and you may find a razor blade