Exploring Old Mines in Western North Carolina
NOTE: Entering ANY abandoned mine tunnel or shaft is extremely unsafe and dangerous. You should never enter a mine for ANY reason! While rockhounding
the mountains of Western North Carolina, you will encounter many old and
abandoned mines. I enjoy exploring, photographing and videotaping these
mines and viewing the tools, equipment, and critters that now inhabit
the mines. I do this to record the history of these mines through photography.
This is my personal choice, it is something I enjoy almost as much as
mineral collecting. Be aware that entering these
mines can be very dangerous. You face the chance of death or serious
injury by a cave-in. Lack of air in a deep mine can cause suffocation.
You may step into an open vertical shaft and drown or be unable to climb
back out and starve to death. If your light goes out in a deep mine, you
may become disoriented, get lost, and again starve to death. You might
encounter wildlife using the mine as a home. Bears, Mountain Lions, etc.
can become agitated at a nosey Rockhound poking around his house. You
may even suffer a horrible death from a rare airborne spore called Histoplasmosis found in many old mines! I strongly advise against
entering these old mines! I built this page to share with others
some of the things I have found in these mines. NOTE: Entering ANY abandoned mine tunnel or shaft is extremely unsafe and dangerous. You should never enter a mine for ANY reason! |