Miller Asbestos Mine

This is the H. V. M. Miller Asbestos Mine, which was originally worked in the 1890s. Interestingly, it is at a location where I have spent some time botanizing over the years, photographing plants that grow in the unusual ultramafic olivine environment here. I was familiar with some of the smaller cuts and one long trench, but just thought they were from an old prospect. But when I found a layout of the old mine, I realized I had never seen the main mine works, which included two long trenches and a few adits and shafts. I wasn't expecting to see much after 130+ years, but made some interesting finds.

Trench A The smallest of the three major mine trenches here.

I was familiar with this trench, having walked through or across it many times while botanizing here.

One more section of Trench A, with exposed dunite rock.

Trench B By far the largest of the mine trenches here.

Dug by hand (aided by black powder) through solid rock...

...it goes up, over, and then down through the main ridge.

I knew from the mine layout that there had been an adit tunneled in this trench, although I didn't expect to find anything 133 years later. But what is this hole in the bottom of the trench wall?

A closer look shows that the hole goes down quite a ways.

Reaching down with a light revealed that a tunnel opens up below. It's too bad that the adit mouth has collapsed, leaving an opening too small to enter. And the collapse is mostly rock, so I won't be digging it out! Interestingly, there was a draft of warm air emanating from the hole.

On my way to the next trench, I almost walked into this big Joro spider (and its prey). It's only the third one I've seen as they've migrated up to the mountains.

This huge tree was growing at the head of a mine cut. It looked like there might be a chamber in there, but the roots obstructed any entry.

Trench C is at the far end of the ridge. I knew from the mine layout that there was a shaft here. I found it behind the rock at the center of this photo.

Looking down into the shaft in Trench C. It has long been collapsed, and is filled with rubble.

Old drill marks in rock, trench C.

Side wall of trench C

Folding on a boulder (probably gneiss) adjacent to trench C.

Further along trench C, I spotted another opening in the lower wall.

Moving in for a closer look...

It appears to be the opening to another adit...

...but, once again, the rock had collapsed, making it inaccessible.

Approaching the western end of trench C.

Seeing the size of the rocks in these trenches, it's hard to believe that the mining operations were done without mechanized equipment.

Rock wall from down in the end of trench C

Eastern Teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens

What I commonly call Witch's Butter It's either true Witch's Butter (Tremella mesenterica) or Golden Ear (Naematelia aurantia).

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