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Abandoned Mine Safety By Robert Mitchell AZOD Prospecting Section Leader In my 13 years of volunteer service to the citizens of Arizona in the specific area of abandoned mine search and rescue operations, one overwhelming fact is apparent. The victims rarely recognize the dangers that lie in and around an ageing mine. As outdoor enthusiasts we are all faced with the real possibilities of becoming victims of Arizona’s rich and historic mining history. Most victims give into the urge to explore the dark tunnels in search of relics, riches, or adrenaline. There are plenty of dangers that are bound to get the adrenaline flowing underground. For example, poisonous gas, falling rocks, or the ever-present danger of stepping on aged explosives will surely get your blood flowing. Very few of the thousands of mines, however, actually made profits, let alone still contain riches of any type. The need for steel to fight World War II cleared out most antiques, narrow gauge tracks, and relics. I’ve documented around eight thousand mines and never found an intact ore car, so forget about locating one of them also. Many victims simply lean over the edge (portal) trying to see how deep the mine really is. Due to the rock having been blasted, and exposed to years of decomposition, the portals of abandoned mines are very unstable. Most mines have a deep layer of mine tailings encircling the portal. It takes very little weight to dislodge tons of rock around the rim. It may not even be discernable that the portal has grown unstable until the entire edge suddenly gives way to gravity. Anyone standing on or near it will also succumb to the forces of gravity and be swallowed into the darkness of an unknown depth. A person simply leaning over to see how deep the mine is has unknowingly exposed themselves and any others in close proximity to likely being my next rescue mission. Or what we call a recovery! With an estimated 200,000 abandoned mines and prospects in Arizona, it is very likely that you will come across them during your travels. Whether hunting, fishing, hiking or any other outdoor activity, you may be faced one day with the desire to do some underground exploring. My hope in writing this article is to empower you to recognize the dangers and make the right choice of staying out and staying alive. The primary danger is the fall potential both near the entrance and underground from vertical shafts (winzes). Winzes are often dug right in the middle of the tunnel (drift). Many dangers are unseen such as poisonous gases and leftover explosives buried in the trash and debris. During one survey / mapping trip, two teenage boys met up with me almost a mile from the entrance. After I introduced myself, they asked me to take a look at some things they had found. They mentioned a side drift where they had lost their breath in which these small metal things with wires sticking out were just lying all around in the rubble. They produced several of these items from their pockets for me to see. I explained to them why they were lucky to still be alive. The drift they had chosen to explore gets no ventilation. It contains a large volume of CO2, a colorless, odorless gas that displaces oxygen. While starving themselves of oxygen, they were also crawling over mounds of broken rock with the small metal objects (blasting caps) strewn all about. I safely disposed of the blasting caps for them. Had the barometric pressure not been so high that day, the ending to their odyssey would have been very different. A high pressure system can greatly affect the detectable amount of CO2. A visitor can be overcome by the gas with a simple atmospheric pressure change on the surface. High pressure tends to press the CO2 down into the lower reaches of a mine. It can even force the gas into fissures in the rock caused by the blasting. If a low pressure system had moved over the area while the boys were in that drift the CO2 would have expanded in volume and probably overcome them. It only takes a few seconds in such a situation to be incapacitated, followed closely by death. A short little jaunt into the darkness turns deadly all too often. Who will be our next victim? I hope it’s not you! If you just can’t ignore the temptation to enter an abandoned mine, at least follow these basic rules. Take at least three quality sources of light with you. A cigarette lighter doesn’t count. If you sense a stale taste to the air, turn and leave immediately. This is a sign of poor ventilation. It may be your only warning before losing consciousness due to CO2 or other gases. I am a senior member of a highly-trained, all volunteer search and rescue team. We regularly train to respond to abandoned mine incidents, as well as other technical rescue situations. Our members put in thousands of hours yearly in order to serve you, the public, at no cost. As we survive entirely through donations from the public and a few gracious corporations, I strongly encourage you to donate services or funds to your local volunteer Search and Rescue team. Although often dispatched by the local law enforcement agency, the unpaid professionals on these teams depend on support from you, the public, in order to provide all their quality services. For more information on mine safety, or to find out about your local Search and Rescue team, please contact us through email at MCSOTRP@cox.net. Stay Safe! - AZOD -
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