Vanadium King Mine

Rail Structure leading from the adits

The Vanadium King Mine was mined sometime during the 1950s-1960s. Vanadium, Carnotite, Malachite, Metahewettite, and Metazeunerite were the primary commodities of this particular mine. Uranium was also pulled from this and the surrounding mines. Its supporting host rock was primarily Sandstone, Clay, Mud, and Mudstone. Once inside the mine, A large hydrothermal vein, has been stoped out leaving an immense tunnel, reaching about 35 feet high. The floor is a clean soft sand, left from spring runoff that flows through the mine. About 750 feet inside the mine arsenic bearing veins bleed through the ceiling. Hydrogen Sulfide can also be smelt throughout most of the mine. The air is dead do to the sealing off of all other portals. About 1500’ back a section of the tunnel has been undercut by another tunnel. A ladder leads down to the lower level, which reflecs the structure of the upper tunnel. All portals on the lower level are also sealed. About 1000' in, there is a seasonal spring which had a dark green color to it, which is the source of the Hydrogen Sulfide. An upper level of the mine also exists, but requires gear to get up to.

Inside the Vanadium King

The Vanadium King complex surprisingly still has a standing structure. The adit is large, about 10 feet high and 6 feet wide. The standard DOGM gate gaurds its entrance. Two bars on about 7 feet high appear to have recently been put in place, as the metal was still clean and had not yet had time to oxidize. A bar in the center had weak welds and had also been broken in the past.

Requirements

High Clearance Vehicle

Mine Exploration Gear including Gas Meter

Sturdy boots

Location

38.681255,-110.676559

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