I Turned 50 Pounds of Silver Ore Into Priceless Coins!

Ghost Town Living

10 Mar 202438:57

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this immersive video, the host embarks on a historical journey to revive the spirit of the 1800s mining town, Sarog Gordo. From the depths of the Union Mine, where Galina, a silver and lead ore, is extracted, the host meticulously retraces the ancient silver refining process. The adventure unfolds into three main acts: mining for silver, refining it, and finally, crafting coins akin to the ones used in the 1800s. The narrative is enriched by the discovery of a historic 'Sarog Store' coin, revealing a company currency system that once bound workers in debt. The host's hands-on experience, including a grueling 12-hour mining shift, offers a profound appreciation for the miners' arduous labor. The culmination of the journey is the creation of pure silver coins, symbolizing the town's past and future, with a portion of the coins being sold to fund the revival of the American Hotel, and a special giveaway for the viewers, encapsulating the spirit of adventure and gratitude.

Takeaways

🕵️ The video is set in the historic mining town of Sarog Gordo, where the narrator is exploring the process of transforming raw ore into pure silver coins, just as it was done in the 1800s.
🏭 The narrator is reviving the town and delving into its mining history, starting with the extraction of Galina, a silver and lead ore, from the Union Mine.
🔍 A significant discovery was made when a 'Sarog Store' coin was found, revealing the existence of company currency that was used as a form of debt bondage to control workers in the town.
⚒ The narrator experiences a 12-hour mining shift to empathize with the miners of the past, highlighting the grueling work conditions they faced.
🔨 The process of smelting is explained, which involves crushing the ore, adding flux, and heating it to separate the impurities from the lead and silver.
🔥 The Parks process is introduced as the method to refine the lead and silver into pure silver, using zinc to bind with the silver and separate it from the lead.
🛠 The narrator builds a workshop and collaborates with Nick Martinelli to recreate the coin minting process, using a fly press from 1908-1912.
🏨 The project is connected to the revival of the American Hotel, with the aim of using the recreated coins as a form of trade for a night's stay at the hotel.
👷 The team faces challenges such as snowstorms and logistical issues with the fly press, requiring adaptability and problem-solving.
🎉 The culmination of the project results in the creation of 100 silver coins and 29 copper coins, made from the materials found on-site.
🎁 The narrator plans to give away one of the silver coins and the copper coins, as a way to involve the audience and express gratitude for their support.

Q & A

What is the main mineral found in the Sarog Goro's Union mine?
-The main mineral found in the Sarog Goro's Union mine is Galena, which is a silver and lead ore.
What is the historical significance of the Sorogordo coin found during trenching for a waterline?
-The Sorogordo coin is historically significant because it represents a form of company currency that was used in the mining town, which was previously undocumented in the literature about the mine's 80-year history.
How did company script or company money work in mining towns?
-Company script was a form of credit extended by employers to their workers, used mainly in remote areas like mining camps and logging towns where access to regular stores was difficult. It functioned as a payday advance and helped companies maintain a monopoly over the workers' lives, as it was difficult to exchange the script for US currency outside the company town.
What was the daily wage for miners in the 1800s at the Union mine?
-Miners in the 1800s at the Union mine were paid $4 a day for working below ground and $3 a day for working above ground.
What was the process of smelting Galina to extract pure silver during the 1800s?
-The smelting process involved crushing Galina into egg-sized pieces, mixing it with silver quartz, and heating it to create a lead matte. This matte was then mixed with additional materials, including iron oxide and calcium carbonate, and heated in a furnace with charcoal. The molten lead carried other precious minerals, which were then separated from impurities like slag, leaving behind lead and silver.
What is the Parks process used for refining silver?
-The Parks process is a method used to refine silver by reheating the lead and silver mixture and introducing zinc. Zinc binds more readily with silver than with lead, forming a surface layer of zinc and silver that can be scraped off, further processed in a cupal to oxidize the zinc, and leave behind pure silver.
What challenges did the narrator face while trying to replicate the coin-making process?
-The narrator faced challenges such as the difficulty of working with a fly press, the need for constant annealing of the silver to make it soft enough to work with, and the intricacies of stamping the design onto the coins.
How did the narrator plan to use the copper from the old hotel's wreckage?
-The narrator planned to snip the copper wiring from the old hotel's wreckage, melt it down, and use it to create additional coins, symbolizing the transformation of the old into funding for the new hotel.
What was the narrator's plan for the 100 silver coins and 29 copper coins made from the old hotel's copper?
-The narrator planned to sell 98 of the silver coins as a fundraiser for the American Hotel, with each coin certificate being redeemable for one night's stay at the hotel. The remaining two silver coins were to be given away—one hidden in a book as part of a scavenger hunt and the other through a giveaway.
What is the narrator's final message to the viewers of the video?
-The narrator expresses gratitude to the viewers, thanking them for their support over the past four years and inviting them to visit Sarogordo. He also promotes his book 'Ghost Town Living' and the opportunity for viewers to own one of the commemorative coins.

Outlines

00:00

🏭 Underground Mining Adventure

In this paragraph, the narrator is exploring the Union mine in Sarog Goro, 500 feet underground, where the mineral Galena, a silver and lead ore, is found. The narrator holds a pure silver coin that was historically used in the mine. The video's agenda is outlined: to demonstrate the process of transforming raw ore into a pure silver coin using methods from the 1800s. The context includes the history of Sarog Goro as a silver boom town with thousands of residents and the importance of understanding mining history. The narrator's personal connection is shared, having moved to the area to revive and understand its history. The video is divided into three parts: mining for silver, refining it, and finally, coining it as they did in the 1800s. The inspiration for this project came from a historic find of a 'Sar store' coin behind the narrator's house, which was a form of company currency used in mining camps and company towns, revealing a history of debt bondage and company control over workers.

05:01

🔨 The Grueling 12-Hour Mining Shift

The narrator embarks on a 12-hour mining shift to experience firsthand the hard work of miners and to gather Galena ore. The process involves descending into the mine, attempting to extract the ore, and facing the challenges of the difficult and labor-intensive task. The narrator uses a rock drill and manual force to break off pieces of the ore. Despite the physical demands and the long hours, the narrator is motivated by the goal of obtaining enough ore to make coins. The experience gives the narrator a deeper appreciation for the miners' daily grind and the value of the materials they extract. The paragraph ends with the narrator reflecting on the miners' experience and the excitement of completing the first step in the coin-making process.

10:03

🔧 Transforming Ore into Pure Silver

This paragraph delves into the process of smelting, which is essential for converting raw ore into pure silver. The narrator describes the historical smelting process used in Sarog Goro during the 1800s, which involved crushing the Galena, mixing it with flux, and heating it to create a lead matte. The lead matte, containing impurities, was then treated further with additional materials to separate the lead and silver. The narrator follows these traditional methods, including the use of a furnace and charcoal, to refine the silver. The paragraph concludes with the narrator successfully creating lead and silver cones, which are a step closer to obtaining pure silver.

15:04

🛠 The Parks Process and Coin Crafting

The narrator introduces the Parks process, a method for refining silver further by introducing zinc, which binds more readily with silver than lead. This process involves heating the mixture and scraping off the zinc and silver, which are then placed in a cupal to oxidize, leaving behind pure silver. The narrator also discusses the construction of a workshop and the arrival of Nick Martinelli, who brings expertise and tools for coin making. The paragraph concludes with the preparation for the coining process, which includes melting the refined silver and rolling it out to the appropriate thickness for coin blanks.

20:05

🏨 The Revival of the American Hotel

The narrator discusses the creation of coins from the melted silver and the wreckage of the old hotel, symbolizing the transformation and revival of the area. The process of making coins is described, including the use of a fly press, which was a significant advancement in coin production since the 1500s. The narrator and Nick use this press to create coins that resemble the historical 'Sar store' coins found in the area. The paragraph concludes with the narrator's plan to give away one of the coins and a book to a viewer, symbolizing gratitude and the spirit of adventure.

25:05

🎉 Completing the Coin Making Process

The final paragraph details the completion of the coin-making process, where the narrator and Nick successfully create 100 silver coins and 29 copper coins. The coins are stamped with the design of the old 'Sar store' coin, and each comes with a certificate for a night's stay at the American Hotel, which is being funded by the sale of these coins. The narrator expresses gratitude to the viewers and invites them to visit Sarog Goro, emphasizing the community and adventure that the area represents.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Galena

Galena is a lead ore that contains significant amounts of silver. In the context of the video, Galena is the primary mineral being mined in the Sarog Goro's Union mine, which is the starting point of the journey to create a pure silver coin. The script mentions Galena as the raw material found underground, which is then processed through various stages to reach its final form as a coin.

💡Sarog Gordo

Sarog Gordo refers to a former mining town that was a Silver Boom Town in the 1800s. The video's narrator moved there to understand and revive its history. The town's history is integral to the video's theme as it provides the backdrop for the entire process of mining Galena, refining it, and making coins, just as it was done historically.

💡Smelting

Smelting is a metallurgical process used to extract base metals from their ores. In the video, smelting is a crucial step in transforming raw Galena ore into pure silver. The process involves heating the crushed Galena with fluxes to separate the valuable metals from impurities, creating a lead and silver concentrate.

💡Refining

Refining is the process of purifying a substance, often a metal, to achieve a higher degree of purity. In the video, the lead and silver obtained from smelting are further refined through various steps, including the use of the Parks process, which involves the introduction of zinc to bind with the silver and separate it from the lead.

💡Company Store

A Company Store is a type of retail store owned by a company, often selling goods on credit to its employees. In the script, the narrator discovers a 'Sarog Store' coin, which is a form of company currency used historically in mining towns like Sarog Gordo. This discovery is significant as it reveals a previously undocumented aspect of the town's history.

💡Debt Bondage

Debt bondage is a system where workers are in a state of servitude due to debts they owe to their employers. In the video, the narrator explains how company script or currency could lead to debt bondage, as workers could never fully repay their debts to the company, thus tying them to the company and the town.

💡Screw Press

A screw press is a device used for stamping out and pressing coins. The video discusses the historical use of screw presses in coin making since the 1500s. In the script, Nick brings a fly press, a type of screw press, to Sarog Gordo to recreate the coin making process as it was done historically in the town.

💡Annealing

Annealing is a heat treatment process that alters the physical properties of metal to make it softer and more workable. In the video, the process of annealing is necessary for the silver to be rolled out into thin sheets suitable for coin blanks. It is a time-consuming process that involves repeated heating and cooling of the metal.

💡Coin Blanks

Coin blanks are the uniform, round disks of metal that are used as the base material for making coins. In the video, once the silver has been refined and rolled into thin sheets, it is punched into coin blanks using a die press. These blanks are then ready to be stamped with the design to create the final coins.

💡Ghost Town

A ghost town is an abandoned city or town that was once populated but is now in ruins or deserted. Sarog Gordo is described as a former mining town, implying it is now a ghost town. The video's theme revolves around reviving the history of such a town and using its past to create something new, like the coins.

💡Fundraiser

A fundraiser is an event or activity organized to collect money for a specific cause. In the script, the narrator mentions selling 98 of the 100 coins made as a fundraiser for the American Hotel, indicating that the proceeds from the coin sales will contribute to the restoration or establishment of the hotel in the historical town.

Highlights

Exploration of the Sarog Goro's Union mine 500 ft underground to discover Galina, a silver and lead ore.

Historical context of Sarog Gordo as a Silver Boom Town in the 1800s with thousands of residents.

The process of transforming raw ore into pure silver coins using methods from the 1800s.

The discovery of a historic 'Sarog Store' coin, indicating the existence of company currency.

Explanation of company script as a form of credit and its implications for workers in mining towns.

The narrator's personal experience of a 12-hour mining shift to empathize with historical miners.

Assaying the ore for its value in terms of silver content.

The physical challenge and monotony of mining reflected upon after the 12-hour shift.

Smelting process to refine silver from the raw ore, similar to methods used in the 1800s.

Use of flux in smelting to promote fluidity and remove impurities.

The Parks process for further refining silver by binding with zinc.

Creation of a workshop for the refining process and adapting to weather conditions.

Collaboration with Nick Martinelli to recreate the coin minting process.

The use of a fly press, a significant advancement in coin making since the 1500s.

The entire process from mining to coining detailed, showcasing the labor and craftsmanship.

Introduction of a book 'Ghost Town Living' and a plan to hide a coin within it as a treasure hunt.

Fundraising effort through selling 98 of the 100 coins made, with certificates for a night at the American Hotel.

Gratitude expressed to the viewers and participants for their support over the years.

Transcripts

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Related Tags

Mining History Silver Ore Abandoned Town Craftsmanship Sarog Gordo Ghost Town Coin Making Historical Adventure Restoration Project Smelting Process