Old Silver Capital: Silver Mine Tour in Cobalt, Ontario

[Charline]

Join me on a journey through Canada's legendary silver town — Cobalt, Ontario — once known as the Silver Capital of the World.

https://youtu.be/_baHL8tNWvc

In this video, we explore: - The historic town of Cobalt, rich with mining heritage and rustic charm - A tour inside the Colonial Mine adit, one of the underground entrances used by early miners - Revealing the fluorescent indicator minerals such as calcite, erythrite, and willemite through a 365 nm UV flashlight - A breathtaking view from the scenic lookout, overlooking the rugged landscape that once produced vast quantities of silver - We also dive into the fascinating geology of silver mining, explaining key indicator minerals like: Calcite – a common gangue mineral Erythrite – also known as "Cobalt Bloom," a vivid purple-pink mineral that points to cobalt and silver deposits At the end, enjoy a curated slide show featuring: Beautiful specimens of silver ore, native silver, and cobaltite Indicator minerals up close Drill cores from historical exploration efforts *** Please take a look at some of my fine art photos from Cobalt Mining District National Historic Site and Temiskaming Shores at charlinex.com

[Shortsighted]

Interesting topic ... featuring it deserves a silver metal.  Going subterranean on a bright sunny day must be quite the transition, bats not included.  Was that your UV light, or the guide's light?  Did you wear a hard hat?  Do you know why calcite veins are a marker for silver?  Of course you do.  Cobalt was the silver capital of Canada and yet they called it 'Cobalt'.  Go figure.  Did you visit the saloon and order a silver cocktail?  There a few different kinds ... or so I've been told. 

[Charline]

Thanks for the comments.

It was my UV flashlight. The hat was provided by the mining museum.


Cobalt was the silver capital of the world, not just Canada.


I am not a drinker.

[Shortsighted]

Silver capital of the world ... I didn't realize it was that outstanding ... and no gold metal ... at all?  I'm glad to hear that you don't drink.  I'm not into cocktails or hard stuff but I do enjoy a cold beer on a hot day and I like to explore wine, never the same one twice, different producers and different vintage is what makes me curious.  Moreover, I have these small-bowl 80 year-old wine glasses that I half-fill.  Even a full glass will hold less than half as much wine as a modern wine glass.  But as the expression says: there is no safe level of alcohol.  The less the better.  Since you abstain completely it means you are better than me.  But we both knew that already.   

I may head up to the Alvar early on Monday, weather permitting.  There will be no drinking, just birding.  I promise.  The drive up there is very relaxing because there is so little traffic at 5 o'clock in the morning and what little there is, is going the other direction.  Coming back in the afternoon is dreadful ... farm machinery on the HWY, heavy gravel trucks, road demons, construction, ... I'm talking myself out of it,  aren't I?