This Fascinating Colorado Mine Has Been Abandoned And Reclaimed By Nature For Decades Now
If you have ever driven on I-70 near Denver, you have almost certainly passed the small and charming town of Idaho Springs and the eye-catching mountainside Argo Mine. While the building itself seems solid and in-tact, there is one part of it that few have seen, as it is decaying and becoming reclaimed by Mother Nature:
Located 4 1/2 miles from the Idaho Springs gold mill, the Argo Tunnel transported the mine's drainage before being condemned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Once a vital part of mining operations, the old Argo Tunnel delivered diverted water via its underground passageways and also provided another point of entry for the mines.
Unfortunately, the Argo Tunnel did more than it was supposed to, as its drainage was full of toxic metals and severely polluted nearby Clear Creek (pictured), turning the stream orange from the so-called acid water.
Though mining operations ceased for good during WWII, the Argo Tunnel still underwent renovations and upgrades to keep it from leaking toxins into nearby clean water, a la a nearby water treatment facility, and a high-pressure bulkhead installed near the entrance.
