You wouldn't believe how much this reminds me of a former mine not too far from where I lived previously!

I'm not surprised--I imagine there are a few mines out your way! The big excavation in the foreground dates from the last precious-metal run-up in the 70s. The older stuff--spoil heaps and headframes--dates back as far as the latter 19th century. The large excavation in the middle distance is brand new, for gold.