If some of you have not been informed, I am working on a mapping project where me and a partner are mapping the gypsum mine on chicago drive. Since the last map is really out dated and missing many new features we were tasked to update the map to make a more usable map for geology field trips and for the mine owner. The mine is now currently a natural temperature controlled storage facility and we were tasked to map cave ins, flooded tunnels, new tunnels created and geologic features. While doing this, there was some pretty cool things that we found in the mine. Some of the stuff that we found was brand new, really old medical supplies that were collecting dust and about 30-40 years old. This stuff would be thrown out if they made an effort to do so, so we just took some of the bottles. Some of the cool things were the penicillin tablets, the eye and nose drops and of course LAXATIVES. The laxatives are shaped strangely identical to brown M&M's....mom and dad, watch out for your candy dishes, they could be booby-trapped. Other things found was table salt and Sulfadiazine, which i have no idea what it is (help me out here Scott's brain) and since it was made so long ago, there was no need for explanation on the label.
The one really cool thing that I found was part of an old dynamite box. Since the mine was closed over 50 years ago it was cool to find some of the original dynamite box. It looked as just a piece of wood but when I picked it up, I could faintly make out some lettering and had suspect that it was part of a dynamite box. I had to do a bit of cleaning but it looks pretty awesome I think.
The last thing that collected was poop. Yes, lots of lots of fossilized poop lies in a thing sand layer down in the mines. There were large poops, small poops and wavy poops. I collected them all. Because you just gotta have a variety of poop in your geology collection.
All in all, there is some pretty cool things down in the mine including some really old Campbells chicken noodle soup. Pallets full of unopened soup completely rusted.
Lesson of the future. If there is ever nuclear fall-out GET TO THE MINE. They have a 100 meter tunnel filled with Founders beer kegs, barrels. They have gratuitous amounts of powdered milk, bacon bits and sketchy oil barrels full of concentrated fruit punch. Mmmmmm. I could used a Oil barrel full of Fruit Punch.
