English: The Combination Shaft, located near Virginia City, began in 1875 when the owners of the Chollar-Potosi, Hale & Corcross and the Savage mines combined their efforts to sink a shaft to explore the Comstock Lode at a greater depth. The Combination was the deepest shaft ever sunk on the Comstock, reaching a depth of 3,250 feet. This photograph shows the opening to the shaft as it appeared in 2012 before the closure work began. The scorched beams are relics of the fires that burned the shaft collar and timbers in the 1950s. The fire was reportedly caused by a stolen sports car that was torched and pushed into the shafts. Other accounts say the scorching was caused by lightning.