18th March 2015 King Mine, Churchill

[bagpuss]

Present: Dave, Steve, Darren, Jon, Adam

I'm not a big fan of mines, but the promise of amphibian life & crystals lured me in. Due to various health issues it's been a while since I've been underground and this was just the gentle re-introduction I needed.

Jon who organised the trip did a sterling job of locating the mine entrance in the half light, the woods were looking lovely with all the wild garlic popping up. I sat back whilst Jon/Dave rigged the entrance enjoying the bats which were enjoying the insects attracted by our lamps, one came so close I felt the air on my ear as it flew past, nice to see them out of hibernation enjoying the spring temperatures.

There's a short pitch into the cave which is more of a slide down the slope using the ladder to aid the descent. Care needs to be taken at the bottom for broken glass and also the colony of smooth newts living down there (plus two frogs on this occasion!)

The mine/cave has some brilliant Dog Tooth Crystals (best I've ever see) and breaks into an impressive natural chamber.

According to the MCRA listing it was rediscovered in 2005.
http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=1091

An interesting shot trip, followed by a first trip to The Crown which was also well worth a visit!

[Cap'n Chris]

Impressive mineral colouration!

[mrdetail]

Enjoyable little trip - still more than enough to exhaust  me as still recovering from man flu.

The last time I was in KM, the main chamber was flooded to the ceiling:



Same shot this trip:



Colouration in this place was great:



Good box work down the 4m shaft:




Newt watched over us:

[Sid]

Please send some photos so I can add to the MCRA King Mine page. A good little trip and well done in finding the entrance.
Thanks

p.stillman (@) mcra.org.uk

[Pegasus]

Love the newt shots 

[mrdetail]

Love the newt shots 

I'd go back just for them :-)

[mrdetail]

Is it known whether the fox and rabbit skeletons were in situ when the mine was dug open in 2004?