The Mine Shafts Project. Hydrology.

The Old Ruminator

The Old Ruminator

Well-known member
The Tuesday Diggers down the mine this week. The Peter Pair and Uncle Brian at The Hole In The Wall. I was quarantined down at the stope alone as I felt unwell. You have to be careful with old people. Dug a metre out but not enough to get in. Here is Uncle Brian tipping spoil from the HITW dig.

 
The Old Ruminator

The Old Ruminator

Well-known member
Looking in to the stope. Why did I forget my selfie stick ? Its all small scale but here you see how they worked the white part of the lode to extract the copper bearing Chalcocite. The pinker part of the lode is basically Baryite. I really cant see how any of this paid off. Vast amounts removed to work a lode of 150mm width. Well then its not really a lode as such at all.



 
The Old Ruminator

The Old Ruminator

Well-known member
usual end of day view of The Hole In The Wall dig face. ( diggers retreated ) You can see the spar lode. The hypogenic development goes right across the face and through the lode. The probe goes on from here another five metres in small void and mud. We are ten metres in so progress from zero is quite good. Originally it was just a very small slit in the shaft wall.

 
The Old Ruminator

The Old Ruminator

Well-known member
Tuesday Diggers. Pushed the wheelbarrow of kit up the hill in blazing sunshine. Its too hot for this lark.
Down to the underhand stope. Left Uncle Brian and Peter to dig whilst I drilled five holes at The Hole In The Wall.

Got back to see Brian squeezing into the stope. Time for the one photo.



Well I would not have done it. As expected the stope was just standing room and four metres long partly blocked with deads. Nice working along the Chalcocite lode. Then the rather awkward scenario of getting Brian out again Hence no more photos.

Anyway I got that clever Gen AI to write this poem.

A silly old Dope called Brian
Got stuck in a stope without trying
His good mates about dragged him right out
A brave man popped out with no crying.

The future is in AI

Measured the shaft water. Rather disappointing this year ( in orange ). Cant see us digging the other shaft this year.



Well time for a Summer break now until later in August.
 
The Old Ruminator

The Old Ruminator

Well-known member
Searched for the missing shaft with an accomplished detectorist. One hot spot revealed this artifact which I took to be a wheelbarrow wheel. I need to check the track size that we have in the mine. Our mine expert reckons that mine barrows had wooden wheels so I dont really know. Certainly I think that it is mine related. The sale at closure lists barrows and many other metal things together with the 12 ton bob. The shaft not located so more pattern drilling I guess. Hope to be back digging again soon.

 
The Old Ruminator

The Old Ruminator

Well-known member
Return of The Friday Nighters as the other one has been caving in Spain for two weeks. Should be lots for The Tuesday Diggers to do next week. Sadly I am in both teams.
 
The Old Ruminator

The Old Ruminator

Well-known member
Yes a twin team approach this week moving a mass of rocks etc from The Hole In The Wall. Now this is fine if you are not the singular member of both teams. So The Tuesday Diggers dug and hauled all day to be relieved by the missing %50 of The Friday Nighters. I stayed underground to cover the overlap. Today I feel like sh-- ( well you know ). I am 77 next month and should be taking up golf.
Lots of Byrite and Chalcocite came from the lode which the miners missed. Here is some copper bearing Chalcocite that the miners missed. No digging photos. Too busy.

 
The Old Ruminator

The Old Ruminator

Well-known member
The Hole In The Wall. In green 10m above The Dining Room Dig. The lower dig looses the lode which dips away to the east and ends below winter water levels. THITW can follow the lode and hopefully intercept the mythical caverns and other cavaties found by the miners. Numbers are depths below the entrance.

 
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