Update on progress at Force Crag :

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/130099.aspx?lang=_e 

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Sounds like a good reason for the Coal Authority not to get involved in metalliferous mines.....

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I don’t know if the EA/National Trust are any better at allowing access. They’ve also got the reputation for not allowing you near anything that’s slightly dodgy- Odin Mine for example!
I also don’t know how sensitive this system is to sediment. They’ve not released any more details about what they’re doing, but I imagine a lot of mine explorers stirring up sediment is going to block filters ect and stop the process from working. We may find as a result of this that they’ll start blocking access on the basis of contamination.

Simon can tell you how expensive water filters are to replace when somebody manages to fill them with sediment…
:lol:

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I don’t know if the EA/National Trust are any better at allowing access. They’ve also got the reputation for not allowing you near anything that’s slightly dodgy- Odin Mine for example!
I also don’t know how sensitive this system is to sediment. They’ve not released any more details about what they’re doing, but I imagine a lot of mine explorers stirring up sediment is going to block filters ect and stop the process from working. We may find as a result of this that they’ll start blocking access on the basis of contamination.

Simon can tell you how expensive water filters are to replace when somebody manages to fill them with sediment…
:lol:

If I remember rightly the nasty stuff in Force Crag is coming out of the bottom level which is flooded, and the one above which is in-accesable.
Visits by mine explorers have little impact.

The pilot plant for zinc treatment of the minewater will be operational for a year and takes water from level1. there is an influent and effluent sampling point to assess the efficiency of the passive treatment facility and flows from both the blocked level 0 and level 1 will continue to be recorded.
I dont see exploration of the mine to be a problem providing that there is no disturbance of any structures. The filter media is not expensive - see newcastle University Adam jarvis for more info. The laporte incline has been washed clean down the middle, so tramping up and down here will cause minimum disturbance.
I recommend people contact the national Trust as a matter of courtesy to let them know when there are visits ( John malley) as the national trust have plans to drill and dewater the backlog of water building up behind level 0 next year.

Thanks for the update on this- out of interest where did you find out about it from? When I looked into it a while ago I couldn’t find much about the filter systems they were planning on using.

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Sounds exactly the same as the filter system that has been in place at Rampgill entrance, Nenthead for the last 11 months.
It presents absolutely no problems at all, and from what Newcastle Uni tell us, has been quite a successful project.

the treatment system at rampgill and Cwm Rheidol (Wales) is based on an anaerobic , alkaline system to neutralise pH and encourage bacterial sulphate reduction to immobilise the metals and is working well at nenthead. The Force Crag system will be different because the water chemistry is different - lots of iron, , neutral to acid conditions and low sulphate.
The plan is to using iron hydroxide ( from the Coal authority plant at Great Clifton) in a highsurface media of two trial tanks on which zinc and cadmium can be sorbed and removed from solution. The two tanks will be monitored and used in rotation and the iron concentration should ensure the system is passive and self-perpetuating.
if the system works , there may be plans for large scale treatment at Force Crag and pilot treatment at other metal mines in Cumbria .

I've had close involvement with the national trust with my work. I understand that there will be investigations of mines in Newlands valley, Gategill and oniston copper by the Environment Agency to investigate water quality problems .

Does any one know if the monitoring system is just on the lower adits or has anything been setup within the mine?

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There is no monitoring system in the mine. Flow and quality are measured outside . Flow from automated pressure transducers and water quality sampled manually. flow x quality =loading. useful to get estimate quantity/tonnage of metals into the water system.
Any work in the mine would require an operators licence from HSE, hence no guages inside the levels. Water samples have been taken taken from behind the radon wall and at other locations.
In heavy rainfall theres literally a waterfall into the open stopes at level 7. It may be drier in the future if NT deceide to intercept and divert water from entering the levels. The Mountain rescue/mine rescue did a mock rescue abseiling from level 7 last year.
The crown hole above level 0 seems to be discharging more water than the adit itself, which seems to suggest that water build up behind the blockage is building up. this is why NT are keen to relieve th ewater pressure and avoid a blow out.

Thanks for that update 🙂

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Hello there.

I'm planning a trip to the Lake District in the next couple of weeks and like the sound of a trip into Force Crag. Are there any access restrictions? Do I need to ask for permission and get a key or something?

Thanks in advance
Rhys

Hi Rhys,
The Force Crag through trip is very interesting.
Normal practice is to enter at High Force level, going up the so called Burma Road- named after the one used in the far east to supply the Chinese from India! It was probably built about the same time! i.e. 1942/3 I understand that during the barytes mining operations a land rover took the miners up there everyday.
After entering a sump leads, eventually to the top of the Laporte Incline which eventually exits at no 3 level.

some shots in Force crag mine:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterandphyll/sets/72157624186296787/detail/ 

Beware if doing the through trip, the ladders and false flooring at the top (as you come out into High Force level) are rather dodgy.

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Thanks for the extra info... what I really need to know is:

"Are there any access restrictions? Do I need to ask for permission and get a key or something?"

Is it open or gated?

Rhys

Surely someone knows the answer...

A personal message would be fine.

The mine is not gated. Access can be gained via level 3 or by abseiling in from the higher open stopes (level7). I would avoid entry after severe rain.
National Trust own the mine and therfore access to it should be gained from them

No 3 level is open but walled up (please leave it this way to keep out NUMPs , non underground members of the public) High Force cross cut is open, crawl left brings you to the big drop shaft and crawl right is to the very tight start of the through trip, the top ladders have been re-roped for safety. Access is delicate, best not to be seen by any wardens or workers at the mill. Take care as the mine has not aged very well.

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