Thursday Nighters - 17th of May · AditNow Community

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Willy Eckerslyke
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

7 years ago

This week we have a trip to picturesque Cwm Pennant and a look at Gilfach Copper Mine. :)
There's a through trip if you bring SRT kit or plenty of interesting stuff to look at if you don't - especially if we fit in a wander up to the workings at Cwm Ciprwth. :thumbsup:

Everyone welcome. :flowers:
Meet before the bridge and gate here:
https://zoom.earth/#53.005762,-4.189251,18z,sat

"The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt, Robin"

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John_Smith
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

Another Thursday Nighter epic, thanks for a great trip!

danswift
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

Had a look at Gilfach on the way down from Cwm Ciprwth one day last year. I noticed bolts in the rock at the top where the stope breaks to daylight and also some very dodgy looking bolts on the middle level, do these drop down to the deep adit level where it looks like a load of wood has collapsed?

Hopefully have a bit more free time again soon and can pop along to a few of these.

lazyjason
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

The dodgy bolts were nothing compared to hanging doom that lay in wait below!;(. The collapsed wood at the end of the bottom adit is the rather narrow exit from the pitch.
I like the fact that they're aptly named "Coffin" tunnels!
I had a lovely time however & oh how I laughed. :lol::lol::thumbsup:

When the going gets tough.... Hide!!!

sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

Sorry I couldn't make it. I have issues. At work I mean, not personally!!

Anyone out and about Sunday?

Yma O Hyd....

Willy Eckerslyke
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

7 years ago

"sinker" wrote:
Anyone out and about Sunday?

I'll probably be looking at the old crocks at the Anglesey Vintage Rally.

"The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt, Robin"

sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

"Willy Eckerslyke" wrote:

"sinker" wrote:
Anyone out and about Sunday?

I'll probably be looking at the old crocks at the Anglesey Vintage Rally.

Might join you there, one more old crock to look at! :lol:

Yma O Hyd....

BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

A rough topo from 20 years ago!
https://www.aditnow.co.uk/documents/Gilfach-Copper-Mine/GilfachSection.pdf

Was at Cwm Cipwrth on Saturday. As far as I can make out, the only workings are the pumping shaft, and the other 2 flooded shafts nearby? Anyone know how deep/extensive the workings are ?

Willy Eckerslyke
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

7 years ago

Thanks, I printed out a copy of your plan then forgot to take it with me last Thursday. :-[
It doesn't look as if it's changed much.

"The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt, Robin"

danswift
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#10

If you walk in the adit at CC there is a flooded shaft that looks DEEP.

It is mentioned on penmorfa that Cwm Ciprwth was just a pumping station for Gilfach and they worked together as one mine?

BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#11

Hi Dan, Can't say I saw the adit. You mean actually at CC rather than Gilfach?

With regard to the Penmorfa article, I'm not convinced CC pumped Gilfach. True, there aren't any tailings on site, but the shaft (at least in it's restored interpretation) seems to have been both a pumping and winding shaft. Also the shaft is flooded to about 10' below shaft collar, so if linked to Gilfach at depth there would be a substantial head of water.

It's an interesting site, and not a straightforward one either. I'll have a look at Bick tonight. Not much info on the interweb.

Cheers,

Robin

danswift
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#12

I must admit I'm not convinced either, when exploring Gilfach I saw no possible connection with Cwm Ciprwth but I have not done the through trip so haven't seen everything.

The adit up at cwm Ciprwth is quite overgrown and well camouflaged but its there and a nice little tunnel goes in some ways, on the left a short tunnel leads to a flooded shaft that can be hard to spot if you've kicked up sludge. Nothing too exciting but it does pose the question, what is down there?

davel
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#13

The fact that the water level in the flooded winze that Dan mentions is at adit level suggests it has no connection with the shaft near the wheel, where the water level is significantly lower.

However, considering that (as BertyBasset says) the water in the shaft near the wheel is noticeably below the shaft collar, where does water exit this or (anything connected to it) to maintain this level?

As for Gilfach, this is essentially free from water as the small amount of make drains via the adit at valley bottom level. If there was a connection between Gilfach and Cwm Ciprwth I would expect the water in the CC shaft to be down to roughly the same level as Gilfach bottom adit.

As I remember, there are a couple of possible continuations from the stope (probably only accessible by bolting) but I don't remember any significant amount of water coming in anywhere.

Dave

Willy Eckerslyke
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

7 years ago

#14

Something that puzzles us in Glifach is the apparent water line at the top of the pitch in the middle adit. There's a horizontal line about 3 inches deep and all the rock below is a darker shade of brown than that above. It lines up with the adit which ties in with the idea that the whole place was once flooded, but if that happened after the lower adit was dug the head of water would be around 200ft! Which suggests that the watermark predates the lower adit, yet it looks too fresh to have been there when the mine was still being worked. There's a lot of timberwork below this "water level", some of which would surely have floated out had it have flooded later.
Any thoughts?

"The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt, Robin"

davel
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#15

If I remember correctly, there is a continuation (now inaccessible) of the middle level on the opposite side of the stope from the steps, so I think the middle adit probably predates the stope (and possibly the bottom adit).

I would guess that the bottom adit was driven and then the stope worked up to meet the middle level.

Dave

danswift
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#16

Sounds like a nice little project to add to the list 'explore gilfach middle level' I'm working in Porthmadog at the moment so might have a look one day after work :thumbsup:

TwllMawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#17

I recall an interesting looking explore inby just below the middle adit as you drop and a tricky bolting/re.belay across to it. But it’s a long way to CC from there.

Worth a look though.

Willy Eckerslyke
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

7 years ago

#18

It's a fascinating place. Trouble is, there's an awful lot of loose rock hanging in awkward places and making further exploration less appealing once you're in there with it hanging above you.
To make it safer would need a lot of gardening, and everything you drop will have a long way to go, probably doing more damage on the way. At worst you'd knock out a false floor and completely block the lower shaft with debris.

"The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt, Robin"

TwllMawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#19

Perhaps I blocked out that detail as I negotiated the descent. Not quite as appealing now then. 😉