It's time to learn some new skills and I've been eyeing up a few potential projects for digs and they require different techniques.

I've seen projects in the process and completed digs and noted the differences. It's about time I familiarised myself with "the knowledge".

So, I'm interested in mining techniques, specifically those which would be the most applicable to clearing old workings, spiling through debris and timbering. I don't mind a general book, or something a bit rare, I'd like to get a grip on the terminology, techniques and application so I can undertake some digs of my own and appreciate what I see in situ.

Recommend me a book.

Stu

A pre -60`s Colliery managers book would be a good choice,

Will show all different types of supports used,the older ones.being all timber.

Not sure if this will be of any use?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Text-Book-Mining-Colliery-Managers-Others/dp/1140371444 

Thats what i meant.

I suppose an original NCB timbering book may be a thicker version of this smallish book on gases?
Recued it when the local pit shut.

[photo]Personal-Album-1695-Image-42681[/photo]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I've seen a few different takes on timbering, usually "the usual" vs WW2 stuff vs odd "where we used steel instead of wood" stuff.

Blockages are of a particular interest.

I'm looking for a half intelligent layman's guide really.

Clearly investigating old workings and clearing old adits had to figure in history significantly. The people who did it didn't have it built in as some kind of instinct....

I don't trust my "common sense"

FWIW, I would suggest that you avoid this skilled and dangerous subject. Timbering was and is an art as much as a science.

I have to admit that much of what I see on digs makes me cringe or run away, which is why I don't involve myself in the field, but here's a few images of timber headings in recent years..

http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/pdf/pjaguidance.pdf 

http://www.cooperscivilengineering.co.uk/timber.htm 

http://www.hillscontractors.com/projects/Cross_St/cross_st_01.htm 

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You need a few days out with Roy Fellows!
He can show you "his" methods of work which have been succesfull in a number of mines.
No amount of book learning can replace practical experience with a subject like this.
It might not just be yourself at risk. If you open workings then other explorers will follow & you have a duty of care to them.

Let's face it, going into abandoned mines is on the continuum from unwise to downright stupid and really, we should all stay well away. Having said, getting in a car is also playing Russian roulette.

I imagine with risk assessments and method statements, it's virtually impossible for anyone to do any work anyway, I am more interested in what used to happen before nanny state stuck her oar in.

I was reading "The Unwatering of Tresavean Mine" which talks about how they cleared and pumped the shaft. It is fascinating stuff and would be a total and utter non-starter in today's litigious society. Lowering explosives down rising mains which go through huge chokes and pumping through the shattered remains, hanging things off pulleys and bits of rigged up timber.

It's quite easy to write off anyone not acting within the current zeitgeist as a dangerous nutter but really, not that many accidents happened with digs.

I think a bigger hazard is probably going through some areas of vintage timbering in suspect condition.

I like to think I've got the knack of when to say 'enough'.

I suppose it would probably be a good idea to get some experience with an ongoing dig, something I can probably do.

I'm a big fan of books and I imagine there is a comprehensive text on the matter somewhere. I suppose a lot of it was just a matter of getting some uprights, some lagging and notching them together and packing it out. With timber prices rising, I imagine some efficient thinking was published. I'll see what I can find in the CSL.

I hate to be the one to stoop so low as to mention it.
But
The C-ving guys do a lot of excavation in loose ground & boulder chokes.
You could do worse than look at some of their sites for information.
:(

Also books like this one
http://moorebooks.co.uk/shelves/cart.php?target=product&product_id=17082&category_id=372 

Have seen some astounding efforts on digs and timbering jobs across the country.

Ones that stand out....

Coniston (CATMHS)
RF's work at Talybont and Henfwlch
North Henblas (UCET)
Mr Mike's dig at Nentsberry Haggs

Cave and caving are not blocked words!

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It is a very broad subject and almost every situation is different.
There is little substitute for practical experience.
The books recommended are good in some ways but often very imaginative in their drawings.
You can tunnel through just about anything if you start off the right way.
Being 50% of the partnership that tunnelled through the Laxey main adit and re-opened Perkins level at Snailbeach, I am happy to give advice but you need to have a dig in mind to plan your attack for.
One thing though, wherever possible use steel, plastic and concrete not timber - think long term.

Will you be at NAMHO?

Waterways swallet has to be seen to be believed too!
scaff city.
O.G. :thumbsup:

Stuey

You are more than welcome to have a look at our dig in the weardale - its ambitious - but the principles are the same - start the way you intend to finish, be slow, thorough, very careful, make it stronger than you need, and check, double check, and check again. We've had inspection and approval from the CAT guys, and have an ex miner on the digging team - and the same principles are used that we employed in the Haggs horse level dig that Simon mentioned, initiated by Mr. Mike. A day spent with us in weardale would give you a big insight. PM me or Mr Mike if you'd like to see..
Pete

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At 15:35 on Sat 30th July a Mr Roy Fellows is giving a talk at the NAMHO conference entitled "Digging for victory. Attempts to gain new ground".

:smartass:

I'd say that "having an experienced miner on the digging team" is the best approach by far.

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Cave diggers measure their success in metres of passage, mine diggers measure their success by their ongoing survival.

Mine digging is a dangerous activity (fun though) a few years ago I was attempting to put in timber sets preparatory to spiling through some loose ground when the whole chamber ran, about 90 tons of rock and clay landed where I was standing. The reason that I can write about it is that I had a good man behind me who noticed that the roof was starting to run - I was too preoccupied with my timber. If you do get into digging choose your friends very carefully - at some stage your life will depend on their skill and judgement.

The key is to fully assess the risks before you start and as you proceed. Obviously collapse is a major factor to consider however equally fundamental is hydraulic head. If you even remotely suspect that you have water backed up behind a collapse think very very seriously before you disturb the collapse.

If you do decide to procede with a dig get the longest pinch bar you can find (and use in the space available)

In terms of digging style you have two options: The cavers wormhole dig or full blown mining. Both approaches have merits. I have had digs go after a couple of evenings with an entrching tool and a few lengths of scaff. On the other hand we dug in the George & Charlotte for nearly ten years, installed two fairly substantial 18 inch gauge railways underground and failed to get in.

At the G&C we managed to drive a walking sized spile thirty feet through loose ground - something I am rather proud of.
If you want to take a look pm me.

I would always make the dig as big as possible - it is very easy to dig oneself into a corner.

There are a couple of books on Archive.org relating to Mine Timbering, they don't look bad.

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Mine digging is a dangerous activity (fun though) a few years ago I was attempting to put in timber sets preparatory to spiling through some loose ground when the whole chamber ran, about 90 tons of rock and clay landed where I was standing. The reason that I can write about it is that I had a good man behind me who noticed that the roof was starting to run - I was too preoccupied with my timber. If you do get into digging choose your friends very carefully - at some stage your life will depend on their skill and judgement.

I can second that - exactly the same thing happened to me - a very good friend was right below me when a stope started to collapse ... he noticed the rock starting to move and pulled me out. The entire stope collapsed with a rumble a few seconds later. A digging team is just that - a team of people who are watching over each other constantly. You can't successfully dig without perfect teamwork, and commitment to each other.. If you want to dig, you need a crew - and they need to know what they are doing..

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