Cambrian Slate Mine bad air discovered in one chamber

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clcristea
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

Hello everyone,
Just a heads-up to everyone interested in visiting Cambrian Slate Mine that bad air was encountered in one of the chambers, where oxygen level was measured at 14.7% by entrance, on last trip 15.03.2015. The chamber in discussion it's a closed one with a single short tunnel as access point, therefore none/poor ventilation. Since than I was informed that a new ventilation was opened closer to the entrance with a better air circulation. At same time two signs with "bad air" and "no access" where placed by the chamber access tunnel. We can only hope they get not ignored by any future tourists and that the new ventilation will work towards clearing most of the bad air.
Regards
Cristian

UK Mine and Cave Diving and Exploration

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NewStuff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Is this the first chamber on the left when in the workings under the waterfall?

Searching for the ever elusive Underground Titty Bar.

DDDWH CC

clcristea
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

No, it's one of the chambers to the right (east) in the workings under the waterfall, behind the caban slate. Did you encounter bad air in the west side too?

Cat_Bones
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

"NewStuff" wrote:
Is this the first chamber on the left when in the workings under the waterfall?

Almost certainly. The air is always a bit stale in the chambers to the left of the main haulage way... as I'm sure you know!

Cat_Bones
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

"clcristea" wrote:
No, it's one of the chambers to the right (east) in the workings under the waterfall, behind the caban slate. Did you encounter bad air in the west side too?

I stand corrected... though the air isn't great in the chambers on the west side. Around the bit where there's a chamber that was only just started, is where I'm thinking.

I think only a diver would have any reason to go into that chamber you mention!

Have you been diving in that chamber then? The map shows it joining back up to the eastern workings underwater but still on floor A. Wondered if the connection still remains...

clcristea
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

I've been exploring cambrian underwater since October last year, laying over 700m of new line. And yes, the connection you refer I made in October last year, 130m from under the caban slate to the Divebase 3 (water pool behind the wall in main entrance chamber)
If you enter the passage under the caban slate you can reach the following 2 chambers by swimming only. The chamber with bad air was found on a higher level than "A", behind the caban slate wall, not under it. By swimming in the first chamber under the caban I've spotted few meters higher a short tunnel leading to this chamber, which exists on the map too 🙂 I belive higher ground here acts as an bad air pocket Hope it make sense now
I will post here some photos and updates of the recent exploration trips

rufenig
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

For those interested in such things, do you have details of the "bad air?
Oxygen depletion?
carbon dioxide? hydrogen sulphide? :smartass:

clcristea
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

I honestly don't know. I only have an oxygen analyser and used it as one person experienced "bad air symptoms" by trying to access this chamber. It could be anything, from the decomposing gases to the oil fired locomotive gases accumulated in higher spaces...

rufenig
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Ok thanks.
It would be interesting to know if it is simply oxygen depletion, or possible accumulation of carbon monoxide from locomotives after all these years.
A 4 gas monitor would tell you that" if someone is willing to go back"!

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#10

"Canary person: A human early-warning system for companies that deal with toxic gases. Cheaper than state of the art detection systems, a canary indicates the presence of lethal gas by keeling over dead."

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.caliber/mc1vocab.htm

rufenig
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#11

"Graigfawr" wrote:
"Canary person: A human early-warning system for companies that deal with toxic gases. Cheaper than state of the art detection systems, a canary indicates the presence of lethal gas by keeling over dead."

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.caliber/mc1vocab.htm

Enquiring minds want to know what you were searching for when you found that.:confused:

RAMPAGE
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#12

"rufenig" wrote:

"Graigfawr" wrote:
"Canary person: A human early-warning system for companies that deal with toxic gases. Cheaper than state of the art detection systems, a canary indicates the presence of lethal gas by keeling over dead."

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.caliber/mc1vocab.htm

Enquiring minds want to know what you were searching for when you found that.:confused:

^whs :blink:

Beneath my steely exterior beats the heart of a dashing hero

dwarrowdelf
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#13

Bad air has also been detected in Penarth slate mine which I'm fairly sure is in the same slate formation. I think Hydrogen Sulphide has been suspected there, together with a mysterious sweet smell. I don't think this was ever positively identified

'I wonder how many breakfasts, and other meals we have missed inside that nasty clockless, timeless hole?'

'The Hobbit'
J R R Tolkien.

NewStuff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#14

"dwarrowdelf" wrote:
Bad air has also been detected in Penarth slate mine which I'm fairly sure is in the same slate formation. I think Hydrogen Sulphide has been suspected there, together with a mysterious sweet smell. I don't think this was ever positively identified

In Penarth, H2S is only present in a small working at the top-right tunnel of the last chamber. It's not somewhere you will wander by accident, as you have to scramble using a chain as a handline.

It was checked out with the Thursday Nighters, Characteristic H2S smell very much present according to the human canary that investigated it. :tongue:

Searching for the ever elusive Underground Titty Bar.

DDDWH CC

steve turbo
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#15

"NewStuff" wrote:

"dwarrowdelf" wrote:
Bad air has also been detected in Penarth slate mine which I'm fairly sure is in the same slate formation. I think Hydrogen Sulphide has been suspected there, together with a mysterious sweet smell. I don't think this was ever positively identified

In Penarth, H2S is only present in a small working at the top-right tunnel of the last chamber. It's not somewhere you will wander by accident, as you have to scramble using a chain as a handline.

It was checked out with the Thursday Nighters, Characteristic H2S smell very much present according to the human canary that investigated it. :tongue:

i went in that left hand tunnel in penarth ,a very nice spinning head on getting back to daylight ,cambrian bad air is a place nobody been in to since closure of mine ....:ohmygod:

clcristea
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#16

I think nobody been there even before the closing of the mine :thumbup:

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#17

"rufenig" wrote:
Enquiring minds want to know what you were searching for when you found that.

This thread reminded me of a Judge Dredd story in the comic 2000 AD from around 1986: the canary person at Wiffin Gas (employed so the droids know if there's a leak of toxic gas) dies in a leak and there is a job riot. I couldn't find the comic online and the web guide was the closest I could find.

http://telekichigai.com/images/avapoo.jpg