Mine clearing/digging · AditNow Community

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bigdavevw
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Hi guys, does anyone have any pics of mines/shafts being dug or cleared? Pictures, articles, reports, whatever.
I would be interested to hear any tips on this too.

There are a few near me that need dug out, but would like some info before i start.

Dave

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Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

If you are going to give it a go get some experience with someone who knows what they are doing - it's not something you can really learn from photos or books, or indeed websites.

stuey
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

Roy Fellows has an interesting website worth perusing.

Digging a silted up adit is one thing... timbering your way through a collapse is another.

The UK Caving forums have some info about digging.

I'd get a few people on your team and preferably some with digging/engineering experience.

Also, mind the air when you get into a previously sealed mine.

Be careful for god's sake.

staffordshirechina
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

What type of mine are you thinking of Dave?

Redwinch
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

I settled on using steel props, cut and welded to size, tied to each other with tubular tie rods, all bolted and steel grating for forepoling off the supports, bit industrial, I suppose, but safe, plus railway for spoil removal

[photo]Personal-Album-1477-Image-71887[/photo]

Still supporting Rampgill. last time I looked

bigdavevw
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Hi guys, cheers for the replies. The mines we would like to clear are lead mines. First of all, there is no way i would attempt this just now, i know it is dangerous. But some info or even reports on other peoples digs would be appreciated. The thought of clearing an adit and being the first person in for nearly 100 years would be the ultimate explore for me.

One adit we would like to clear is a horse level into a lead mine. This has a large rock fall and acts like a dam for all the water behind it.

The other place we would like to clear is a rather deep engine shaft, this has no end of rubbish down it. Well i say no end, but it is a 182 meter deep shaft, and it is blocked 40 meters down. It has about 6 levels and stoping below the blockage.
I think the best way to clear this would be a homemade headgear above the shaft, with an electric winch.

Dave :thumbup:

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

Cumbria Amenity Trust cleared a wide shaft about 80ft deep that had about 50ft of spoil and refuse tipped into it (these figures from a rather old memory!) - this is the most extensive shaft fill clearance project that I know of. It was written up in the first issue of their journal 'The Mine Explorer'.

bigdavevw
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Cheers! will have a look for it!

superkev
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

I believe this to be some work by CATMHS at Scope End....

Extensive supporting, but note the amount of pressure from above being exerted on the first roofing timber in the picture! 😮

Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#10

"bigdavevw" wrote:
Hi guys, cheers for the replies. The mines we would like to clear are lead mines. First of all, there is no way i would attempt this just now, i know it is dangerous. But some info or even reports on other peoples digs would be appreciated. The thought of clearing an adit and being the first person in for nearly 100 years would be the ultimate explore for me.

One adit we would like to clear is a horse level into a lead mine. This has a large rock fall and acts like a dam for all the water behind it.

The other place we would like to clear is a rather deep engine shaft, this has no end of rubbish down it. Well i say no end, but it is a 182 meter deep shaft, and it is blocked 40 meters down. It has about 6 levels and stoping below the blockage.
I think the best way to clear this would be a homemade headgear above the shaft, with an electric winch.

Dave :thumbup:

I would give the shaft a very wide berth.

The adit sounds more promising. Opening up an adit blocked at surface is not too much of a problem. However if the adit is blocked some way in you need to be absolutely certain that there is no hydraulic head behind it. Releasing a large quantity of water underground, under pressure can have fatal consequences

staffordshirechina
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#11

As Tamarmole says, give the shaft a miss. A project of that scope would be quite a major undertaking for a mining contractor and would require a lot of expensive equipment and skills.

An adit is a different matter. If we are talking collapsed entrance then OK we would all have a prod around.
Backed up water is a bit more of a problem as you may cause local flooding by digging, it needs to be released gently.

If we are talking backed up water inside a level, then again unless you can see airspace over the water, it is best left to mining contractors or very experienced and well equiped diggers. Draining off a head of water needs great care.

Redwinch
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#12

If water is suspected behind a blocked adit, you can try the method I used, drive a pipe (pipes) through the blockage at various heights to release the water in a controlled manner, will take a considerable amount of time depending on how many pipes and dia of said pipe versus volume of dammed water

[photo]Personal-Album-1477-Image-71889[/photo]

Still supporting Rampgill. last time I looked

stuey
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#13

I was in a St Agnes adit and had a poke of a blockage (known to only be about 8ft thick) with a bit of thin pipe to see what the water pressure was. It started to clear itself which resulted in us probably setting a speed record for adit running.

Clearly, doing anything like that is pretty damn stupid, but you live and learn.

The idea we came up with was to dam the level about 1/2 way from the floor up and then drag the blockage back over it like a step. If it had got "exciting" the tunnel would have not filled to the roof like it could.

Gavin
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#14

"Redwinch" wrote:
I settled on using steel props, cut and welded to size, tied to each other with tubular tie rods, all bolted and steel grating for forepoling off the supports, bit industrial, I suppose, but safe, plus railway for spoil removal

[photo]Personal-Album-1477-Image-71887[/photo]

It was still their last year great job :thumbsup:

GAVIN