fjällvandring
11 years ago
I don't think anyone has started a threat like this before, but here's a place to discuss mines which are in some way very unique, by working methods, situation, how they first came about etc.

Here is my list:

The Blands Coal Mine, Lancashire: small coal mine apparently opened up from a trapdoor in the cellar of a farm house in around the 1770s, a narrow seam of shallow coal was mined beneath the house and into the garden, later converted to a cellar. The tunnels were rumoured to link onto the nearby Clintsfield colliery but I don't think that's likely.

Parisian catacombs: can't say I know much about them, but in and around Paris limestone and I think gypsum were quarried underground, some of these workings are quite old and beneath elevated areas of Paris the mines go quite deep. They are deeper than the Parisian métro system and many were used I think in the 17-1800s and earlier for the plaster of Paris industry. Some of them were also used as cript space for Notre Dame and presumably other churches when room ran out in the churches' cripts. The mines or catacombs are a popular site for exploration although apparently illegal in Paris, the mines are so extensive that a lot do it, many of them are home to graffiti and other artwork which has taken considerable time to complete.

more later
jeg elsker Norge, landets dialekter, folk, landskap og naturen!
christwigg
11 years ago
Seathwaite Wad / Borrowdale Graphite mine would have to be in the list.
To quote the BGS.

This occurrence is unique in the UK and it is one of only two graphite vein deposits hosted by volcanic rocks worldwide
staffordshirechina
11 years ago
"christwigg" wrote:

Seathwaite Wad / Borrowdale Graphite mine would have to be in the list.
To quote the BGS.



That'll put lead in yer pencil!
Boy Engineer
11 years ago

Surprised not to see a nomination for the famous workings at Knotty Ash.
Peter Burgess
11 years ago
I have always been fascinated by the tin mine in the alluvial beds beneath Restronguet Creek.
royfellows
11 years ago
What about Wheal Wherry, I would have thought this one near top of the list.
My avatar is a poor likeness.
gNick
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11 years ago
Mealy Gill Boot Polish Mine at Coniston?
Don't look so embarrassed, it's a family trait...
somersetminer
11 years ago
The Celestine (Strontium sulphate) mining at Yate should get a mention
http://www.sgmrg.co.uk/celestine.php 

Micaceous Haematite mining for warship paint at Great Rock, Devon is another good one
wheal
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LeeW
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11 years ago
Does Dines Castle Colliery meet the criteria? :angel: ::) :devil:

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/mines/Dines-Castle-Colliery-Coal-Mine/ 

I went in a mine once.... it was dark and scary..... full of weirdos


When do I get my soapbox, I need to rant on about some b***cks
Cat_Bones
11 years ago
"fjällvandring" wrote:


Parisian catacombs: can't say I know much about them, but in and around Paris limestone and I think gypsum were quarried underground, some of these workings are quite old and beneath elevated areas of Paris the mines go quite deep. They are deeper than the Parisian métro system and many were used I think in the 17-1800s and earlier for the plaster of Paris industry. Some of them were also used as cript space for Notre Dame and presumably other churches when room ran out in the churches' cripts. The mines or catacombs are a popular site for exploration although apparently illegal in Paris, the mines are so extensive that a lot do it, many of them are home to graffiti and other artwork which has taken considerable time to complete.

more later



The catacombs are pretty amazing and unusual though I think many people on this forum would be horrified to see one of our mines treated in the same way. There's a lot of great artwork down there but it massively outbalanced by the amount of crappy chav graffiti! Still, well worth a visit.
sinker
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11 years ago
How about Stwlan Slate Mine?
On the face of it, it appears to be a pretty standard slate mine, albeit with the most impressive arrangements of inclines. However when you take a look at the way it was worked it is very odd. Chambers lead to stopes, chambers with remains of shafts visible in the walls, adits all over the place and at all levels, adits 1.5m long straight out of daylight onto the edge of a face.....hence the fatality that occurred there a few years back when a hill walker stuck his head in an adit and fell two floors 😞
The phrase "scatter-gun approach" springs to mind! It must have been a nightmare working there.
Yma O Hyd....
Trewillan
11 years ago
Black Angel Mine, Greenland.

Access by cable car is definitely "unusual".

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