South Crofty Mine 2016: I was fortunate enough to gain underground access in June for me and Tracy. As a Camborne lass born and bred it has always been one of her dreams to see the underground workings.
South Crofty Mine 2016.1 – Archwork at the junction of the north-west access drive and the north drive (return airway) to New Cooks Kitchen Shaft.
There is currently a plan to get the old mine going again, headed by Strongbow Exploration Inc of Canada. I wish them luck in the venture, it would be good for Cornwall to have a working mine again.
South Crofty Mine 2016.2 – Archwork in the South Drive just before the auxiliary fans.
Many thanks go to Dr Keith Russ for taking us underground and supplying much of the information on the images.
South Crofty Mine 2016.3 – The main Ventilation Fans – Two 1250mm Woods fans, normally only one is used, except when blasting. These are remotely controlled from surface.South Crofty Mine 2016.4 – A closeup of the fans, New Cooks Kitchen Shaft is behind the block wall.South Crofty Mine 2016.5 – View of two 750mm twin speed auxiliary fans with silencers used to supply fresh air to the main Western decline.South Crofty Mine 2016.6 – View from Access drive to Western Decline, to right of image looking towards the twin fans located in the link between South drive and main access to Western decline. The spiral bagging is 800mm diameter.South Crofty Mine 2016.7 – Archwork in main access drive to Western Decline. This is the view looking north east.South Crofty Mine 2016.8 – A second image in the main access drive to western decline, Keith and Tracy looking at the impressive fungus growing on the timber work.South Crofty Mine 2016.9 – An image of the access drive to top of Western Decline, looking south west. There are two 800mm vent bagging for main ventilation and a 630mm bagging for ventilating the “Ventilation drive south”. This was a cross-cut south from which diamond drilling was undertaken.South Crofty Mine 2016.10 – The junction with the link to the south drive taken from the main access drive, showing archwork and spiral ventilation ducting.
By this time Tracy and Keith were used to me not being around. I was always at the rear with the cameras. It’s good to hang back to get the best images.
South Crofty Mine 2016.11 – The ventilation pipes here were quite impressive, one of my favourite images of the day.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.12 – Tracy looking very happy during her tour of the underground workings, a life’s ambition come true.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.13 – Archwork in main access looking south west towards top of western decline, it’s a bit wet here. Large section ironwork was used here due to intersection of old adit in crown of tunnel.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.14 – This is at the top of the decline.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.15 – Tracy and Keith walking down the main Western decline, this is driven at 1 in 6. Remuck 2(south) is on the left.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.16 – This is the Pump station in Remuck 3(north) with two settling lagoons, known as the “Trout Farm”.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.17 – This is Sub Station 3 with a 3000V to 415V transformer and associated switch gear.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.18 The explorers meet – mine electrician with a Land Rover doing an inspection. This gives an indication of scale in the decline.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.19 – The underground Land Rover parked outside Sub Station 3.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.20 – Sump at present face of Western Decline. Two large submersible pumps on float switches keep the mine pumped. Water discharging bottom left from Spine Drive which was driven for access to the diamond drilling chambers.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.21 – View looking back up Western Decline with Keith and Tracy passing Sub Station 3.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.22 – Looking up the final stretch of the Tuckingmill Decline towards the portal, daylight beckoning.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.23 – The decline has a gradient of one in seven and is 3m high by 5m wide. The work here stopped during 1988 after 630m had been mined out.Cornish Mine Images Underground 2016.24 – Such a tired and happy Tracy at the Tuckingmill Decline portal as we exit the mine.
