In the earlier days of deep mining when compressor fed drilling was unknown, the common method of drift excavation was carried out by sledge hammer and a tough nail - aim, knock, twist, aim, knock, twist... Given the size of this mine, it is just unimaginable that these giant halls and seemingly random drifts were carried out that way. Further, the knowledge that loosened rock was then loaded by hand on small trolleys, typically pushed by manpower just gives a sense of fatigue – on the behalf of these workers.

Where one mine worker could typically hand-load 15-20 metric tons (!) on a trolley in one 8-hour shift back some sixty years ago, in today's mines giant remote-controlled power shovels take some 30 tons in one go... Thoughtful...

This mine is really fascinating as time stopped some fourty years ago and it was all abandoned. The deepest levels are all drowned in water, but there are miles of drifts and shaft in complete silence and darkness to explore.
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