So, what do you on on a weekend where heavy snow is forecast on Friday with a serious thaw on Saturday night, Sunday? You reverse the weekend's activities and do a headtorch ascent of Galeforth Gill on Friday night (think http://www.gerrish.info/2013/01/galeforth-ghyll-january-2013.html but in the dark!) then go underground when it is raining on Sunday. So, excited by some research online, memories of exploration 30 years ago and having seen those brave selfless members of CATMHS excavating the entrance to Carrock Fell Mine we decided that it was the target of our next trip.
First there was the little matter of finding the correct key to get in. Farmers Supplies had one for £1.52
Carrock Fell Tungsten Mine
The history of this mine spans a long time, finally shutting in 1982 when the price of Tungsten fell. It was just after it shut that I went down it the first time when all the mining equipment, including the train was still in place! See the history of Carrock Mine here
The vein of quartz that the adits followed were where the Tungsten was found
Al looks at some minerals forming on the wall
The purple mineral is Fluorspar
And this is a lead oxide waterfall
Exploring a ladder heading off up the stope
and on up it went for at least 30m
The quartz vein becomes huge in places.
Looking down from the stope into the passage below
. Al missing Yorkshire caving ... actually ... the lengths Al goes to to get a good photo
The amazing quartz vein
Ore chutes. there were over 40 in the whole mine
So where was the main one we asked?
More ladders to ascend to the higher levels of ore extraction.
Up in the quartz vein
Ore hoppers in a row down the passage, a train truck apart.
Waterfall showing that we can't be too far from the surface!
Friday night. Caving season. Heading AWAY from the Dales and its cave riddled limestone.
They say though that variety is the spice of life and we were heading towards Coniston and its historical copper mines. John had arranged for the TNC to meet up with some friends who actually do cave on a Thursday and a member of CATMHS to be given an intro (or refresher for some) to the possibilities for trips in the workings.
The first level we looked into gave us the chance to look down into a shaft flooded by crystal clear, blue green water. The level was terminated at a set of workings. While the ladders looked sound their exposure to air and decades of dripping water excluded further exploration for us. On returning to the surface we headed up hill again and into the higher entrance of Hospital level.
Dick in the entrance passage
Before long the nature of the workings became apparent as a collapse in the false floor allowed a view down onto further false floors and the remains of their stemple supports. Fortunately the volunteers who have done so much to gain and maintain access to the mines had provided us with a secure bridge over the collapse.
Looking down towards Deep level
Further passage and chambers led to a tunnel, complete with railway lines that followed the miners optimism towards further deposits. These never materialised and the tunnel finished at a dead end.
Stemples high in the stope
Returning back to the entrance gave us another opportunity to admire the green and blue formations, a change from the pristine white of calcite that we are used to. Before returning to the entrance a quick detour took us to a Temple of Doomesque passage with railway lines finishing in mid air over a huge void.
Phil admiring the green formations
Our thanks go to Mal and Brian for their company, Mark for being a superb guide and John of Barrow Mountaineering and Ski club for the post trip cup of tea in such comfortable surroundings.
