The Mine of Greater Beauty - Nov 12

[Ian A]

O.M.G.....

I have never heard the phrase “Oh Wow !” used so many times on ANY trip I have been on ... until today.

Having found the entrance to this mine a week ago and having had a quick peep in, I looked on the internet for information and found very little. Very little information, very little in the way of photos and very little in the way of anything at all. I therefore thought that the mine would be “very little”.

For this reason I did not bring my camera or even a spare battery for my lamp â€" this proved to be a mistake.

On the trip with me were John N and Bella, Richard S and Alison. We met in glorious sunshine and, leaving the car park at around 10:45am, we began our ascent to the mine. We quickly found the entrance and scrambled in to what was to prove to be, perhaps, the most beautifully decorated mine in North Wales. The passages were imbued with minerals, colours, salts and charm seen only sparingly in the best of other mines. Calcium adorned the walls and ceilings, sulphur deposits lined the walls and ceiling, a small piece of fools gold marked the ceiling of the entrance adit, copper splashed itself around whilst iron and other minerals tormented the abundance of colours.

Not only were the passages decorated with gour (spelling?) formations, ochre formations, Stals and coloured with minerals, they would lead into chamber after chamber of mineral splendour â€" the likes of which I had never seen before. One chamber was so richly covered in unbroken sheets of calcium that Richard suggested it should be called “Snow Chamber” â€" indeed, it was so fantastic that this is where we ate our lunch. Some of the chambers were vast â€" so vast that you could easily fit a church inside â€" odd for a lead mine but outstanding to see. (yes, there is a play on the words in there somewhere lol)

Some passages resembled the Wild West American Gold mine tunnels with the heavy wooden supports and lintels (with the legs not vertical but at an angle like the bottom half of the capital letter “A”). Some of the passages were host to ore chutes, indeed, so were some of the chambers.

We had entered on level 3 and had been able to explore upwards to level 1 as there were either ladders or knotted ropes to assist. In places there was rigging for SRT to descend on a through trip from level 1 in to level 7 out. Having explored levels 3,2 and 1 we headed down (by ladder) to level 4 where we continued to experience the total splendour of this magnificently decorated mine. On this level we found a rigged pitch to SRT to level 5 but sadly, time and battery life prevented a full exploration of this level and we found ourselves having to leave.

John N volunteered Bella to get us out of the mine and, in fairness, notwithstanding we have been wandering around (for the first time) for hours, she did take us straight out.

Time underground was 4 hours+  Time including walking to and from was 5 hours 30mins. Time including driving was 7 hours+  Best 7 hours of my life for a long time )

The mine is a photographers dream â€" there was so much to photograph and so many things to see that I would have no doubt 8 hours would be insufficient.

Seriously, this is one really cool mine and I am going back.

Ian

[Danny Sutton]

looks like my next weeks trip is sorted then, wheres the level 1 entrance?

[steven cross]

i promise i will come along next time ian ...

[Ali Wiseman]

'tis a really nice mine. I'll try to be available if You go again.

[mike leahy]

good report sec. shame about the lack of photography. you div

[Tim Watts]

Anyone free during a weekday over the next 4 weeks? For a photography trip?

[Ian A]

Didn't get to level 1 Dan - we ran out of time and batteries (and might need SRT)

I am away all week but will be back on Saturday. I could probably do next Sunday but can't commit yet.

John N has a raft of photos but I think most were "close up" shots - we'll see what he puts up  

[Dylan Roberts]

[quote="timwatts" post=11202]Anyone free during a weekday over the next 4 weeks? For a photography trip?[/quote]

I'm free wednesday, thursday or friday this week.

[Ian A]

[quote="Dylan" post=11205][quote="timwatts" post=11202]Anyone free during a weekday over the next 4 weeks? For a photography trip?[/quote]

I'm free wednesday, thursday or friday this week.[/quote]

Awwwh  

[Danny Sutton]

I'm back in work monday, only managed 4 trips while i've been off and i'm quite disapointed! can do sunday next weekend, may have to work saturday! infact i'm pretty sure it is my saturday in.

[mike leahy]

[quote="Ian" post=11206]Awwwh  [/quote]
on a public forum tut tut  :angry:  :angry: .
 :kiss:  :kiss:  :kiss:

[Tim Watts]

Naughty Boy!

Dylan - Should have added i only get back off my holiday home towards the end of this week - you free any days the week after, or week after that?

[steven cross]

im free anytime ,now i got my head out of my arse  :silly:

[Dylan Roberts]

I'm off tuesday or wednesday the following week.

Ian I have to work weekends which I hate.

[Ian A]

[quote="Dylan" post=11214]

Ian I have to work weekends which I hate.[/quote]

I hate having to work too you know  :huh:

 

Ian