3.2.1 Mine Shaft

In the 19^th century, most mines were open-pit mines and the sinking of shafts was rare. Only a handful of Quebec mining developers sunk shafts and excavated underground drifts to extend the development of the orebody to deeper levels. The most outstanding example of this in Quebec is the Eustis copper mine (1865-1939), near Sherbrooke, which exceeded 600 m in the 1890s, 1,000 m in the 1910s and 2,000 m in the 1930s.

Detailed surveys were carried out to determine the exact site of the shaft on the mining concession.

		Theodolite, circa 1890.
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Mining conditions were especially difficult in the Eustis mine and miners went down the shaft to the drifts by ladder and, in later years, by elevator.

		Going down the mine, 1862.
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In Northwest Quebec in the 1920s and 1930s, sinking a mine shaft was the first step in developing a deposit and provided access to the orebody. A rudimentary hoist carried workers down and brought material from the excavation of the shaft up to the surface.

		Canadian Malartic Gold Mines Ltd., the first equipment in 1928.
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The shaft and the drifts that radiated out from it constituted a hazardous and dimly lit workplace for miners. Protective headgear soon became essential and the miner’s hat protected him from dripping water, falling rock and from banging his head as he moved about.

Miner’s hat, circa 1917.		Miner’s hat, circa 1940.		Miner’s hat, 1992.
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A tallow candle, and later an oil, carbide or electric lamp, secured to the hat or suspended from a hook near the work site, provided the light the miners needed to do their job.

Miner’s lamp, 20th century.		Miner’s carbide lamp, circa 1920.		Calcium carbide can, circa 1930.
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As the mining development progressed, the mechanical installations in the shaft were also expanded to accommodate the heavy traffic of workers, waste rock and ore hoisted to the surface for processing.