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3.3.2 Mucking
The methods used to evacuate the rock broken up by explosions, load the ore onto the mine cars and transport it to the shaft changed dramatically in the 19th century. These operations were essential to clear the drifts, continue their development and to mine the ore for processing.
In the early mines, the tools used for mucking consisted of no more than a pick to break up the blocks and a shovel to load the rocks into the mine cars.
Working in a mine drift, 1862. |
Miner’s pick, 1950 |
Miner’s shovel, 1950. |
Soon cars on rails were introduced to transport the rock from the far end of the drifts to the shaft. When the cars were loaded, miners had to push or pull them to the shaft.
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The mechanization of loading operations became more widespread and various means were used to move the rock, from metal scrapers which pulled the rock to the ramps or conveyors which carried it up to the mine cars.
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Soon, small electric locomotives were used to pull trains of cars along the drifts to the shaft or to the chutes for crushing.
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The trains ran on a network of rails which became increasingly dense as it neared the haulage shaft or the underground concentrator.
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