At Ghremnitz, miners have a special instrument to move ore from the mouth of the mine or from the hills down to the work area where it is washed and pounded. This device is similar to the Hundt used underground, but it is larger and has eight wheels—four rollers and four regular wheels. The path for the wheels is made from fir wood, carefully spaced so that the rollers move smoothly on the wood Innovations in Ore Processing.
The system is designed so that the chests carrying the ore cannot overturn or leave the track. Amazingly, a child can pull the chest along the track, and sometimes even a dog is used to help. Each chest can carry up to 400 pounds of ore. On average, three to four hundred of these chests are transported every week to a single work area, showing the efficiency of the system.
Dangerous Damps in the Mine
While I was at Ghremnitz, I noticed two extremely dangerous areas with strong poisonous vapors, called “damps.” These damp areas were life-threatening for miners, and no lamps would burn inside them. One was located in a vertical shaft, known as a Puteus, and the other was in a straight passage called a stall Customized Turkey Tour.
Even though the air was toxic, miners would sometimes enter these areas for a short time to inspect or work. To demonstrate the danger, we lowered a man into the damp in the shaft five or six times. As soon as his lamp went out, we pulled him up immediately. These damp areas are especially dangerous when water levels are high, as the vapor becomes stronger and more poisonous.
Solutions for Hazardous Areas
The second damp, located in the Cunhulut, is less dangerous but still risky. Miners hope to fix it by creating ventilation passages, allowing fresh air to circulate and remove the poisonous vapor. By digging additional tunnels or passages, they aim to reduce the danger for miners working in that section.
Efficiency and Safety
Despite these hazards, the Ghremnitz miners have created very efficient systems to transport ore and work underground. The wooden tracks, rollers, and chests allow heavy loads to be moved quickly and safely. The careful attention to ventilation and the monitoring of dangerous damps also shows that miners prioritize safety while working in these difficult conditions.
The mining operations at Ghremnitz demonstrate both ingenuity and courage. The complex transport systems make moving heavy ore possible with minimal effort, while the miners’ knowledge of dangerous damps and ventilation ensures survival in poisonous conditions. These methods allowed the mine to remain productive and relatively safe, even under challenging circumstances.
