TIME IN A TIN MINE

Rock, Darkness and Water
       A visit to the Geevor Tin Mine in Cornwall, England was an interesting one. This claustrophobic old lady went on the mine tour, but I was sure happy to see daylight again! Before entering the mine we donned hard hats and to the knee smocks. Once in the mine, we walked conga dance-style holding onto the waist of the person in front of us. The only light was from the head lamp of the docent who guided us through the mine. It was easy to knock your head and to bump the side of the tunnels, so the required gear was a blessing. It took a lot of self talking to stay calm to get me though, and I gasped big gulps fresh air as we exited the tunnel. It was an experience!
      The docent explained, “In 1911 Geevor opened an old mine. The Victory shaft was sunk in 1919 and extends 1575 feet into the ground. In 1965 three mines were combined for a total of two square miles. In 1975-80 a 1:4 gradient shaft was added under the ocean at 2100 feet. In 1985 the price for tin dropped 60% overnight.
      “This mine, containing 160 miles of tunnel, continued to operate for a while longer but closed in 1990. At that time it employed 370 men, 130 of whom worked under ground. All the workers lived within a 7-10 miles radius of the mine. After the mine closing many of the men moved overseas to work in other mines.”
       In 1991 they started flooding the under ocean mine and it took 3 ½ years to bring the water to sea level. In 1993 part of the mine reopened as a museum.
       Ten percent of the rock mined is turned into tin ore, and it takes 24-30 hours to get it ready to go to the smelters. Iron, copper, and arsenic are also found in the rock.
       The guide continued. “Mining was men’s work. No women were allowed in the mines. Years ago boys as young as 8 were sent into the mines. Often a mine was a family enterprise. It is totally dark in the mines and candles provided the only light! A miner had to supply all his own tools, candles, gun powder etc. One was paid only on what he produced. All miners were contract labor; no hourly wage or health insurance in those days. The men would stay in the mines 10-12 hours in cramped positions from dawn to nightfall. The life span of a miner was only about 40 years. They suffered poor eyesight, as they worked 10 hours a day six days a week. Many died of TB.
       The countryside is dotted with smoke stacks of closed mines. Mining was the life style of entire communities. It was a very hard life!