The Big Hole: Becoming Mechanised
Removing and processing the weathered kimberlite or "yellow ground" had been relatively simple to do by hand using picks, shovels etc.
Once hitting "blue ground" or unweathered kimberlite individual mining became more difficult, slower and less profitable due to encountering harder and harder rock.
Wealthy miners began buying up the claims from despondent individual and small operations around them and one or two large consolidated mining companies began to emerge.
With all the "rats and mice" miners out of the way mechanization could begin in earnest.
Dynamite was used on the hard rock and shaft were sunk next to the pipe to begin mining the pipe from the side and below.
Large headgear hoist were set up to hoist broken rock from below.
The rocks were loaded by hand into cocopans (small iron wagons that run on rails) seen below painted green.
Each cocopan holds about a ton of broken rock.
The vertical down shaft was sunk a safe distance from the main hole but close enough to limit the railing and transport required underground.
Some of the other mine buildings and other paraphernalia have been restored and preserved as part of the exhibit.
From this angle you can get a good view of the suspension apparatus installed for viewing the big hole.
Old steam rock crushers and other steam driven equipment is also on display.
Other posts in this series:
The Big Hole. What is the big hole and where is it?
The Big Hole: Part of a greater whole
The Big Hole: Kimberlites, how do they form.
The Big Hole: Diamonds are a girls best friend...
The Big Hole: The other beauty in kimberlites and a wealth of information.
The Big Hole: Information capsules from the deep.
The Big Hole: Setting and Suspension - from busy.org
The Big Hole: Digging the hole.
The Big Hole: Digging back into time
Great and informative post thank you @gavvet!
Very good post! Upvoted!
Thanks
Very interesting. Thanks!
Excellent post dear friend @gavvet, very good information, very good captures congratulations
Glad you liked the pictures
Hi buddy. like old photos? Come visit my blog.
Don't worry @gavvet...
This is the last spam link about abuse that I will post on a SG post. Don't get me wrong, I still believe you all are scamming the system to the detriment of all other Steemiams. I'm just bored with you all and with viewing any content on the trending (SG) page.
So go ahead and finish your series. I'm sure everyone is eagerly anticipating "The Big Hole" Volume 347.
Please spread the word in your SG chat.
You have some truly sick cartoons about people offing their own children. I hope that you get help. If you don't like the content on Steemit, then the community will thank you for moving your troll activity elsewhere.
I am offended @steemship.
They were EATING OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN.
Can we please get our facts straight!?
Okay. You have convinced me. I will seek help for my sociopathic tendencies. Can you recommend a psychologist that accepts Steem?
The community? Or you and the SG?
Thanks for the comment @steemship
Nope. I think I'm gonna eat some kids tonight. Maybe my own?? 🤔
Stop upvoting yourself to Trending with Steem-Guild accounts. Thanks.
Stop trolling, my posts and get help please....
Haha! Okay, I've been following this saga since I saw it on the-alien's page, and if I were you? I would post a link to his scrooge mcduck block of text rant every time he comments, because that can only help you. On one hand he's accusing you guys of stealing and on the other begging you to steal some for him....
Anyone with half a brain could not take that seriously.
And so you know, I've made a number of good friends here with high-functioning mental abilities who do not share the sentiments of the few loud people giving you a hard time. Maybe because we actually know how hard it is to be free-lance writers/starving artists out in the 'real world' and therefore don't share their sense of entitlement?
Thanks for doing what you do, don't get discouraged by the foot stompers.