My digging partner and I purchased a new, underground mine, a few months ago, and just recently, managed a week long trip to inspect it, and tidy up before the summer heat comes in. The thieving low-lifes that abound in the area, had already broken into the place, and stolen the Genset, gas stove, and fridge. We spent a day, and stripped everything else, including solar panels, and locked it away in the hut on our other claims. Here are some shots of the place.
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File comment: This shaft is 28ft deep, going thru sediment layers, and finally 2 wash bands, one red clay/ash/pyroclastic gravels, and the bottom one, a hard, cemented wash, often called "clinker", about as hard as concrete. There will be some burned out jackhammers on this one!
File comment: A small handful from 4 buckets from the clinker zone.
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The up-over is rather badly built, and I can't work out what the guy was trying to do. For us though, the wash will be loaded into a small truck, and carted 3 miles to the main claims, where the big machine will deal with it. With luck, "Earthling"(AKA Oliver Waldis), is going to join us for some of next winter. Man, will we move some dirt then!! This is also a chance for a "fee dig" situation, as there is tonnes of headings, which is carrying sapphires, piled up by the last owner, who didn't process it. Get ready to book your tickets to Queensland, anytime between May-Sept, 2016.
The concept of an "up and over" is that the bucket comes up the shaft on rails, goes over the semi-circular top of the machine, then as it tips material into the trommel, reverses back down the shaft again. Our big machine winch, is an old car axle/diff, with winch on one end, and the normal brake on the other. When it tips, it trips a release, and the brake(which is activated by pulling a rope from down the shaft) is released, and the bucket comes back down again. As it is being driven by a small hydraulic motor, it is always controlled descent, not freefall. Does his make sense? On the new plant, there is no release, and if you don't turn off the electric winch, it will simply rip the whole thing to pieces, as nothing will stop the winder. It will be redundant, anyway, but it is interesting to contemplate what may have happened if you dozed off!
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