Curiosities of Science, Past and Present / A Book for Old and Young

by John Timbs

HEAT OF MINES.

One cause of the great Heat of many of our deep Mines, which appears to have been entirely lost sight of, is the chemical action going on upon large masses of pyritic matter in their vicinity. The heat, which is so oppressive in the United Mines in Cornwall that the miners work nearly naked, and bathe in water at 80° to cool themselves, is without doubt due to the decomposition of immense quantities of the sulphurets of iron and copper known to be in this condition at a short distance from these mineral works.—R. Hunt, F.R.S.