Topple down headlong.”
As a late writer[[51]] justly observes, that on descending to the surface of the mine, “You will then behold a combination of the powers of art with the wild sublimity of nature, which is quite unparalleled; the effects of the whole being not a little heightened by the hollow roar of the raging billows which are perpetually lashing the cliff beneath. In looking up you will observe troops of mules laden with sacks of coals, for the supply of the engine, with their undaunted riders, fearlessly trotting down the winding path which you trembled at descending even on foot. As you approach the engine, the cliff becomes almost perpendicular; and the ore raised from the mine is therefore drawn up over an inclined plane, by means of a horse engine placed on the extreme verge of the overhanging rocks above, and which seems to the spectator below, as if suspended in “Mid Air.”
The ore of this mine is the grey and yellow sulphuret of copper, mixed with oxide of tin. Here a great variety of interesting minerals have been collected, among which are several varieties of jasper; arborescent native copper; jaspery iron ore; arseniate of iron; sulphuret of bismuth, imbedded in jasper; beautiful specular iron ore; lamatitic iron, and the hydrous oxide of iron, in prisms terminated by pyramids.
The neighbourhood of Redruth is, as before stated in a preceding part of this work, the very centre of the mining district; and there are more mines in the vicinity of that town than in any other part of the County. We therefore recommend travellers, especially those who are interested in mining transactions, to make some stay at Redruth, and we can venture to say that they will derive much gratification in consequence.
About two miles west of that town is the noted Copper Mine of Dolcoath, which from its situation on the brow of a hill, enables the visitor to see at one view, all the principal machinery by which its working is conducted. As the same writer justly observes; “it is quite impossible to convey an idea of this singular and interesting scene; steam engines, water wheels, horse whims, and stamping mills are all in motion; while in the glen beneath, many hundred labourers are to be seen busily engaged in the different operations of separating, dressing, and cleansing the ore. In the whole circle of human inventions, there is nothing which so fully manifests the resources of intellect, for the production of immense effects, as the stupendous art of mining, and it is impossible that the workings of Dolcoath Mine, can be viewed without exciting the strongest sensation of wonder and exultation.” The works of this mine extend upwards of a mile in length, from east to west, and in depth, 1050 feet below the level of the sea; being much deeper than any other mine in the county.
Cook’s Kitchen in Illogan, another rich copper mine, is also situated on the summit of the same hill, and from the extent of its operations presents a grand scene, the picturesque effect of which is materially heightened by the solemnity of Carnbre’ Hill, and the numerous ponderous masses of rock which lie scattered about its base
In the Chacewater Mine, which is situated three miles south of Redruth, is one of the largest steam engines now in use; and when erected in the year 1813, was then the most powerful engine ever made. As a proof of its immense power, if it were applied as a mill, it could grind a bushel of wheat in a minute; and notwithstanding its velocity, and the complex nature of its several parts, the engineer in charge of it, can in one instant put a stop to its motion, by the mere act of turning a screw. This engine is made upon the improved system, by Bolton and Watt, and finished with much elegance. The cylinder is 66 inches in diameter; the depth of the engine shaft is 128 fathoms; from the adit to the bottom, 90 fathoms. It makes eight strokes in a minute, and at every stroke raises 108 gallons of water to the adit, and at the same time also, 60 gallons 10 fathoms high, for the purpose of condensing the steam. The quantity of coals which it consumes in 24 hours, is estimated at about eight chaldrons.
About two miles from hence, in a southerly direction, are the Consolidated Mines, which have only lately been re-established.[[52]] Here are two very powerful steam engines, with cylinders 90 inches in diameter. The expenses attending the resumption of the workings of these mines, are said to have amounted to the enormous sum of nearly £70,000; but owing to the immense quantity of copper ore which has been raised, and other advantageous circumstances, the shares are now selling in London at more than £100 per cent. The monthly charges for workmen, &c. amounts to no less a sum than £7000. These mines are now under the management of Mr. Taylor and a London Company.
Huel Unity and the Poldice Mines are also situated in this neighbourhood; the former produces copper, and the latter tin and copper. Both have been very profitable to their adventurers, and are said to have yielded them a profit of from 12 to £16,000 annually. The Poldice Mine is one of the oldest in the county, and yields a yellowish copper ore, a rosin tin, and a few stones of galena. In both of these, steam engines have been long erected, but they are not on so extensive a scale as those used in some of the mines above noticed. In these mines, some of the most beautiful specimens of arseniate of copper and lead have been discovered. A whitish grey copper, crystallized, in triangular and quadrangular pyramids, has also been found here.
Huel Alfred Copper Mine, which, some years ago, was the richest and most profitable mine in Cornwall, is situated about a mile and a half south-east of Hayle. In former times the adventurers in this mine are said to have gained £130,000; but owing to some misunderstanding, the operations have been discontinued since the year 1816, until within the last six months. It is in contemplation to erect two steam engines in this mine, with cylinders of the largest dimensions; when, no doubt, from the favourable appearance of the lodes, the proprietors will be amply repaid the expenses incident to such an undertaking. To the Mineralogist this mine is highly interesting, as several very rare and curious minerals have been discovered; viz. stalactitic swimming, and cubic quartz, carbonate and phosphate of lead, stalactitic, cotryoidal, and investing calcedony, &c. If a stranger should be desirous of descending into a mine, he cannot select a better opportunity than here presents itself, owing to the extensive scales of the lodes. On these occasions, it is always customary to put on a suitable dress; viz. a flannel jacket and trowsers, a close cap, an old broad brimmed hat, and a thick pair of shoes; thus accoutred, a lighted candle is put into his hand, and another suspended to a button of his jacket. A few years ago the Duke of R—d gratified his curiosity in this respect, and many others have followed his example; but as a satisfaction to our readers, we insert Dr. Forbes’s observations on the subject. “A person unacquainted with the details of mining, on being informed of many hundreds of men being employed in a single mine, might naturally imagine that a visit to their deep recesses, would afford a picturesque and imposing spectacle of gregarious labour and bustle; tremendous noise, and much artificial brilliancy to cheer the gloom: nothing, however, is further from the truth, as far as regards the mines of Cornwall; for, like their fellow labourers, the moles, the miners are solitary in their operations. Seldom do we find more than three or four men in one level or gallery, at a time, where they are seen pursuing the common operations of digging, or boring the rock, by the feeble glimmering of a small candle, stuck close by them, with very little noise or more latitude for bodily movement; besides whom, there are generally one or two boys employed in wheeling the broken ore, &c. to the shaft. Each of these boys has also a candle affixed to his wheelbarrow by the universal subterranean candlestick, a piece of clay. A certain band of men, who, however numerous, are always called “a pair,” generally undertake the working of a particular level. These subdivide themselves into smaller bodies, which by relieving each other at the end of every six or eight hours, keep up the work, uninterruptedly, except on Sunday. By means of this subdivision of the pairs, there is in general not more than one third of the under-ground labourers below at any one time. Very seldom are the miners within the sound of each other’s operations, except occasionally they hear the dull report of the explosions. In the vicinity of the main shaft, indeed, the incessant action of the huge chain of pumps, produces a constant, but not very loud noise; while the occasional rattling of the metallic buckets against the walls of the shaft, as they ascend and descend, relieves the monotony both of the silence and the sound; still every thing is dreary, dull, and cheerless; and you can be with difficulty persuaded, even when in the richest and most populous mines, that you are in the centre of such extensive and important operations.