Estelle Sandford, Mark Denning, Jo Hardy & Mike Moxon
Mike started off in the dig and managed to top up the part full skip and one more of stal and mud before his 35mins were up, then Estelle took over. In the was 3 large rocks with the stal/mud layers above and around it - the middle of the 3 rocks was levered and beaten until it submitted and broke into 3, mostly filling Estelle's 2 skips up! Mark then went in as it looked like time to get the drill into action and plug and feathers. He removed a bit of spoil that had been below the rock Estelle removed and then set to work drilling. 3 more skips removed and 2 plug and feathers left jammed in the rock after Mark bit off a little more than he could chew from the large floor rock...
Total time underground: 2.75 hours
Thursday 27 January 2011
Thursday 20 January 2011
Whitepit - 19th January 2011
Stu Gardiner, Mark Denning, Estelle Sandford, Bill Combley & Mike Moxon - Henry Dawson Joined later.
The large boulder in the floor was the soul focus of the evenings digging and with 3 drills fully charged and 2 new sets of wedge and feathers we set about breaking it up, to start with little progress was made, but within 30 minutes we were in full swing and the boulder was decreasing in size rapidly. At the end of the evening only a very small section was left, however this is firmly wedged under the left hand wall, however it is not an obstruction so it is to be left in place for the foreseeable future.
With the boulder removed we are now left with mud, small rocks and the usual broken up stal in the floor. All rocks and spoil were taken up to Talus and disposed of.
The dig face has become very wide and there is a slight worry that we may have lost the left hand wall - Time will tell, but we are still heading forwards and down.
Total time underground: 2.5 hours.
The large boulder in the floor was the soul focus of the evenings digging and with 3 drills fully charged and 2 new sets of wedge and feathers we set about breaking it up, to start with little progress was made, but within 30 minutes we were in full swing and the boulder was decreasing in size rapidly. At the end of the evening only a very small section was left, however this is firmly wedged under the left hand wall, however it is not an obstruction so it is to be left in place for the foreseeable future.
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| The offending boulder is no more |
With the boulder removed we are now left with mud, small rocks and the usual broken up stal in the floor. All rocks and spoil were taken up to Talus and disposed of.
The dig face has become very wide and there is a slight worry that we may have lost the left hand wall - Time will tell, but we are still heading forwards and down.
Total time underground: 2.5 hours.
Tuesday 18 January 2011
Whitepit - 17th January 2011
Stu Gardiner, Estelle Sandford & Mark Denning
The 8 skips worth of spoil and rubble were extracted from the dig and taken up to Talus, this left little to take out other than to continue with breaking up the stal banding.
A very large boulder (see image) has now been exposed in the floor, it was originally thought that the only way to break this up would be using explosives but after some digging around the sides of it, it is not as deep as first though and wedge and feather 'could' work.
The plan for the next session is to spend the entire evening breaking up the large boulder in the floor as it is though that once this is removed the stal banding that is located above will breakdown easier.
Total time underground: 2.5 hours
The 8 skips worth of spoil and rubble were extracted from the dig and taken up to Talus, this left little to take out other than to continue with breaking up the stal banding.
A very large boulder (see image) has now been exposed in the floor, it was originally thought that the only way to break this up would be using explosives but after some digging around the sides of it, it is not as deep as first though and wedge and feather 'could' work.
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| The large boulder to be removed |
The plan for the next session is to spend the entire evening breaking up the large boulder in the floor as it is though that once this is removed the stal banding that is located above will breakdown easier.
Total time underground: 2.5 hours
Whitepit - 16th January 2011
Mark Denning (Solo trip)
Continued to breakup the calcite and boulders at the dig face and in the floor, around 8 skips worth of spoil and rubble in situ ready for the next session when more people will be available to remove it.
Total time underground: 4 hours
Continued to breakup the calcite and boulders at the dig face and in the floor, around 8 skips worth of spoil and rubble in situ ready for the next session when more people will be available to remove it.
Total time underground: 4 hours
Sunday 16 January 2011
Whitepit - 15th January 2011 (Ladder Installation)
Stu Gardiner, Estelle Sandford, Mark Denning & Hels Warren
Estelle and Mark removed the fixed ladders from 5 Buddles Mine Shaft and Bowery Corner (Pud Sucks), these were then taken to the Belfry for some slight modifications so they could be joined together.
Stu and Hels met up with Estelle and Mark at the depression where ladder was bolted together and fixed into the entrance pipes, although secure, the nut's and bolts need to be upgraded to M12 with nylon nut's and the bottom and middle of the ladder need to be secured.
Photos: Hels Warren
Estelle and Mark removed the fixed ladders from 5 Buddles Mine Shaft and Bowery Corner (Pud Sucks), these were then taken to the Belfry for some slight modifications so they could be joined together.
Stu and Hels met up with Estelle and Mark at the depression where ladder was bolted together and fixed into the entrance pipes, although secure, the nut's and bolts need to be upgraded to M12 with nylon nut's and the bottom and middle of the ladder need to be secured.
Photos: Hels Warren
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| The two ladders being bolted together |
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| The ladders being lowered into the entrance pipes |
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| The ladders in place, after being bolted to the existing brackets |
Thursday 13 January 2011
Whitepit - 12th January 2011
Stu Gardiner, Estelle Sandford, Mark Denning & Jo Hardy - (Mike Moxon & Bill Combley Joining in later).
Tidying the dig face and removing any available loose spoil was priority so that we had a clean canvas to work with and that we could see where the boulders started etc.
After 5 - 6 skips of loose spoil we set about with the drills in an attempt to again lower the floor to allow for more working space, this was met with reasonable success and a large percentage of the problem 'icebeg' boulder was extracted, however some of it still remains and the general consensus is that we should leave it alone as we can sit (if a little cramped) at the dig face, which should allow us to work on the calcite banding more effectively.
Post dig debrief is that it is strongly felt that an experimental cord placement and detonation is needed to try and get a feel for what this may achieve, we are unsure due to the amount of calcite and loose soil in between and are concerned that these soft materials may just absorb the blast with little results - Time will tell.
Dust masks were used by those drilling and within the immediate vicinity of the dig face due to excess dust, these worked well although they are very uncomfortable and hot.
Total time underground - 3.5 hours
Tidying the dig face and removing any available loose spoil was priority so that we had a clean canvas to work with and that we could see where the boulders started etc.
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| A shot I took using my light showing the air movement at the top of the dig |
After 5 - 6 skips of loose spoil we set about with the drills in an attempt to again lower the floor to allow for more working space, this was met with reasonable success and a large percentage of the problem 'icebeg' boulder was extracted, however some of it still remains and the general consensus is that we should leave it alone as we can sit (if a little cramped) at the dig face, which should allow us to work on the calcite banding more effectively.
Post dig debrief is that it is strongly felt that an experimental cord placement and detonation is needed to try and get a feel for what this may achieve, we are unsure due to the amount of calcite and loose soil in between and are concerned that these soft materials may just absorb the blast with little results - Time will tell.
Dust masks were used by those drilling and within the immediate vicinity of the dig face due to excess dust, these worked well although they are very uncomfortable and hot.
Total time underground - 3.5 hours
Tuesday 11 January 2011
Whitepit - 10th January 2011
Stu Gardiner, Estelle Sandford, Mark Denning & Jo Hardy
Straight away we set about removing the right hand mud wall which had rather more broken stal mixed in than we first expected, but it came away easily and within a short period of time the dig face was noticeably roomier. After removing the mud wall a boulder was exposed in the floor that was broken down with feathers in around half an hour.
Removing the right hand wall has now also exposed more of the stal wall directly at the front of the dig face, however we have managed to dig down and slightly under which should allow us to break it down and eventually remove it altogether.
The floor is still choked with large boulders although gaps are appearing around them which could help us to wiggle a few of them free.
The air is still very fresh and noticeably cool.
Total time underground: 2.5 hours
Straight away we set about removing the right hand mud wall which had rather more broken stal mixed in than we first expected, but it came away easily and within a short period of time the dig face was noticeably roomier. After removing the mud wall a boulder was exposed in the floor that was broken down with feathers in around half an hour.
Removing the right hand wall has now also exposed more of the stal wall directly at the front of the dig face, however we have managed to dig down and slightly under which should allow us to break it down and eventually remove it altogether.
The floor is still choked with large boulders although gaps are appearing around them which could help us to wiggle a few of them free.
The air is still very fresh and noticeably cool.
Total time underground: 2.5 hours
Sunday 9 January 2011
Whitepit - 07th January 2011
Stu Gardiner, Mark Denning & Jo Hardy
With 3 drills in hand the calcite blockage was attacked once again, the stal wall directly at the face of the dig was found only to be around 8" deep (this was discovered when the drill bit went all the way through), however this obsticle still proved to be very tricky and although only a small percentage of this remains it still proves an issue as it forms part of the overall jigsaw of calcited boulders.
The boulder in the floor was drilled and plug and feather used, these proved semi effictive although the boulder is though to be much bigger than first thought and it would seem that the corners are wedged under the left hand wall and other boulders on top. The general conclusion is that we may not be able to lower the floor much more, although a good chunck of the roof was taken down to give a little more head room.
Then plan moving forwards is to excavate more of the right hand side of the passage, this is cuurently blocked with mud and calcite breakdown, this will give is far more leg room and may allow us to attack the calcite blockage from the side, best case scenario it may bypass it, our only concern is that we may loose the solid left left hand wall sending us off track.
Around 10 skips of mainly rock and calcite were removed to Talus with the walled stacking area becoming almost full.
Total time underground: 5.5 hours.
With 3 drills in hand the calcite blockage was attacked once again, the stal wall directly at the face of the dig was found only to be around 8" deep (this was discovered when the drill bit went all the way through), however this obsticle still proved to be very tricky and although only a small percentage of this remains it still proves an issue as it forms part of the overall jigsaw of calcited boulders.
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| The calcite blockage at the curent dig face (in white) |
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| All 3 of us in the dig - A month ago only 1 person could fit |
The boulder in the floor was drilled and plug and feather used, these proved semi effictive although the boulder is though to be much bigger than first thought and it would seem that the corners are wedged under the left hand wall and other boulders on top. The general conclusion is that we may not be able to lower the floor much more, although a good chunck of the roof was taken down to give a little more head room.
Then plan moving forwards is to excavate more of the right hand side of the passage, this is cuurently blocked with mud and calcite breakdown, this will give is far more leg room and may allow us to attack the calcite blockage from the side, best case scenario it may bypass it, our only concern is that we may loose the solid left left hand wall sending us off track.
Around 10 skips of mainly rock and calcite were removed to Talus with the walled stacking area becoming almost full.
Total time underground: 5.5 hours.
Wednesday 5 January 2011
Whitepit - 05th January 2011
Stu Gardiner & Estelle Sandford
With only the 2 of us due to the others being struck down by flu we set about continuing to break down the calcite boulders, these as expected were still difficult to extract in decent sized segments, however a fairly good piece was removed from the right hand side with some well placed feathers.
The solid calcite 'wall' directly in front of the dig was becoming quite tricky to break down so we set about digging over the top into loose spoil, this exposed the calcite blockage from the top allowing us to feather it from the top down, around 30% of it still remains but another session should see it removed.
There are now 2 clear calcite boulders that block the majority of the passage and pre drilled holes have been placed in these in preparation for the next session.
Part of the roof was also removed in an attempt to create a little more working space as the dig face is becoming cramped, this is due to the floor being extremely compacted and almost impossible to dig.
Note: the 36v Li ion Hilti made light work of drilling the holes and the new shorter 14mm SDS bit made drilling in confined spaces easier.
Total time underground: 2.5 hours
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
With only the 2 of us due to the others being struck down by flu we set about continuing to break down the calcite boulders, these as expected were still difficult to extract in decent sized segments, however a fairly good piece was removed from the right hand side with some well placed feathers.
The solid calcite 'wall' directly in front of the dig was becoming quite tricky to break down so we set about digging over the top into loose spoil, this exposed the calcite blockage from the top allowing us to feather it from the top down, around 30% of it still remains but another session should see it removed.
There are now 2 clear calcite boulders that block the majority of the passage and pre drilled holes have been placed in these in preparation for the next session.
Part of the roof was also removed in an attempt to create a little more working space as the dig face is becoming cramped, this is due to the floor being extremely compacted and almost impossible to dig.
Note: the 36v Li ion Hilti made light work of drilling the holes and the new shorter 14mm SDS bit made drilling in confined spaces easier.
Total time underground: 2.5 hours
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday 3 January 2011
White Pit few more pics 2-1-11
The spoil wall at the top - Willie Stanton would have been impressed with our retaining wall!
white pit - few pics from 2 Jan 11
Current end of Dig
Mark at bottom of drop before the dig
It gets boring sometimes waiting for skips to haul up...
Whitepit - 03rd January 2011
Mark Denning & Jo Hardy
Continued work on the calcite boulders left from the previous trip, these were reduced but many still remain, around 6 skips worth of sand and rubble were removed from the face.
Total time underground: 3 hours
Continued work on the calcite boulders left from the previous trip, these were reduced but many still remain, around 6 skips worth of sand and rubble were removed from the face.
Total time underground: 3 hours
Sunday 2 January 2011
Whitepit - 02nd January 2011
Stu Gardiner, Estelle Sandford & Mark Denning
First trip of the new year and progress was very slow due to the current limit being tightly compacted with boulders that have been calcited together creating a solid lump of rock, we set about trying to located cracks or edges to the rocks, but due to the calcite 'glue' this proved difficult if not impossible, we had mixed sucsess with the new shorter (stronger) plugs and feather made by Mark earlier in the day, but many more attempts will be required to make further progress.
The passage remains wide and there is still no sign of a solid floor, air is exceptionally good even after 4 hours with 3 people at the dig face digging hard (using alot of air).
The next trip will again see few skips due to the slow process of breaking rocks up, a total of around 12 skips were taken to Talus on this trip with the 'Great Wall of Whitepit' now hitting the ceiling.
Total time underground: 4.5 hours
First trip of the new year and progress was very slow due to the current limit being tightly compacted with boulders that have been calcited together creating a solid lump of rock, we set about trying to located cracks or edges to the rocks, but due to the calcite 'glue' this proved difficult if not impossible, we had mixed sucsess with the new shorter (stronger) plugs and feather made by Mark earlier in the day, but many more attempts will be required to make further progress.
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| The current dig face, the drill is resting on the calcite boulders. Photo: Estelle Sandford |
The passage remains wide and there is still no sign of a solid floor, air is exceptionally good even after 4 hours with 3 people at the dig face digging hard (using alot of air).
The next trip will again see few skips due to the slow process of breaking rocks up, a total of around 12 skips were taken to Talus on this trip with the 'Great Wall of Whitepit' now hitting the ceiling.
Total time underground: 4.5 hours
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