Stu Gardiner & Mark Denning
With only the 2 of us and a dig face that was already choked with spoil sacks and rubble that needed removing to Talus we set about trying to dig directly down through the boulders. Caps were used (3 at a time) and the results were good, the large problem boulder was broken up and the right hand wall was taken back using feathers allowing more movement at the dig face.
Investigations with the crow bar indicates that the roof is still dropping on the same 45 degree angle, this means that we still need to drop the floor level by a considerable amount so that we retain a sizable dig face.
The rubble sacks are very useful allowing the digger to extract spoil and rubble in confined surrounding without the cumbersome skips getting in the way.
NOTE: The dig must be cleared of sacks and rubble before any other digging trips are considered as there is little room. Also there are LIVE caps jammed in some of the rocks (Stu to advise).
Total time underground: 3.5 hours
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Sunday, 20 February 2011
White Pit - 20th February 2011
Stu Gardiner, Mark Denning & Jo Hardy
Good progress with the floor lowered a few inches and some of the walls taken back a little.
Hessian sacks were used to move the spoil from the dig face as there were only 3 of us.
Total time underground: 3.5 hours
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Good progress with the floor lowered a few inches and some of the walls taken back a little.
Hessian sacks were used to move the spoil from the dig face as there were only 3 of us.
Total time underground: 3.5 hours
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, 19 February 2011
White Pit - 16th February 2011
Stu Gardiner, Mark Denning, Estelle Sandford, Jo Hardy & Mike Moxon
With a few skips needing emptying from the previous session emptied, we set about trying to dig past the large stal blockage, the theory being that once we are past this then the passage will widen and that we may regain the left hand wall, although it seems unlikely the wall will be found, however we still have obvious roof formations that are keeping us on track.
The dig face is currently quite low due to the nature of the floor, the stal blockage has invaded much of the floor. The large slab like boulder on the right was broken up enough to expose the soil below, this should allow the floor to be lowered.
Around 10 skips of mainly rubble was removed to Talus.
Note: Mike Moxon investigated the unstable slope near the entrance - verdict: shoring is required.
Total time underground: 2.5 hours
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
With a few skips needing emptying from the previous session emptied, we set about trying to dig past the large stal blockage, the theory being that once we are past this then the passage will widen and that we may regain the left hand wall, although it seems unlikely the wall will be found, however we still have obvious roof formations that are keeping us on track.
The dig face is currently quite low due to the nature of the floor, the stal blockage has invaded much of the floor. The large slab like boulder on the right was broken up enough to expose the soil below, this should allow the floor to be lowered.
Around 10 skips of mainly rubble was removed to Talus.
Note: Mike Moxon investigated the unstable slope near the entrance - verdict: shoring is required.
Total time underground: 2.5 hours
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday, 11 February 2011
White Pit - 9th February 2011
Stu Gardiner, Estelle Sandford, Mark Denning, Mike Moxon & Pete Hellier
With the passage trending slightly to the right we set about removing boulders from the floor in an aim to enlarge the working area, plugs and feathers were used effectively and the floor was lowered.
The flow stone bank on the left of the passage is thought to be the result of the small inlet passage found in the roof recently, this has caused us to trend right, however once past this hopefully we shall be back on track.
The passage is still dipping at 45 degrees with obvious water worn roof pendants guiding us on. Around 10 skips were removed, mainly broken boulders and loose gravel / mud.
Total time underground: 3 hours
With the passage trending slightly to the right we set about removing boulders from the floor in an aim to enlarge the working area, plugs and feathers were used effectively and the floor was lowered.
The flow stone bank on the left of the passage is thought to be the result of the small inlet passage found in the roof recently, this has caused us to trend right, however once past this hopefully we shall be back on track.
The passage is still dipping at 45 degrees with obvious water worn roof pendants guiding us on. Around 10 skips were removed, mainly broken boulders and loose gravel / mud.
Total time underground: 3 hours
Thursday, 3 February 2011
White Pit - 2nd Febuary 2011
Estelle Sandford, Mark Denning, Jo Hardy and Hels Warren
Stu, you've been replaced! We got ourselves a younger and better looking substitute on our digging team! LOL
Initially clearing up about 7 skips of spoil created by Mark from his previous trips on sunday and monday breaking up quite a lot of a large boulder in the floor. Once the spoil had been cleared and hauled out, Jo and then Hels (on her first ever go at actually digging) had a go at hammering and chiselling at the stal at the end of the dig before Estelle went and drilled and plug and feathered (first removing the 2 Mark had left stuck in the rock from being greedy!) and then breaking most of that rock up, so now back to stal and mud digging mostly (until the next rock!). Dig is veering around to the right, but continuing to go down on around the 45 degree angle.
Total time underground: 2.5 hours
Stu, you've been replaced! We got ourselves a younger and better looking substitute on our digging team! LOL
Initially clearing up about 7 skips of spoil created by Mark from his previous trips on sunday and monday breaking up quite a lot of a large boulder in the floor. Once the spoil had been cleared and hauled out, Jo and then Hels (on her first ever go at actually digging) had a go at hammering and chiselling at the stal at the end of the dig before Estelle went and drilled and plug and feathered (first removing the 2 Mark had left stuck in the rock from being greedy!) and then breaking most of that rock up, so now back to stal and mud digging mostly (until the next rock!). Dig is veering around to the right, but continuing to go down on around the 45 degree angle.
Total time underground: 2.5 hours
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Whitepit - 26th January 2011
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
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, 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
Friday, 31 December 2010
Whitepit - 31st December 2010
Stu Gardiner, Estelle Sandford, Mark Denning & Jo Hardy
Plenty of progress forwards and slightly downwards, some large slab like boulders were extracted from the floor, however a large mainly limestone boulder proved too much for the plugs and we failed to make an impression on it. The plug that jammed itself in was hammered over and left for another day.
The current dig face is now a mixture of soft sand with bands of calcite around 1" thick, another large boulder is wedged between the roof and the calcite floor, this was dug around with the aid of a crowbar it moves a little, thoughts are this may need to be broken down before any attempts to try and move it.
The spoil area in Talus 4 is now quite impressive with some fine dry stone walling, this has given us much more dumping space.
Note: new plugs and feathers will be needed for the next trip.
Time underground: 5.5 hours
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Plenty of progress forwards and slightly downwards, some large slab like boulders were extracted from the floor, however a large mainly limestone boulder proved too much for the plugs and we failed to make an impression on it. The plug that jammed itself in was hammered over and left for another day.
The current dig face is now a mixture of soft sand with bands of calcite around 1" thick, another large boulder is wedged between the roof and the calcite floor, this was dug around with the aid of a crowbar it moves a little, thoughts are this may need to be broken down before any attempts to try and move it.
The spoil area in Talus 4 is now quite impressive with some fine dry stone walling, this has given us much more dumping space.
Note: new plugs and feathers will be needed for the next trip.
Time underground: 5.5 hours
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, 30 December 2010
Whitepit - 29th December 2010
Stu Gardiner, Estelle Sandford, Mark Denning & Jo Hardy
The huge slab of calcite floor was the main obstruction preventing any further progress and there was no easy way of breaking this up due to the shear 'softness'. The best technique we found was to drill multible deep 14mm holes through the slab and then using plug and feathers slowly peel sections away, most attempts yeilded a few inches at a time, but every now and again we would get lucky and a significant 'chunck ' would come away. After around 2 hours of attacking the slab Mark finally managed to split it into two sections allowing us to haul the 2 halves out from the dig face.
Now that the obsticle had been removed it was digging as normal, with soft sand and small calcite chunks, however towards the end of the session I managed to unearth a boulder of around 60kg from the floor that ideally needed to be removed as this would provide more leg room at the face, plug and feather were used to reduce the boulder and this proved sucssesful by breaking a good third away, now the boulder could be moved (slightly) and after around 40 minutes of smashing it with a lump hammer in an attempt to reduce the wieght we managed to man handle it to a postion where a sling could could be secured around it and it was haulded from the face to Talus 4.
Note: Upon entering the dig a strong smell of mould was present, on further invesigation these was a thin layer on the wall of the dig face - This is the first time this has appeared.
Time underground: 6 hours
The huge slab of calcite floor was the main obstruction preventing any further progress and there was no easy way of breaking this up due to the shear 'softness'. The best technique we found was to drill multible deep 14mm holes through the slab and then using plug and feathers slowly peel sections away, most attempts yeilded a few inches at a time, but every now and again we would get lucky and a significant 'chunck ' would come away. After around 2 hours of attacking the slab Mark finally managed to split it into two sections allowing us to haul the 2 halves out from the dig face.
Now that the obsticle had been removed it was digging as normal, with soft sand and small calcite chunks, however towards the end of the session I managed to unearth a boulder of around 60kg from the floor that ideally needed to be removed as this would provide more leg room at the face, plug and feather were used to reduce the boulder and this proved sucssesful by breaking a good third away, now the boulder could be moved (slightly) and after around 40 minutes of smashing it with a lump hammer in an attempt to reduce the wieght we managed to man handle it to a postion where a sling could could be secured around it and it was haulded from the face to Talus 4.
Note: Upon entering the dig a strong smell of mould was present, on further invesigation these was a thin layer on the wall of the dig face - This is the first time this has appeared.
Time underground: 6 hours
Monday, 27 December 2010
White Pit 15th Dec 2010
Estelle Sandford, Mark Denning, Jo Hardy, Mike Moxon & Bill Combley
2.5hrs
Digging still going well and horizontal with RH wall looking interesting. Just clearing more space and making the dig area bigger. 20mins each so we all dug.
Sunday, 12 December 2010
White Pit - 12th December 2010
Stu Gardiner, Estelle Sandford, Mark Denning & Jo Hardy
The large problem boulder in the floor was broken down using feathers, however a large portion of it still remains due to some poorly placed feathers (Stu), it could be broken up further although it's not really causing too much of an obsruction.
The 8" stal floor turned out to be a huge roof pendant that had been deposited, this was removed after a larger boulder holding it down was taken out from further into the dig, once both these had been extracted the floor was much lower allowing the skip to be easily filled with the spade.
The dig has now taken on a distinct right hand turn and digging in the roof gave way to a small air space with some visable flow stone and some small straws etc. The passage is around 1m in width with a roof pendant in the middle, under this pendant is a very large slab that will need to be removed to allow progress. The floor will also need to be dropped considerably to allow for comfortable digging - Air is still very fresh, even after long periods at the dig face.
Estelle and Mark have started to restructure the spoil areas with some impressive walls from the boulders taken out, this will be invaluable once more spoil and rocks start to come out.
As the dig gets deeper it's felt that maybe a bolt will be need in the roof to aid the extraction of skips below.
Total time underground - 4 hours
The large problem boulder in the floor was broken down using feathers, however a large portion of it still remains due to some poorly placed feathers (Stu), it could be broken up further although it's not really causing too much of an obsruction.
The 8" stal floor turned out to be a huge roof pendant that had been deposited, this was removed after a larger boulder holding it down was taken out from further into the dig, once both these had been extracted the floor was much lower allowing the skip to be easily filled with the spade.
The dig has now taken on a distinct right hand turn and digging in the roof gave way to a small air space with some visable flow stone and some small straws etc. The passage is around 1m in width with a roof pendant in the middle, under this pendant is a very large slab that will need to be removed to allow progress. The floor will also need to be dropped considerably to allow for comfortable digging - Air is still very fresh, even after long periods at the dig face.
Estelle and Mark have started to restructure the spoil areas with some impressive walls from the boulders taken out, this will be invaluable once more spoil and rocks start to come out.
As the dig gets deeper it's felt that maybe a bolt will be need in the roof to aid the extraction of skips below.
Total time underground - 4 hours
Saturday, 11 December 2010
White Pit - 10th December 2010
Stu Gardiner, Estelle Sandford, Mark Denning & Mike Moxon
An 8" stal floor has been located in the centre of the dig face, this was broken up as best as possible however much of it still remains. A large boulder where you tend to sit has also been un earthed and will need to be plug and feathered during the next trip.
Around 12 skips were removed, many sand and small pieces of broken stal.
The current dig face seems to be trending to the right and gradually head down. Sediment layers indicate that there has been staring water indicating that we maybe nearing the bottom.
Total time underground 2.5 hours.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
An 8" stal floor has been located in the centre of the dig face, this was broken up as best as possible however much of it still remains. A large boulder where you tend to sit has also been un earthed and will need to be plug and feathered during the next trip.
Around 12 skips were removed, many sand and small pieces of broken stal.
The current dig face seems to be trending to the right and gradually head down. Sediment layers indicate that there has been staring water indicating that we maybe nearing the bottom.
Total time underground 2.5 hours.
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Thursday, 9 December 2010
White Pit - 08th December 2010
Stu Gardiner, Estelle Sandford, Mike Moxon, Steve Chitty, & Bill Combley
The verticle nature of the dig has now gone horizontal with signs that water once pooled at the current limit which hopefully means we have reached the bottom. The horizontal passage leading off away from Talus is now around 5 - 6ft long with soft sand and broken stal being removed with ease. Around 10 skips were removed from the dig face and the large problem boulder which was catching the skips along the drag route was broken down using plug's and feather's, however this has resulted in a large crater appearing which will need filling so the skips can run freely again.
Air is still very crisp at the dig face, even with prolonged digging head first. (Steve had a nasty slip on the icy scaffold stile coming out, which has resulted in a trip to A&E).
Total time underground 2 hours. with Mark Denning on the surface repairing the lock.
The verticle nature of the dig has now gone horizontal with signs that water once pooled at the current limit which hopefully means we have reached the bottom. The horizontal passage leading off away from Talus is now around 5 - 6ft long with soft sand and broken stal being removed with ease. Around 10 skips were removed from the dig face and the large problem boulder which was catching the skips along the drag route was broken down using plug's and feather's, however this has resulted in a large crater appearing which will need filling so the skips can run freely again.
Air is still very crisp at the dig face, even with prolonged digging head first. (Steve had a nasty slip on the icy scaffold stile coming out, which has resulted in a trip to A&E).
Total time underground 2 hours. with Mark Denning on the surface repairing the lock.
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
White Pit - Priddy
Stu Gardiner and Mark Denning.
Plug's and feathers were used at the dig face to make the working area larger and a large boulder in the floor was unearthered, due to it's size this had to be broken up over a half hour period in order for us to attach a sling to it and remove it. Estimated wieght was around 20kg and this was eventually placed in the spoil dump within Talus.
Time undergound - 2 hours.
Plug's and feathers were used at the dig face to make the working area larger and a large boulder in the floor was unearthered, due to it's size this had to be broken up over a half hour period in order for us to attach a sling to it and remove it. Estimated wieght was around 20kg and this was eventually placed in the spoil dump within Talus.
Time undergound - 2 hours.
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