I was told by the miners that, in former times, a very sad accident happened in the mine because of strong and poisonous damps, which are harmful vapours found underground. At one time, twenty-eight men were killed by these damps in four different passages of the mine, called cuniculi, with seven men in each passage. These damps were very dangerous because they could stop a lamp from burning and make it hard or impossible for men to breathe. When the miners were digging and deepening Leopold’s Pit, they suffered greatly from these bad damps, which often filled the shaft and made the air unsafe for work Journey from Chremnitz to Newsol.
To solve this problem, the miners tried several methods to improve the air. First, they fixed a long tube along the side of the shaft, stretching from the top down to the bottom. The purpose of this tube was to carry away the bad air and allow fresh air to enter the pit. However, this first solution did not work well enough. Therefore, they used another method. They forced down a wide and flat board that nearly covered the whole opening of the pit and lay very close to its sides, leaving only the space where the tube was placed. By doing this, they pushed the bad air out of the pit through the tube. This work was difficult and had to be repeated many times before the air became safe.
Later, when more passages were dug into the pit, the air inside improved greatly. Fresh air could move more freely, and the mine became much safer for the workers. Because of this improvement, I was able to be drawn up through the shaft without feeling any trouble in breathing, which showed how much better the ventilation had become compared to earlier times Guided Round Tours Turkey.
A Terrible Fire in the Mine
There was also another tragic event in a long underground passage known as Mtermans Forestall, which was about five hundred fathoms in length. In the year 1642, this passage caught fire because of the carelessness of a young boy. The boy was cleaning the snuff from a lamp and wiped it against the wooden structure of the mine. Since many parts of the mine were supported with wood, the flame quickly spread and caused a dangerous fire inside the passage.
As a result of this fire, fifty men were trapped and suffocated by smoke and bad air. Their bodies were later recovered, except for one man. This unfortunate man was not found at first, and when he was finally discovered, his body had been completely dissolved by the sharp and mineral waters of the mine. Nothing remained of his flesh or bones, and only some parts of his clothes were left behind. This shows how strong and corrosive the waters in the mine could be.
Minerals Found in the Mine
The mine is also rich in many kinds of minerals. Among these, there is vitriol in several colours, including white, red, blue, and green. There are also vitriolic waters, which contain mineral substances dissolved in them. These waters and minerals show the great variety of natural materials hidden deep underground.
Another curious substance is often found sticking to the gold ore. It appears in small pointed shapes, like tiny needles, and has a shining purple colour. The material from which it grows, or its “mother,” is yellow and looks very similar to brimstone. The miners call this substance the “Antimony of Gold,” because it is often found near or attached to the gold ore.
In addition to these minerals, crystals are also discovered in the mine. Some of these crystals are clear, while others have a yellow tint. These natural formations add to the wonder of the mine and show the richness of the earth in that region. Overall, the mine is not only important for gold but also for the many different minerals and natural substances that can be found within it.
