88

Surface Veins, Little Silver

Surface veins were mined for their contained silver more or less as soon as they were found as the mining was straight-forward and the returns quickly realized. Later as shafts were sunk, the mining proceeded up to surface to join the mining already done. The rock was strong and required little support. This type of mining was both advantageous and disadvantageous to the miners. The open stopes or mined-out opening allowed air in and out of the mine for ventilation, but it also allowed rain and snow to fall directly into the mine. Cold air is dense and in winter the cold air would sink into the mine and freeze water lines and shafts causing major problems. In some cases the ice did not melt in the summer and acted as an air conditioning system. There are openings in some of the mines in Cobalt that still emit air at freezing temperatures in the summertime.

89

Rich Silver Vein
1907
Cobalt Mining Camp, Town of Cobalt and Coleman Township, Ontario, Canada