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Early Mining

-Miners walked to work
-Safety was a secondary concern
-No mining regulations or inspectors
-Much of mining was done by hand - hard physical work
-Miners were always wet so they wore oilskins which was the same clothing they wore fishing
- Miners provided their own clothing
-Mining from surface down
-Access by ladders
-Picks, Shovels, and Wheelbarrows
-Where explosives were used these were based on black powder and it lit with a fuse and a match
-Miners worked in fumes after a blast
-There were narrow veins. Wheelbarrows were often bent in to allow passage through the levels (Tunnels)
-Little ventilation. Often by natural draught only
-Danger of rock falls since miners worked under the ore
Dry drilling in early days - Silicosis as a result
-Mine was lit by tallow candles
-Miners use to attach a candle to their hard hats then acetylene lamps used inadequate or intermittent power (electricity) supply so water pumps often failed
-Pumping of water to surface took many stages
-Water flowed along the levels
-Unknown that the water carried radon gas the exposure to which lead to cancer in later life where ore cars ran on tracks (rails) they were pushed by hand
-Miners were paid on production. So in this case, no ore means no pay
-Small tonnages mined and high-graded. Ore hand sorted on surface
-Ore hoisted to the surface in pork barrels and later in kibbles
-Where shafts were used to hoist the ore they were wooden lined

Modern Day Mining

-Miners travelled to work often by bus
-Safety was a priority
-Mines inspected regularly and regulations must be met
-More than adequate ventilation
-Air blown into the mine will be heated
-Mining from lowest ore level upwards
-Modern day mining clothing worn
-Miners provided with safety clothing
-Electric (battery) cap lamps
-Mine lit with LED and fluorspar lighting
-Access to mine by either shaft or ramp
-All drilling is conducted wet - no chances of silicosis as a result
-Miners will be on the surface during a blast and not go underground until fumes are clear
-Both mechanized track and trackless mining employed
Tracked mining uses electric locomotives to pull/push mine cars
-Trackless mining uses diesel powered rubber tired equipment
-Water flowing from level to level down purpose drilled holes
-Water pumped to surface in single stage
-Radon gas regularly monitored
-Miners never work under the ore but use remotely operated equipment
-Poorer ore grades mined since little ore left behind
-Miners paid a set wage and paid a bonus based on grade & production
-Ore brought to the surface via concrete lined shaft or by truck (up the ramp)

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Peter Slaney (Simms) and Robert (Bert) Squires at Iron Springs Mine - St. Lawrence Corporation
1933-1978
St. Lawrence, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

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Modern drill at Newfluor operation
1970
St. Lawrence, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada