Verfasst: Do. 27. Mai 04 14:40
Beim durchlesen der Mai 2002 Ausgabe („Special Carbide Edition“) von „The Electrical Caver“ (gibt es unter http://www.gcgcavers.com/ als pdf.- Datei) ist mir folgender Artikel aufgefallen:
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The Carbide Mines of Svenstavik, North Sweden
Last year, during the course of a caving holiday, the author was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit the Carbide Mines of Svenstavik,which lie to the north of the small industrial town of Hammerdal deep in the ranges of the Arvidsjauer Hills and at an altitude of about 1500 meters. They are unique as this is the only site in the world where Calcium Carbide is found native.The mineral occurs in a bed of carboniferous limestone which has been metamorphosed at an early date forming, at the junction of the Skjon series, a band of solid carbide two meters thick, extending for kilometers.
The mines are entered by spacious horizontal drifts, extending far into the hills. The mineral is obtained in a fashion similar to that of coal, although the workings are not modern as some coal mines, the mineral being excavated from the working face, which is about two meters high, with a pick. The working faces are continually sprayed with paraffin to keep down the dust and this also gives the carbide its characteristic black glossy look.
The mines are quite dangerous places of employment with the combined action of the choking dust and the gas, which is both inflammable and poisonous. A few years ago a Laplander employed in the workings very nearly caused a nasty accident by obeying the call of nature at the working face.The resulting explosion brought down a good part of the roof but fortunately there was no loss of life.
The carbide is removed by conveyor belt and then by trolleys with brass wheels to the surface.There it is screened and sieved in large sheds and then washed in paraffin and packed in airtight containers ready to export to all parts of the world.
The mines are privately owned and sad to say there is only one large working left, the others having gone out of production as today this commodity can be obtained much more easily and safely from an electric furnace.
Tony Oldham, Phil Winkler
The Baltimore Grotto News
Vol.,VII,No.8,pp.244-5
Reprinted in the Speleo Digest 1964
Reprinted in Cavers Digest 5692, No.9
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Tja … ob an der Geschichte was wahres dran ist ?
Glückauf!
Achim
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The Carbide Mines of Svenstavik, North Sweden
Last year, during the course of a caving holiday, the author was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit the Carbide Mines of Svenstavik,which lie to the north of the small industrial town of Hammerdal deep in the ranges of the Arvidsjauer Hills and at an altitude of about 1500 meters. They are unique as this is the only site in the world where Calcium Carbide is found native.The mineral occurs in a bed of carboniferous limestone which has been metamorphosed at an early date forming, at the junction of the Skjon series, a band of solid carbide two meters thick, extending for kilometers.
The mines are entered by spacious horizontal drifts, extending far into the hills. The mineral is obtained in a fashion similar to that of coal, although the workings are not modern as some coal mines, the mineral being excavated from the working face, which is about two meters high, with a pick. The working faces are continually sprayed with paraffin to keep down the dust and this also gives the carbide its characteristic black glossy look.
The mines are quite dangerous places of employment with the combined action of the choking dust and the gas, which is both inflammable and poisonous. A few years ago a Laplander employed in the workings very nearly caused a nasty accident by obeying the call of nature at the working face.The resulting explosion brought down a good part of the roof but fortunately there was no loss of life.
The carbide is removed by conveyor belt and then by trolleys with brass wheels to the surface.There it is screened and sieved in large sheds and then washed in paraffin and packed in airtight containers ready to export to all parts of the world.
The mines are privately owned and sad to say there is only one large working left, the others having gone out of production as today this commodity can be obtained much more easily and safely from an electric furnace.
Tony Oldham, Phil Winkler
The Baltimore Grotto News
Vol.,VII,No.8,pp.244-5
Reprinted in the Speleo Digest 1964
Reprinted in Cavers Digest 5692, No.9
****
Tja … ob an der Geschichte was wahres dran ist ?
Glückauf!
Achim
