PlantAKiss
Moderator Schmoderator Fluorescent fluorite, Engl
So I had an adventure this past Saturday.
On a field trip with the rock club I am a member of, I got a rare opportunity to enter Morefield Mine in Amelia, VA. Amelia sits on top of a pegmatite and produces many fine minerals. This mine tour was a special opportunity because the mine might be closing and if it closes, it closes forever. Morefield Mine is a pay-to-dig business although the digging is all done on the surface. You are not allowed in the mine as its still an active working mine. You can find garnet, clevelandite, amazonite, quartz, smokey quartz, amethyst, ametrine, star quartz, moonstone, kyanite and unakite to name a few minerals. Its a great place to take kids to play in the dirt and mud.
So...I was very nervous about doing this because I knew we had to descend and ascend 60 feet of vertical ladders. I'm not too keen on heights.
I also knew this was a physical challenge.
I am decked out in the required gear...steeltoed boots (brand new $120 LaCrosse boots for $19 on eBay!), hard hat and head lamp. We had to take oxygen units with us. I had to stuff mine in my pocket because nobody told me to bring a belt or pack. Hmmph! So I was pretty bulgy. We have to sign all kinds of papers and have all the rules read to us. Then off we go. We go to the smaller entrance and I see where I have to go. I'm terrified!! lol A small wood platform with a hole cut in it...and a ladder disappearing into the dark. From this point on...it is only fear-produced adrenalin that moves me.
We actually didn't enter here but its one of the mine shaft entrance/exits. We exited here at the end of the tour.
We had to descend a vertical wood ladder to a wood platform...turn around...descend another ladder to a platform...turn around...descend another ladder to a platform. Down, down, down. I was TERRIFIED! lol I discovered that mine ladders were not built for short people. Some of rungs were spaced rather far apart and I could barely reach them with my arms and legs. But...it was too late. It was do it or die! On this first round we descended about 50-60 feet into the earth.
Once in the mine corridor...I was fine. It was cool and very wet. Some areas were lighted but most of it was dark and you needed your head lamps. The mine was awsome! It was beautiful with all the many minerals in layers and veins.
Seven club members went in...and we had one mining engineer as a tour guide (he's in the black Tshirt). The rest were wimps and stayed outside to dig. hehe (Yeah, I'm a wimp...just a wimp down in a deeeeeeep hole.)
There were more ladders down. This is one of the shafts going dow another level. At this point water was pouring down like rain. I actually opted out of this one descent as we were warned about the water and our cameras. I stayed on this level and tried to avoid the falling water. Amazingly I saw a tiny frog and a lizard! Yup, I was alone in a dark tunnel with creepy crawlies...
This is a terrible photo but my camera doesn't focus well in low light. This little guy never moved a muscle. Anyone know what it is? I wondered if it were blind. Maybe it was after the little frog...
So...I was very nervous about doing this because I knew we had to descend and ascend 60 feet of vertical ladders. I'm not too keen on heights.
I am decked out in the required gear...steeltoed boots (brand new $120 LaCrosse boots for $19 on eBay!), hard hat and head lamp. We had to take oxygen units with us. I had to stuff mine in my pocket because nobody told me to bring a belt or pack. Hmmph! So I was pretty bulgy. We have to sign all kinds of papers and have all the rules read to us. Then off we go. We go to the smaller entrance and I see where I have to go. I'm terrified!! lol A small wood platform with a hole cut in it...and a ladder disappearing into the dark. From this point on...it is only fear-produced adrenalin that moves me.
We actually didn't enter here but its one of the mine shaft entrance/exits. We exited here at the end of the tour.
We had to descend a vertical wood ladder to a wood platform...turn around...descend another ladder to a platform...turn around...descend another ladder to a platform. Down, down, down. I was TERRIFIED! lol I discovered that mine ladders were not built for short people. Some of rungs were spaced rather far apart and I could barely reach them with my arms and legs. But...it was too late. It was do it or die! On this first round we descended about 50-60 feet into the earth.
Once in the mine corridor...I was fine. It was cool and very wet. Some areas were lighted but most of it was dark and you needed your head lamps. The mine was awsome! It was beautiful with all the many minerals in layers and veins.
Seven club members went in...and we had one mining engineer as a tour guide (he's in the black Tshirt). The rest were wimps and stayed outside to dig. hehe (Yeah, I'm a wimp...just a wimp down in a deeeeeeep hole.)
There were more ladders down. This is one of the shafts going dow another level. At this point water was pouring down like rain. I actually opted out of this one descent as we were warned about the water and our cameras. I stayed on this level and tried to avoid the falling water. Amazingly I saw a tiny frog and a lizard! Yup, I was alone in a dark tunnel with creepy crawlies...
This is a terrible photo but my camera doesn't focus well in low light. This little guy never moved a muscle. Anyone know what it is? I wondered if it were blind. Maybe it was after the little frog...