drilling holes for blasting in an 1800's Copper Mine

Drilling one of the three holes seen in the blasting video. It was sped up because we hit a piece of copper part way through the hole which took a long time to get through. The drill is a one man single stage jack leg drill. Overall it only puts out about 200 pounds of pushing force, which makes it a pretty weak drill.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Adventure
• Mine
• drilling
• copper
• country
• blasting
• keweenaw
• UP
• Michigan

[AdventureMiningCo]

The low silica basalt means there is very little chance of contracting silicosis. Even when they were dry drilling everyday back in the 1800's the number of silicosis cases was extremely low (<1%). We are planning to build a water collector to run hoses to the drill for future use since the dust was very hard to see through and its keeps the mine clean.

[centennialau]

You wont live long drilling holes without flushing water

[AdventureMiningCo]

@centennialau Not drilling coal here just some Basalt. Most of the dust heads down the drift and fresh air flows in behind us.

[Budx15x]

@AdventureMiningCo ... still not safe tho

[wvufanngarner]

@AdventureMiningCo even with the ventilation, water would be good for this drilling, being so close. Silicosis is a bitch man. coal or not. but every mine is different. be safe brother.