Jeff has been taking our cheapo digital camera down in the mine with him. Here are a few of the shots that he's gotten so far.
This is how they mark the wall where they are starting to 'back-check'.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnsI4tTk6Xi4Nosod6M3RYwi_RlA60jJfbGptD0Q4ZVY4XomzslTcw0lDBZDvA6Ub2ByyODEMroQGq-P6wIiTbjELmMyRpPr38YI-saH6spmlde4CYndmXvYJ0-71N_GXk4gTId5ZheeK/s200/Jan+22+-+In+the+mine+002.jpg)
This is the wheel of the 'jolter' that they use for back-checking. That's Jeff's tool box by the tire. The tool box is 20" long, and 10" high.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRgP5-bv5_LLifCob03MyTj-W7sph1r0UsjhkEFlJ8r32L364CC0kJvDUf81muOdG0e6EtQHjzrxc6AG_-DmA2qLfmSwNnujxtshnfBlrWBHUFF7ShJoNzv_gVkiYh8cBpOPB2XKfwxlO/s200/Jan+23+-+In+the+mine+001.jpg)
This is the back of the jolter.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYh1ZWWFhQ4hrtt1tbReSgwD3zllLY25puR22cpVMuszDzddrmnFVbedOs_hIyDkEICHVkPumGZ1a1yu8MjzpGQrgAhG8czejRap5HPLE4QKnXkPdREi_NI3XOqeNK63tC40eySyBFKek/s200/Jan+16+-+In+the+mine+002.jpg)
This is the side of the jolter.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycCSov8fcLwD9eEDK7dUdTrsGvDiXvEZprMszMQ1_qDvNUnqgoyaHdUX8tWDEs4rQEVMHdqc_0NnQtC-v9WYxheaksrgGmrIuLIQtX_pfI_fAbM5lJCgk6KEZRLRzmG3By1_gsoYuvQWj/s200/Jan+23+-+In+the+mine+002.jpg)
This is looking down from the basket at the top of the jolter, looking down at the pickup truck they drive around.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsTahCbduPavD8-zXnt5EYl8ASnbefQlApFJPgOMsaa-AKHPOG434GdNNoJdP3mMchcaBiSPBJ_Ne-19YF5uiadTK80JMjqDHR_jW24cH-aADOFEAKYbkCg0Rwqm5skcb_znrOI5s1uQc/s200/Jan+22+-+In+the+mine+001.jpg)
This is about 3/4 of the way up... you can see the jolter at the bottom.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXvKg_utc4lM3Qb0UNfbJlwN6Eboiz0Sx5DoTffVJW5XQ50Nv8AkU9jKbhJhIVOO-13ifVc1TTgrBosT7K7T6xtoDhuVrKfg_-m5Ra222GzODJdxP7VykHFsYELFcLR8ymJscAcoSovcc/s200/Jan+18+-+In+the+mine.jpg)
This is a crack in the salt wall.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtD8SqWzljymVMUJyisrO1QVLnNzeDw9ASHLR_Tb2gtF0YE-RNhdpMdp0VbOIebn3qRlMIHJproCRxFW7elDFJA1WpLiRI4Q8xMf61OTG6VD1ea30lCmALfFE1LruRB8bpp3-iHCXUWZJ/s200/Jan+23+-+In+the+mine+003.jpg)
This is the "Down hole Drill" on the development.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhm_elvkBWYlZzXI7lQwExb_TlcauhtHqp4tAyjTUlC54e7WDBggYcZkR4eVjfFD2O5PjCpwyjCz5-2qLnt8KAUouxPXwNtpElKKgkMoy0lHuO1zpdIHUOVzFMQ2OU6YVvuAabR6wosfb/s200/Jan+24+-+In+the+mine+002.jpg)
These are the controls to run the drill. Just the drill. ;)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdTk74ANtnSQWK_cO-IPzoFu9omcXeA9jV2Nbvmmt-kSbKKzrKS7Rkwv1kZDvFJmNElslDzPwnQo2Fvb195nwht7Zsq3GrVJDZhcweKd-RIqaAkaRb0srYAX5jFImGn9-YtUYWQgl6JBP/s200/Jan+24+-+In+the+mine+005.jpg)
These are the steels that get added to the drill to go into the hole. Each one is 5 ft. long.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRRfdbVfjXycbNXF71JQDZkjRiTQvUgcSQHKHf9FcQkzIhhn5nV13w7mnunPvBse-BTTo1O47e3AKWBhGEPAKWG8Z8NyYZEXLzNmH8YdML5ZKAtPNCFxnEg-d73F6imAz3xo1s1CSCsWW/s200/Jan+24+-+In+the+mine+006.jpg)
This is the head of the drill, going into the floor.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixo1sN3ucK5xq3gCDxNPomPBoG9KbeLN1z_xFu3whm4VZY8uXFmp4gEwj3Lq55A3CWAVzirxY9QVHbx40sLlAxIloWSBaC15E3kwrdxygvbMHRe9imuQBTirY_K_Xrcs9al2yYi9IuVfZw/s200/Jan+24+-+In+the+mine+003.jpg)
X marks the spot to drill! :)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiJzbRi9MrZvQ1ooabwrqAj5WAVq_yeCqHJNoUT-bic5AWS8zxUml-NBKG48fkICUVQhGb41QA2BNrlwTxTqDoC9IA_LHLu6LVaZy7XdRfTMxP2tmuVbJlRWTKO7TOS_ZnrF-963RMmL9/s200/Jan+24+-+In+the+mine+008.jpg)
So there you go. Unless you work there, that's the closest you're going to get to a tour of the mine. :) Unless someday they offer tours again... then I'll be one of the first in line!
Cool! X marks the spot, eh? Treasure hunting time! Woo hoo!
ReplyDeleteNeat pictures. You can definitely tell it is SO, so dark down there!
wv: flessu
A delicate sneeze, from the mouth of a sick frenchman. "Le-flessu! Le-flessu!"
That's awesome!
ReplyDeleteYeah, if they offer tours, I will be in line with ye!
My word is "Quite".
I think it's the sick Frenchman against the Englishman.
Quite, quite.