Unveiling Cornwall's Mining Legacy: Great Flat Lode Exploration (15th June 2014

Description:
Embark on a captivating journey delving into the heart of Cornwall's mining history with my exploration of the Great Flat Lode on the 15th of June 2014. In the 1860s, the discovery of a 2-mile-long tin ore 'lode' transformed this region, previously worked for copper. The 'Great Flat Lode,' with its unique 30-degree angle, offered a flatter terrain than typical mines, sparking a revolution in the extraction process.
Uncover the challenges faced by early miners, who manually drilled holes in the resilient Cornish rock, utilizing black gunpowder for explosive breakthroughs. The innovative use of a steel drill rod, hammered by two miners, created 'shotholes,' allowing controlled explosions to extract precious minerals.
Situated beneath Carn Brea's southern granite slopes, the Great Flat Lode boasts a small gradient, providing optimal mining conditions. Mines like South Condurrow, Wheal Grenville, South Wheal Frances, and the Bassett Mines accessed this mineral-rich region, initially for copper and later for tin at greater depths. Operations continued until the First World War.
In 2022, Cornish Metals reignited exploration efforts to uncover untouched sections of the Great Flat Lode near Carnkie, Cornwall, achieving notable success.
Today, immerse yourself in this mining heritage through the Great Flat Lode Trail, a 7.5-mile circular route. As part of Cornwall's Mining World Heritage Site Bid, the area hosts an unparalleled concentration of historic mining sites globally. Wildlife thrives along the trail, and remnants of old mine structures provide shelter for diverse species.
The trail, mostly off-road, reveals picturesque landscapes, and a detour to Carn Brea's Bassett monument offers panoramic views. Recognized by the National Cycle Network, the trail features information boards at major mine sites, enriching your exploration with historical insights.
Captured on a GoPro 3 black edition, accompanied by my original music mixes, including the iconic "Time Tunnel" intro from a 1960s TV program and the resonant tune of "Trelawny," echoing outside a Helston pub.
Keywords:
Great Flat Lode, Cornwall mining, historical exploration, Cornish Metals, mining trail, Cornwall heritage, mining legacy, Cornwall wildlife, Great Flat Lode history, Carn Brea, Cornwall National Cycle Network, Cornish Metals exploration.
#Tags:
#GreatFlatLode #CornwallMining #HistoricalExploration #CornishMetals #MiningTrail #CornwallHeritage #MiningLegacy #CornwallWildlife #CarnBrea #NationalCycleNetwork #CornishMetalsExploration

[@nilsholgerson4958]

I really like the historic pictures and commentary.

[@ADITADDICTS]

I'd fancy a couple pints after a climb out of there! Absolutely huge!

[@hglasier]

Good stuff Gary!

[@davidhall2141]

Nice one very interesting.

[@itsme-gm9oi]

I've been in lots of old mines and I have a rule that i follow. Never trust old ladders. Your braver than me

[@GaryParrott]

rob jones These are not old, we check and repair them and are galvenised steel, we make wood ones on our new projects.

[@darren-dxn-106]

yeah nice one.

[@davmole]

Another great video Gary! Shame about all that rubbish down there, is that just as a result of fly tipping?

[@GaryParrott]

+davusp Yes it was old fly tipping, a friend cut a path through all this rubbish, luckily it is now not accessible to tip.

[@atschris]

So having been down there a few days back, we seem to have missed the cinder pile altogether, which way was that? We din't get to the 'blue pool' on the other side of the rubbish shaft either due to the water level.

[@GaryParrott]

+atschris It is a bit of a climb but is opposite way from pool. Quite a bit of rope stuff in there too.

[@louisfalco5032]

do you make all the music yourself? really impressive

[@GaryParrott]

Yes build my own tracks so youtube don't give me grief, I enjoy it too. Thanks