Cornish Mining

Geevor Underground

arsenic recovery

Life at the edge

Rocks and Metals

Mines and Miners

A mine can only work safely and efficiently if machinery, materials and the workers are all in the right place at the right time.

There were a large number of people involved in the running of Geevor mine.  From underground to surface workers, everyone had a specific job.

 

Photograph reproduced with the kind permission of Margaret Francis held by the Geevor Archive

 

Blacksmiths and Carpenter

Click to see a larger version of this imageGeevor carpenter at work

Each mine usually had its own blacksmith and carpenter.


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Cost Book Company

Click to see a larger version of this imagepile of leather bound books. petty cash book, wages book, ledger, cost book, account book

The traditional way a Cornish mine operated was as a Cost Book Company. 


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Life Underground

Click to see a larger version of this imagetwo miners working underground on is topless showing how warm it is.

Work underground was dark, noisy, wet and hot. But for most miners working anywhere else was unthinkable.


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Mill workers

Click to see a larger version of this imagemill worker inspecting some equipment

The Mill was a large building in which a series of often complicated processes took place.


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Comment left by Jan Sominka on 2010-05-13 19:33:37

Just noticed the photograph in the stoping section. Can you confirm if this is Wawrzyniec Sominka (Johnny), my father. Thanks Jan GEEVOR REPLY......... yes , this is johnny, if you would like a copy of the photo please contact Nick Thomas at Geevor Tin Mine on 01736 788662. We also have information on ..Lucia Zbyszek Sominka

Comment left by Emily on 2010-10-02 22:58:55

This page os alright but it doesn't say about the different types of jobs!!

 

Comment left by :) :) x on 2011-10-06 18:23:38

it is good information but i don't know what a trammer is so if possible you explain it in a more simple way.

 

Comment left by jojo! on 2011-10-08 13:16:25

could do with more information on the pumpmen like what more they did.

 

Comment left by Tom Gowans on 2011-12-15 11:36:16

Thank you for this information. I have just finished reading a truly excellent book, 'The Power of One' by Bryce Courtenay the last part of which describes his year spent working as a Grizzly man in the then Northern Rhodesian copper mines. Sounds like a tough and dangerous occupation. Now that I have seen your photo, I understand it better.

 

Comment left by Graham on 2012-06-16 22:01:38

done some grizzly work myself thought my arms where going to drop off at the end of shift!!

 

Comment left by Sandra on 2012-12-01 21:40:00

Very good got lots of info and made me think about making my own like it thankyou very much for this experiance!

 

Comment left by sara on 2012-12-09 13:10:44

I looked up this site for the same reason, I just read the great book The Power of One..this picture really explains it, it looks really terrible and dangerous

 

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