Subject: Carbide Mines
Date: Thu, 05 Oct 2000 18:58:49 -0700
I found the following on the Cavers’ Digest No 5692
Topic Number: 9
Trust it will be of interest to the Mining History Group.
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2000 18:01:19 EDT
Subject: Carbide Mines
Cavers, Hi!
> The Carbide Mines of Svenstavik, North Sweden
>
> Last year, during the course of a caving holiday, the author was
>fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit the Carbide Mines of
>Svenstavik, which lie to the north of the small industrial town of
>Hammerdal deep in the ranges of the Arvidsjauer Hills and at an altitude
>of about 1500 meters. They are unique as this is the only site in the
>world where Calcium Carbide is found native. The mineral occurs in a bed
>of carboniferous limestone which has been metamorphosed at an early date
>forming, at the junction of the Skjon series, a band of solid carbide
>two meters thick, extending for kilometers.
>
> The mines are entered by spacious horizontal drifts, extending far
>into the hills. The mineral is obtained in a fashion similar to that of
>coal, although the workings are not as modern as some coal mines, the
>mineral being excavated from the working face, which is about two
>meters high, with a pick. The working faces are continually sprayed with
>paraffin to keep down the dust and this also gives the carbide its
>characteristic black glossy look.
>
> The mines are quite dangerous places of employment with the combined
>action of the choking dust and the gas, which is both inflammable and
>poisonous. A few years ago a Laplander employed in the workings very
>nearly caused a nasty accident by obeying the call of nature at the
>working face. The resulting explosion brought down a good part of the
>roof but fortunately there was no loss of life.
>
> The carbide is removed by conveyor belt and then by trolleys with
>brass wheels to the surface. There it is screened and sieved in large
>sheds and then washed in paraffin and packed in airtight containers
>ready to export to all parts of the world.
>
> The mines are privately owned and sad to say there is only one large
>working left, the others having gone out of production as today this
>commodity can be obtained much more easily and safely from an electric
>furnace.
>
>The Baltimore Grotto News
>Vol. VII, No. 8, pp., 244-5
>Reprinted in the Speleo Digest 1964
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