Herrn-Grundt is a small town placed very high between two hills, in a region that has the same name. It is about one Hungarian mile away from Newsol. When we arrived there, the country around the town was covered with snow because of the great height. However, in the lower valleys and during most of our journey from Newsol, we did not see any snow. This showed clearly how much colder the air became as we climbed higher into the hills Private Guided Turkey Tours.
The air in this place was very sharp and cold, and it pierced strongly through our clothes as we walked toward the entrance of the mine. Because of this, we were required to wear the proper dress of the miners before entering. These clothes were made for safety and comfort in the underground works.
The Dress and Equipment of the Miners
The miners’ habit was simple but very useful. It consisted of a linen coat and drawers, which were light and easy to move in. They also wore a stiff round cap, shaped like the crown of a hat, to protect the head. Around their bodies they had a leather apron, which was usually turned behind them so it would not hinder their work.
In addition, they wore two strong pieces of leather tied to their knees. These protected their knees from sudden blows against the rocks or from falling earth. Since the miners often crawled, climbed, or knelt while working, these protections were very necessary. Although the air outside was very cold, we found that inside the mine it was warm enough because of the depth and the labour of the workers The Great Copper Works Near the Town.
Entering the Mine Through the Tunnel
I entered the mine through a tunnel, or cuniculus, called Tachfiellt. We stayed inside the mine for many hours and visited several of the most remarkable parts of it. The passages were long, dark, and narrow in many places, and the work within required great patience and courage.
The steep descents in this mine were not made with modern stairs, but with ladders or upright tree trunks. Deep notches were cut into these wooden trunks so that the miners could place their feet securely while climbing up or down. This method, though simple, was effective and well suited to the rough conditions underground.
Conditions Inside the Mine
One advantage of this mine was that it was not troubled much by water. Because it lay high within the hill, the water could naturally drain away instead of collecting at the bottom. This made the work somewhat easier compared to other mines where water often flooded the lower parts.
However, the miners faced other serious difficulties. The dust inside the mine was very thick and choking. It irritated the throat and lungs and made breathing difficult for the workers. Along with the dust, there were also dangerous and harmful damps, or bad vapours, which could weaken or even kill the miners if they stayed too long in those places.
The Danger of Damps and How They Were Managed
In one part of the mine, the workers showed me how they had recently dealt with a very harmful damp. They used a large pair of bellows, which were blown continually for many days. By forcing fresh air into the passage, they slowly cleared the bad vapours and made the place safe again for labour.
In many other parts of the mine, the damps were still strong and caused great trouble to the workmen. These dangerous vapours were not only found in soft earth or clay, as one might expect, but also in hard rocky areas. This showed that the danger of damps was common and unpredictable in such deep works.
Blasting Through Hard Rock
The miners also showed me a place where the rock was extremely hard and could not be broken by ordinary tools. In that spot, there had once been a very dangerous damp as well. To make a descent there, they had to use gunpowder. Long round holes were drilled into the rock, and the gunpowder was rammed tightly into them. When it was fired, the explosion broke the rock and opened the passage.
This method was risky but necessary, as the hardness of the rock made all other tools useless. It also showed the skill and determination of the miners, who continued their work despite the cold air, choking dust, and deadly vapours that often threatened their lives underground.
