Snaefell Mine Disaster
The Great Snaefell Mine 1900.
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| Location | |
|---|---|
| Location | Snaefell, Isle of Man |
| Country | Isle of Man, British Isles |
| Coordinates | 54°15′46.8″N 004°27′43.2″W / 54.263000°N 4.462000°WCoordinates: 54°15′46.8″N 004°27′43.2″W / 54.263000°N 4.462000°W |
| Production | |
| Products | Zinc |
| History | |
| Opened | 1856 |
| Closed | 1908 |
| Owner | |
| Company | The Great Snaefell Mining Company Limited |
| Website | Manx mines - Snaefell Mine |
The Great Snaefell Mine, also referred to as the East Snaefell Mine, was a zinc mine located high in the Laxey Valley on the slopes of Snaefell Mountain, in the parish of Lonan, Isle of Man. The mine reached a depth of 1,188 ft (362.1 m) and is remembered as the scene of the Isle of Man's worst mining disaster in 1897.
Mining for metals on the Isle of Man probably began as early as the Bronze Age. Early sites have been identified at Langness and at Bradda Head, where copper could be seen outcropping in the cliffs.
Snaefell Mine was situated at the eastern foot of Snaefell, the mineral vein being originally discovered in the bed of a stream. The mining sett comprised an area of 567 acres and was originally a portion of the Great Laxey Mining Company's property. The sett was surrounded by that of the Great Laxey Mining Company and ran parallel with the Great Laxey lodes. At the pit head there was a washing floor, fitted with washing and dressing appliances, together with a 50 feet (15 m) diameter waterwheel. The buildings on the mine comprised the Mine Captain's house, two cottages, an agent's office, a smithy and a carpenter's workshop. A lead store was also erected.
The mine was worked by a main shaft, which followed the dip of the vein. The shaft was rectangular, divided into three compartments, the middle one being the ladderway, and those on either side being used respectively for winding ore and for the pump and the compressed air pipes. The ore would be wound up in a rough wooden kibble.
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