Serra do Navio

Serra do Navio (), ("Mountain range of the Ship") is a municipality located in the center of the state of Amapá in Brazil. Its population is 5,488 (2020 est.) and its area is 7,713 km². In the 1947, Manganese was discovered in the area. Serra do Navio was built as a planned city to house the workers. On 22 June 1993, the capital of the municipality was changed from Água Branca do Amapari to Serra do Novio.
History.
In the 1947, Manganese was discovered in the area. ICOMI was given the concession to exploit the mines, however the scale of the operation was such, that Bethlehem Steel Company was given a 49% stake in 1950. The Amapá Railway, and two towns for the workers were constructed: Serra do Navio and Vila Amazonas near Santana where a harbour was built. Serra do Navio was built according to North-American standards and was considered a model town.
During the 1980s, the mine produced about 1,000,000 tons of ore, however Bethlehem Steel wanted to end the cooperation, because the deposits were being exhausted. The contract was originally set to end in 2003, however in 1996, Bethlehem Steel decided to end the contract.
The closing of the main mine, led to a steep decrease in population, and the appearance of a ghost town. Smaller mines still operate in the region. Other economic activities include agriculture, and forestry.
Serra do Navio is located on the BR-210 highway. The municipality is subdivided in two districts: The town of Serra do Navio and Cachaço.
Nature.
The municipality contains 7.83% of the Amapá State Forest, a sustainable use conservation unit established in 2006.


Chen Xuefeng

Chen Xuefeng (; born September 1958) is a former Chinese politician and mining executive from Henan province. He was investigated by the Communist Party of China's anti-graft agency in January 2016 and expelled from the party a few months later. He served as Communist Party Secretary of Luoyang, the top political position in the city, from July 2013 to January 2016. He was a member of the Henan Provincial Party Standing Committee.
Early career.
Chen was born in a rural village in Qi County, Kaifeng, Henan, in September 1958. His mother died when he was just two years old; he was raised by his father and often foraged for food from his neighbours. His family was so poor that they did not have the money to cover the expenses of burial for his deceased mother. Chen's father served in the army for famed general Peng Xuefeng, a famed pre-revolution general of Mao's Red Army. Chen's father named him after General Peng. Chen had outstanding grades in school, eventually earning himself admission to the China University of Mining and Technology shortly after the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976. He majored in coal processing.
Chen began working in October 1975, and joined the Communist Party of China in November 1985. In 1982, shortly after graduating, Chen was selected to work in the mines of Yima, Henan. There he rose steadily up its ranks, eventually overseeing the mine's operations. The Yima Coal Bureau was re-organized into the Yimei Group (), and Chen served as one of its executives.
From July 2000 to November 2008, he was general manager, president, and party chief of Yongcheng Coal and Electric Power Group Corp (). Then he served as president and party chief of Henan Coal Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd (), and held that office until January 2011. In January 2011 he was promoted to become vice-governor of Henan, he remained in that position until July 2013, when he was transferred to Luoyang and appointed the Communist Party Secretary.
Luoyang.
In Luoyang, Chen spearheaded massive projects, many of which were abandoned. Luoyang's Luopu Park was thoroughly revamped but the project was never completed. These projects earned Chen the nickname "Chen Yiban" (literally, "Chen one half") among locals. However, Chen also contributed to Luoyang's economic development, bringing the city from a laggard in economic growth statistics in the province back to a 9% growth rate by the time he was removed from office.
He was a member of the 11th National People's Congress.
Downfall.
In 2014, his subordinate, then Luoyang vice-mayor Guo Yipin was captured by police after going into hiding as a result of a corruption investigation. Chen was also the subject of reports of misconduct submitted to the authorities, and rumours of his downfall began circulating as early as 2014. On January 15, 2016, Chen was taking part in an economic conference when he was surrounded by investigative personnel and taken away for investigation. The events took place so suddenly that much of the conference's agenda had to be changed following Chen being taken into custody. The investigation was announced by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on January 16, as Chen emerged as the first "tiger" of 2016 in the anti-corruption campaign in China which began after the 18th Party Congress. He was expelled from the Communist Party on June 2, 2016 for violated Eight-point Regulation, membership in private clubs, falsifying age and bribery. Chen was sentenced to life in prison for taking bribes worth 125 million yuan, plundering the public fund worth 5.47 million yuan and abusing of power on May 31, 2017.


Bisrampur coalfield

The Bisrampur is a large coal field located in the east of India in Chhattisgarh. Bisrampur represents one of the largest coal reserve in India having estimated reserves of 1.61 billion tonnes of coal.


Jhaverilal K. Dholakia

Jhaverilal K. Dholakia generally referred to as J. K. Dholakia (26 February 1886 – 14 December 1978) was a noted miner, engineer and expert in coal mining from Jharia.
He was born in 1886 to Kalayan Rai Dholakia at Bhuj He was born in a Nagar community. Dholakia was educated in Vernacular and English at Alfred High School, Bhuj and passed Matriculation Examination in 1903 from the University of Bombay. After passing Matriculation and also a Revenue Department Examinations from Bombay, Dholakia came to Calcutta in 1904 and worked in accounts department and later in the foreign correspondence section of Gokuldas Hansraj, a rice and general merchants from Bhatia community from Kutch owning rice mills at various centres and shipping rice overseas.
The major change in his career came when he was transferred to the collieries of another Bhatia industrialist, Trikamji Jiwandas in the beginning of 1905 and was posted at Balihari Colliery near Jharia. Later, he obtained Colliery Manager's second class certificate of competency in 1908 and subsequently the first class certificate of competency in managing mines in 1917. He got a degree of mining engineer in 1921.
He had a long and successful career in Jharia and worked for following mines: Tricumji Jiwandas 1905–08; Manager: Sonachera Colliery 1909–17; Jaynarayan Ramjas Collieries 1917–21; S. D. Mehta & Co. Ltd., Balihari Colliery 1925–31; Agent, S. D. Mehta & Co. Ltd. 1932–36; Chief Mining Engineer, S. D. Mehta & Co. Ltd., 1932–44; H. V. Low & Co, 1944–45; Agent, Bhurangya Coal Co. 1945–47; Khatau & Co. Ltd., 1947–49; Officer-in-Charge, Kalyanji Mavji & Co. Collieries 1949–51; Bhurangya Colliery 1951–53. He retired in 1953 and went back to his native town, Bhuj, Kutch. However, he continued to serve as mining advisor for two major coal mining conglomerates of Jharia coalfields - Khatau & Company and Kalyanji Mavji & Co for many years from 1954 to 1963.
He served as the president of Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Society of India for years 1938–39, 1947–48. He was president of Indian Mine Managers' Association for years 1930–31.
He was a Chartered Engineer and fellow of Institution of Mining Engineers, London, North of England Institute of Mining & Mechanical Engineers
He continued to represent the Institute on the Regional Coal Survey Committee for Jharia coalfield region.
He served as an honorary Secretary Indian Colliery Owners Association for years 1948–49 and was a committee member of association for many years.
He served on various boards and committees with respect to mining for example - Jharia Mines Board of Health (1919, 1929–33), Coal Mining Stowing Boards Expert Committee (1941–53), Low temperature Carbonization Committee (1944), Chairman, Railways and Collieries Advisory Board, Mining Education Advisory Board, etc.
He was also active in public life and served as Secretary of the Jharia Anglo Gujarati School for 1911–12 ; Chairman Jharia- Dhanbad Gawshala ; Vice-Chairman Bombay State Social Welfare Advisory Board and other institutions.
He died on 14 December 1978 at Bhuj.


Rosh Pinah mine

The Rosh Pinah mine is a mine near Rosh Pinah in the ǁKaras Region of southern Namibia. It is one of the largest and most important lead and zinc mines in Namibia. The mine is located in the extreme southwest, about north of the Orange River and 50 kilometers east of the Atlantic. The mine is owned by Trevali Mining Corporation since 2017.
History.
German-born Jew Mose Kohan discovered zinc in the nearby Hunz Mountains in 1963. He also coined the name "Rosh Pinah" which is a Hebrew term for "cornerstone". The mine has been in continuous operation since 1969.
Glencore acquired 50.04% ownership of the mine in 2011 and increased its stake shortly thereafter to 80.08%. The remainder of the shares were owned by Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) actors "PE Minerals", owned by Aaron Mushimba, "Jaguar Investments Four", and a trust representing mine employees. In June 2014, Glencore announced laying off 124 employees from the Rosh Pinah mine.
In 2017 Glencore sold its majority stake along with other zinc assets to Trevali Mining Corporation for $400 million. In May 2018, Trevali increased its ownership to 90%. In 2020, Trevali Mining Corporation launched a drilling study to consider the expansion of the mining reserve, a project forecasted to cost $93 million.
Minerals.
The mine has reserves amounting to 14 million tonnes of ore grading 2% lead and 8% zinc thus resulting 280,000 tonnes of lead and 1.12 million tonnes of zinc. The mine also produces copper, silver and gold as byproducts.


Bakal mine

The Bakal mine is a large iron mine located in western Russia in the Chelyabinsk Oblast. Bakal represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Russia and in the world having estimated reserves of 1 billion tonnes of ore grading 38% iron metal.


Nezhdaninka mine

The Nezhdaninka mine is one of the largest gold mines in Russia and in the world. The mine is located in Krasnoyarsk Krai. The mine has estimated reserves of 16 million oz of gold.


Umaria Coalfield

Umaria Coalfield is located in Umaria district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh in the valley of the Umrer River, a tributary of the Son River.
History.
In 1886, W.W. Hunter wrote, “Extensive coalfields have recently been discovered at Umaria, within the native state of Rewa…”
Umaria Coalfield, which was owned by Rewa Coalfields Limited, was nationalized in 1973.
The coalfield.
Umaria Coalfield is a part of Central India Coalfields. The latter is spread over the districts of Surguja, Koriya (both in Chhattisgarh), Shahdol and Umaria (both in Madhya Pradesh). There are fourteen coalfields in this group, namely Korar, Umaria, Johilla(Nowrozabad), Sohagpur, Sonhat, Jhilimili, Chirimiri, Sendurgarh, Koreagarh, Damhamunda, Panchbahini, Hasdeo-Arand, Lakhanpur and Bishrampur. The group covers an area of about with estimated reserves of 15,613.98 million tonnes. The deposits are at a depth of 0–1200 meters. Therefore, extraction is mainly amenable to underground mining except a few blocks in eastern part of these coalfields which have opencast potential.
In Umaria Coalfield, the Lower Gondwana rocks are well developed. The coalfield has an estimated reserve of 181.29 million tonnes, spread across six coal seams. The coals are relatively high in moisture (7-10%) and high in ash (18.6-29.4%). South Eastern Coalfields Limited operates eight mines.
According to Geological Survey of India reserves of non-coking coal up to a depth of 300 m in Umaria Coalfield was 181.29 million tonnes.
Kanchan Open Cast Mine is being expanded from 0.32 million tonnes per annum to 0.65 million tonnes per annum, with a peak capacity of 0.75 million tonnes per annum. The entire overburden would be backfilled. There is 4 km metalled road connecting the mine to Vindhya Mine and onwards to Nowrozabad Railway siding.
Transport.
The Katni Umaria Railways section was opened to traffic in 1886. The line from Katni, from Allahabad on the Jabalpur line, to Umaria, then in Rewa State, was accorded priority in construction, in order to connect Umaria Coalfield to the railway system.
The Bilaspur-Umaria branch line was opened in 1891, linking the entire area to the GIPR system at Katni.


Xishan Coal and Electricity Power

Shanxi Xishan Coal and Electricity Power Co., Ltd. was established in 1999 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2000. It has 9 coal mines, 8 coal plants and 13 holding companies.
Xishan Coal Electricity Group was the parent company of Xishan Coal and Electricity Power. However, they were now both subsidiary (in the same tier) of Shanxi Coking Coal Group.
Xishan Coal and Electricity Power became a constituent of SZSE 100 Index in January 2017.


Free Jim Mine

The Free Jim Mine (location: ) was a Georgia Gold Rush gold mine located in the town of Dahlonega in Lumpkin County, Georgia, USA. The mine was started by a free African American named James Boisclair, who arrived in the area in the 1830s from Augusta, Georgia. Apparently, Boisclair discovered gold on a tract of land but, under state law, could not purchase the land since he was black, except through a guardian. A local resident, Joseph J. Singleton became his custodian, consequently allowing Boisclair to purchase the land and start what would become known as the Free Jim Mine. The mine was operated by Bosclair for many years. Today, the Free Jim Mine lies underneath the present-day Pine Tree Mfg. plant and other nearby businesses within the city limits of Dahlonega.


Nicky Wilson

Nicky Wilson (born 5 July 1950) is a British trade unionist.
Wilson began working as an electrician at Cardowan Colliery in 1967. He joined the Scottish Colliery Enginemen, Boilermen and Tradesmen Association (SCEBTA), a constituent of the National Union of Mineworkers. During the UK miners' strike of 1984 to 1985, he organised pickets and also ran a soup kitchen for miners. He was arrested at Ravenscraig after some protesters - who he states were not miners themselves - began throwing bottles at vehicles. The case came to court, and he was found not guilty. Cardowan Colliery did not reopen after the strike, and Wilson found himself without work for a period before he was given employment at the Longannet coal mine.
Wilson was elected as secretary of SCEBTA but, due to job losses in the industry, in 1989 it was merged into the Scottish Area of the National Union of Mineworkers. Wilson became general secretary of the Scottish Area and although he lost an election for the post in 1997, he was re-elected in 1999. In 1999, he also became a director of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.
Wilson lost his job in 2002 as the coal mine he worked at the time was closed, and he instead became a full-time trade unionist. In 2012, he was elected as President of the NUM, after becoming the only candidate to meet the requirements for nomination to the post. This was challenged in court by Stephen Mace, a Yorkshire-based miner who was a supporter of Arthur Scargill, but the tribunal ruled that his election was run correctly.
More recently, Wilson has won two Classic of the Week Awards, during his iconic relationship with Jimmy Muirhead. He enjoys Vodka with Ice and enjoys Elvis. His favourite footballer is Shug Curran in which he described him as a "Handfae" to members of another local team in Quins Bar Bishopbriggs. He also has had two doses of the Covid-19 Vaccine.


Robert Westwater

Dr Robert Westwater OBE FRSE FIME (7 September 1908– 2 October 1982) was a Scottish mining engineer and explosives expert. He was President of the Mining Institute of Scotland 1965/66. He was known to friends and colleagues as Bob Westwater.
Life.
He was born in the mining town of Lochgelly in central Fife on 7 September 1908, the eldest of four children of John C. Westwater, a coalminer from a long line of coalminers. He was educated at Lochgelly Public School then Dunfermline High School.
He was apprenticed to the Lochgelly Iron and Coal Company around 1923 under Wallace Thorneycroft and George Arthur Mitchell. They encouraged him to train as a mining engineer and he went to the University of Edinburgh to study formally, graduating with a BSc in 1929. He then returned for a few years to Lochgelly before obtaining a post in the Explosives Division of ICI in 1934. In this role he would have played a significant contribution during the Second World War. In 1954 he became Assistant Manager and in 1955 became Manager of the Explosives Section of ICI.
He received an honorary doctorate (PhD) from the University of Edinburgh in 1954. In 1960 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were Robert McAdam, Hugh Bryan Nisbet, James Pickering Kendall, and Sir Edmund Hirst. He received an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1966.
He died at home, 62 Caledonia Road in Saltcoats in Ayrshire on 2 October 1982.
Family.
In 1937 he married Phyllis Normand.


Drazhnje mine

The Drazhnje mine is one of the largest lead and zinc mines in Kosovo. The mine is located in Leposavić. The mine has reserves amounting to 6.7 million tonnes of ore grading 2.8% lead, 5.35% zinc and 45gr/t silver thus resulting 187,600 tonnes of lead, 358,500 tonnes of zinc and 302 tonnes of silver.


Beck No. 2 Mine

The Beck No. 2 Mine near Eureka, Utah dates from 1890. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The listing included "surface plant buildings" of the lead mine (two contributing buildings) and one other contributing structure, a "remaining wooden headframe", described as a "fifty foot wooden headframe A-frame Montana type". These evoke the past mining operations at the site.


La Parrilla mine

The La Parrilla mine is a large mine located in the north-western part of Spain in Province of Valladolid. La Parrilla represents one of the largest tungsten reserves in Spain having estimated reserves of 30 million tonnes of ore grading 0.11% tungsten.


Upper Corris Tramway

The Upper Corris Tramway was a gauge horse-worked tramway that connected the slate quarries around the villages of Corris and Corris Uchaf with the Corris Railway at Maespoeth Junction. It was just over long.
History.
Opening.
The tramway was originally called the Ty'n y Berth Tramway as it was intended to connect to an incline down from the Ty'n y Berth Quarry to the north of Corris Uchaf. This quarry closed before the tramway was built, so the line was terminated in the village and never reached the quarry it was named for. From the early days of operation, it was called the Upper Corris Tramway, after the English name for Corris Uchaf. The tramway opened in 1859, at the same time as the main Corris Railway.
Before the First World War.
In 1909, part of the tramway was re-sleepered. This was the first track maintenance on the tramway for more than 25 years.
Closure.
Slate traffic along the tramway fell steeply between 1924 and 1926. In 1926, the Corris Railway raised its prices for carrying the slate traffic to compensate, and Braichgoch responded by buying a steam road wagon and using that to transport its output to Machynlleth. With the other quarries along the tramway also shut down, the Corris closed the tramway in July 1927.
Proposed extensions.
Several plans were made to extend the tramway beyond Corris Uchaf. The first of these, proposed in 1862, would have taken the line above the east end of Tal-y-llyn Lake and over Bwlch Llyn Bach pass, before dropping down to the Tir Stynt copper mines near Cross Foxes, a total distance of . A Bill was introduced in Parliament to authorise this extension, but it also allowed the main Corris Railway to use steam locomotives, and the directors of the Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway objected and the Bill failed.
The second proposal was for a line running north, then east, about a mile to reach an incline up to the Glyn Iago and Ty'n y Ceunant quarries on the slopes of Tarren y Gesail. Although part of the incline and some earthworks for the tramway extension were built in the 1890s, no track was laid.
The third proposal came in the mid-1900s. The manager of the Corris Railway, J. J. O'Sullivan, proposed extending the line towards Tal-y-llyn Lake, but this time running high above the southern shore of the lake and reaching Abergynolwyn where it would connect to the Talyllyn Railway. This proposal was not approved by the company Directors and no work was done on it.
Route.
The tramway started at Maespoeth Junction, where it joined the Corris Railway. The tramway separated from the mainline to the south of the locomotive shed at Maespoeth. While the main line continued to rise gently as it headed towards Corris, the tramway ascended more steeply, running beside the Machynlleth to Dolgellau road. As the tramway passed between the locomotive shed and the road, there was a siding used to store empty wagons waiting to return to the quarries.
The tramway followed the road, climbing steeply. It passed to the west of Corris village, opposite the Braich Goch Inn. Here the tramway crossed over the road into Corris village on the level then entered a short cut and cover tunnel as it passed between the road and a row of cottages on the east side of the track. This tunnel was too low and narrow to allow steam locomotives to enter, and was the main reason the tramway was horse-worked for its entire existence.
After the tunnel, the tramway swung round a very sharp curve below the Hughes Memorial. Running almost due-west and below the level of the road, the tramway ran past Braichgoch Terrace and entered the yard of Braichgoch quarry. A line branched off to the north, dropping into the quarry yard, which sat on a large platform of slate waste. The tramway proper continued to climb and passed to the south of the Braichgoch quarry office and reached the level of the road. It passed over a steep incline down from the Braichgoch level 7 incline, then passed underneath a high bridge that carried the internal quarry tramway from the Braichgoch level 5 adit to the head of a short incline down to the mill.
The tramway now followed the route of the road along the south side of the Afon Deri as it swung to the northwest. The road climbed more steeply, while the tramway kept to a narrow ledge. On the left side of the tramway and road were the tips of Gaewern quarry, with a tramway connecting Gaewern to Braichgoch mill running parallel but considerably higher up the mountain. As the road turned north, the tramway swung away from it and was considerably lower. It curved gently as it passed between the road to the west and the river to the east. It passed on the river side of a large house and here the tramway up to Abercorris quarry branched off and crossed the river.
The tramway curved back to the northwest, still following but below the road. On the south side of the road lay the main mills of Gaewern quarry, connected to the tramway by a branch when Gaewern operated independently of Braichgoch. At least one adit ran under the road and into the Gaewern vein. The tramway continued, finishing the long curve to run almost due west and enter the village of Corris Uchaf. It passed between a row of houses and the road. The branch to Abercwmeiddaw quarry left here, running north, crossing the Afon Deri by a bridge before ending at the foot of the Abercwmeiddaw exit incline. The tramway continued on northwest for another , passing behind the village post office to a slate enamelling works.
Operations.
Quarries served.
The furthest quarry from Maespoeth Junction was Abercwmeiddaw quarry which is on the north bank of the Afon Deri. A branch of the tramway crossed the river from near the terminus in Corris Uchaf, and ended in a long incline up to the quarry mill level.
Also on the north bank of the river was Abercorris quarry, which was connected to the tramway by a branch that crossed the river, then ascended the valley side via a reversing spur. Again an incline led up to the quarry mill.
On the south bank of the Afon Deri lay Gaewern and Braichgoch quarries. For much of their lives these quarries were worked as a single concern. The Upper Corris Tramway passed through the main yard of Braichgoch quarry, and a number of short branches connected to the mill and stacking yards.
Slate Traffic.
Slate was carried in slate waggons which ran in trains down to Maespoeth Junction by gravity. Empty waggons were hauled uphill from Maespoeth to the quarry by horses.
Passenger traffic.
No formal passenger services were ever run on the tramway, although there is some evidence that the company may have charged people to ride in slate waggons along the route.
Remains.
Much of the route of the tramway was removed when the A487 was widened in the 1980s. The section of the tramway from Braichgoch quarry to the south end of Corris Uchaf was buried under these works. Below Braichgoch quarry, the trackbed is largely intact, including the section above Corris village where the line is in cutting between the road and several local houses: the houses still have slate bridges over the tramway to access their front doors. Several of the branches to the quarries can still be traced in 2019. A short section has been restored to serve as a loading siding at Maespoeth.


Soalala mine

The Soalala mine is a large iron mine located in northern Madagascar in Boeny in Soalala. It represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Madagascar and in the world having estimated reserves of 360 million tonnes of ore grading 35% iron metal.


African Potash

African Potash is a mining company, focused on building a platform for the mining, production and distribution of fertiliser. Its operations are primarily focussed on potash assets within the African continent. It has a market capitalisation of approximately £0.9 m as of 20 April 2017.
History.
In August 2015, African Potash entered into a trading agreement with the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) to supply and deliver at least 500,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser on an annual basis for an initial three-year period.
On the 26 October 2015, African Potash announced the appointment of former Conservative party Member of Parliament, Mark Simmonds to its board. Two days later, former Cabinet Minister Peter Hain joined the Board.
Operations.
Lac Dinga Project.
The Lac Dinga Project is located in the Kouilou extending 57 km NW-SE. It is adjacent to the Dougou Potash Deposit, part of the Sintoukola Potash Permit held by Elemental Minerals Limited and which has a JORC compliant measures and indicated mineral resources of 1.1Bt grading 20.6% KCI. The Makola licence of Evergreen Resources Holdings (BVI) Ltd is also located in the region.
The development of its fertiliser trading operations build upon its 70% interest in the 702.5 km2 Lac Dinga, which it acquired in February 2013. Exploration conducted at Lac Dinga to date has confirmed the presence of multiple potash seams with individual sample grades of up to 25% KCl (~15.8% K2O). Results received to date indicate that the Project host potash mineralisation consistent with the Congolese coastal basin, with about 250km2 of the licence area interpreted to be underlain by salt-bearing strata, underpinning the potential to host significant commercial potash deposits.
COMESA Trading Agreement.
In August 2015, African Potash entered into a trading agreement with COMESA and MACFF, signed by the Secretary General of COMESA, Sindiso Ngwenya. Under the terms of the agreement, it will supply and deliver at least 500,000MT of fertiliser to off-takers identified and introduced by COMESA for an initial 3-year period. Since signing the agreement, African Potash has secured multiple agreements to supply 50,000MT of fertiliser to Zambia, 50,000MT to Malawi, 150,000MT to Zimbabwe and 150,000MT to the DRC.


Chatanika gold dredge (Fairbanks)


Pyne Mine

The Pyne Mine was a vertical shaft iron ore mine operated by the Woodward Iron Company and located near the community outside Bessemer, Alabama in Shades Valley. It was, along with Woodward's Songo Mine, one of only two shaft mines dug in the Birmingham District, and the last ore mine to operate in the region, closing in 1971.
Operation.
Drilling began for the mine's , concrete-lined vertical shaft in 1918 a few miles south of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company's Muscoda mines. The slope mines built near the ridge of Red Mountain were depleting the most accessible parts of the Clinton formation ore seams. Pyne was built over a "down dip" in the seam, beyond the lower extent of the Muscoda tunnels.
Operations ceased after only a few years of production due to the post-war drop in demand. The shaft was left to flood and the surface works closed down. With the renewed demands of World War II the mine was reopened in 1942.
A 1947 rock fall accident killed one miner.
Equipment.
A tall headframe was erected over the shaft to operate two hoists, one for ore skips and another for men and materials, riding in double-decker cages. The hoist cables were fed from massive cable-drum winches located inside two red brick hoist houses situated directly behind the headframe. Nearby was an ore-crushing and screening plant and a plant for pressing the crushed ore into briquettes (built in the 1950s, now demolished). The miners' bath house, designed to accommodate a work force of 500, contained a rack system so that clothes buckets could be suspended out of reach near the ceiling. Other surface works on the site included an electrical substation, a lamp house, a compressor house, a machine shop, tool shed, boiler house, pay house and office.
Production.
Despite emerging sources for imported ore, Pyne was one of the most productive ore mines in the Birmingham District, removing as much as 1 million tons of ore per year. Innovative mining methods, custom-designed equipment and an efficient surface layout kept the facility competitive. The ore was originally loaded onto trains on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad for delivery to area iron and steel furnaces, but later was trucked to Woodward No. 3 Mine for loading. When the mine reached a thrust fault which would have required enormous efforts to overcome, the decision was made to cease operations. The pumps which kept the shaft from flooding were idled and the shaft itself was capped off.
Road aggregate.
After the mine was closed the site continued to be used for the production of road aggregate, made by crushing mine tailings from the site.


Deep Tunnel (Hercherhof)

The Deep Tunnel () is an adit at Hercherhof near Freiburg, Germany. It is a part of the Schauinsland mine complex and was built for the Stolberg Zink AG to provide easier access to the seventh floor level of the "Roggenbergschacht" mine. Construction began in 1938. It was termed part of the Four Year Plan, an economic plan designed to prepare Nazi Germany for war, and Hermann Göring's name was invoked in a dispute between the mining company and the state environmental protection agency when the agency requested the greening of excavated material.
It should replace the existing goods cable lift near the railway to secure the transport via Freiburg and then
to the Stolberg Zink AG in Pforzheim for further processing.
The driving started in 1938 after the mining rights were acquired in 1935. This new approach was due to the development of the new flotation process.
Thus, the ancient disposal heaps of former ore washing were processed.
The tunnel's size of 2.5m by 2.5m accommodated the horses had been used as carriers.
In 1944 this Tunnel achieved a length of more than 3.4 km,
exploited by prisoners of war. The final connection to the Leopold gallery must
have been accomplished in 1946. This level was in use until 1954.
However, in the 1960s the tunnel collapsed 720 meters away from the Kappel valley entrance.
This underground construction is part of a larger medieval silver mine
in the Schauinsland mountain near Freiburg in Breisgau, sign of the last war efforts to
extract zinc and lead ore from this area.
Today the large mining complex is a repository for historical documents, adventure mine to attract
tourists, students and amateur geologists as well as further underground research.
The planned extension to the northern ore dressing part was not completed i.e. 300m remains
unaccomplished. Therefore, the Deep Tunnel never could fulfill its function as transporting way.
So it only served for the manriding of Kappel's miners and the mine's water drainage.


Aganozersky chromium mine

The Aganozersky mine is a large mine in the north-west of Russia in Republic of Karelia. Aganozersky represents one of the largest chromium reserve in Russia having estimated reserves of 181.6 million tonnes of ore grading 21.8% chromium. The 181.6 million tonnes of ore contains 38.7 million tonnes of chromium metal.


Robert Taylor (mining engineer)

Sir Robert Taylor (1855 – 4 April 1921) was a British mining engineer in India. He was senior partner with John Taylor & Sons Ltd and a director of the Mysore Gold Mining Company Ltd.
He was knighted in the 1920 New Year Honours for his services to India. John Taylor & Sons Ltd went into receivership in 1922, the year after his death.


Lisdrumgormley Lead Mines

The Lisdrumgormley Lead Mines are a deposit in Ireland that was mined for lead as early as the 1840s. The underground workings consisted of narrow, 1.5m-wide slopes above a northwest-southeast-trending level. It was the subject of further exploration during the mid-1950s when the original shaft was reopened to a depth of 21 meters.
History.
Initially Lisdrumgormley Mine was part of the North Eastern Mining Company of Ireland. It was formed on Monday 6 April 1846 at The Angel Hotel in Liverpool, with Capt James Skimming (Annaglogh) as its Agent.
The North Eastern Mining Company also encompassed nearby Annaglogh Mine, Coolartragh (Bond Mine) Lemgare Mines and Hope Mines near Castleblayney.
Lisdrumgormley was recorded in 1922 as being under development by The Farney Development Company.
Assays of over 22% Pb were recorded at the location by the Mining Corporation of Ireland in 1956. The access to the underground mine was by way of a shaft apparently almost 50m deep.
Condition and shaft collapse.
The plug of this shaft collapsed in 2012 revealing a cylindrical shaft, collared in stone, dipping steeply east. The shaft was subsequently back-filled and fenced by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) in 2012 at the landowner's request. Unfortunately, a horse from a neighbouring farm which had wandered into the property fell into the collapsed shaft and was lost.
Remains.
A largely overgrown waste dump and a disused outbuilding are the most obvious traces of mining on the site. A depression approximately 20 x 10 m in size adjacent to the waste heap may be a consequence of further subsidence above the underground workings. Mineralised material in the waste dumps consists of greywacke sandstone cut by thin dolomite veins containing galena as well as sandstone with quartz and carbonate, with or without galena or barite.
The only tangible mine feature that remains on the site is the waste dump. Boulders within this dump do provide evidence for the mineralisation but it was found that they were not particularly impressive examples and were insufficient to warrant County Geological Site (CGS) status for the site at that time.


Guiuan

' (] ; , ), officially the ', is a in the province of , . According to the , it has a population of people.
Guiuan played a significant part in Philippine history. In the 16th century, when Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines, it is believed that he first landed on the island of Homonhon, which lies within the municipality. It is probably because of this that the majority of the population of the town are Catholics. The town's church, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, is one of the oldest in the country.
During the Second World War, Guiuan served as one of the naval bases for the Allies. Now all that is left of the American occupation are concrete slabs which once served as the foundations of a vast supply depot, and an air strip, which now serves as the town's own airport.
As well as a rich historical background, Guiuan has many scenic spots. Being a coastal town on the Pacific side, the town has many white-sand beaches that are suitable for swimming and surfing.
The Guiuan Church is currently in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the "Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension)". A proposal has been suggested by scholars to make a separate UNESCO inclusion for the "Old Centre of Guiuan which includes the Guiuan Church". The same would be made for other churches listed in UNESCO's tentative sites, where each town plaza and surrounding heritage buildings would be added. No government agency has yet to take action on the proposal.
In 8 November 2013, it was the first town in the Philippines that was hit by Typhoon Haiyan (Super Typhoon Yolanda).
History.
Guiuan is widely known for two significant events in history 423 years apart. In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, first European to set foot on Philippine soil, landed in Homonhon, now part of Guiuan. In 1944, the American Forces landed on the island of Suluan where they fought their first battle in the Philippine territory three days before Gen. Mac Arthur stormed the beaches of Leyte.
The name of the town originated from its geographical location. The first settlers named the town "Guibang" when they discovered a sharp break in the mountain range (, 'partly chiseled off') which screens the town from the Pacific Ocean in the East. Subsequently, settlers modified its name to Guiuan.
The occurrence of World War II shook the town and people moved to the mountains to find comfort. On June 28, 1943, several Japanese soldiers set foot on Guiuan soil. Not as fearful and brutal as they were thought of by the local populace, a cordial relation soon existed between the conquered and the conquerors. Evacuees came down from the mountains and resumed a normal urban life.
Except for a few killings of suspected traitors by both Japanese, Filipino soldiers and local guerillas, not a drop of blood was shed needlessly. This made Guiuan one of the few places in the islands where World War II did not leave so many tragic memories.
The first sign of liberation of the town came on November 27, 1944, when a US Navy submarine chaser steamed the harbor for reconnaissance duty. On December 1, 1944, a fleet of LCTs, Liberty ships and barges poured into the Guiuan Bay to unload machines that was to transform Guiuan into one of the biggest Naval Bases in the Far East that time, set up by the American Navy, part of the Allies.
Now all that is left of the American occupation are concrete slabs which once served as the foundations of a vast supply depot, and an air strip, which now serves as the town's own airport.
In 1949, the International Refugee Organisation made an appeal to tackle the displacement crisis caused by the war and a precursor to the UNHCR. It wanted new homes for thousands of White Russians in the aftermath of the Bolshevik Revolution (Russian Revolutions) and subsequent civil war. More than 5,000 of them, under the care of John Maximovitch (Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco), the Orthodox Archbishop of Shanghai who would later be canonised, were taken to the island of Tubabao, located a couple of hundred metres from the coast of Guiuan.
In 1952, the sitios of Talisay, Bagambang, Calamrisan, Lo-ok and Barawalti, belonging to Barrio Tubabao, were separated and created into the barrio of Trinidad.
On November 10, 1978, Proclamation No. 1801 was issued declaring Guiuan as a Tourist Zone and Marine Reserve under the administration and control of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA).
On November 8, 2013, the city suffered heavy damage, along with 107 fatalities, 16 missing and over 3,626 injuries, as it was hit by the eye of Typhoon Haiyan (Super Typhoon Yolanda) with maximum ten-minute sustained wind speeds of 230 km/h (145 mph). Haiyan made its first landfall over Guiuan at 04:40 PhST.
Almost every building was heavily damaged or deroofed, including the designated typhoon shelters, the Catholic Church, hospital and gymnasium. However, one house in Lactason remained intact because of the owner's effort to hold it in place with her bare hands. The woman was later identified as Mana Maring, a moron (a Filipino delicacy) maker and vendor.
Geography.
The municipality of Guiuan is located at the southeasternmost tip of Samar Island. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Mercedes, on the east by the Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the Surigao Strait, and on the west by the Leyte Gulf.
Clustered around the municipality are numerous islands and islets such as Manicani, Calicoan, Sulangan, Candulo, Homonhon, Suluan and Tubabao. They are protected as part of the marine reserve known as the Guiuan Protected Landscape and Seascape.
Guiuan is south of Borongan and from Tacloban. It has a total land area of 175.49 square kilometres. It is composed of sixty (60) barangays and the only town in the province with biggest number of island barangays.
Barangays.
Guiuan is politically subdivided into 60 barangays, 37 of which is located in the mainland of Guiuan, i.e. the portion of Guiuan that is contiguous with the Samar Island, and the remaining 23 in the islands surrounding the mainland.
Mainland barangays.
Poblacion barangays: The poblacion, or town center, is located on the southwestern coastal area of the Guiuan mainland, facing the Leyte Gulf.
Other mainland barangays:
Island barangays.
Barangays in Calicoan Island and neighboring islets:
Barangays in Tubabao Island and neighboring islets:
Barangays in Manicani Island:
Barangays in Homonhon Island by population (2015 census)
Other island barangays:
Demography.
Guiuan recorded a total population of 38,694 in 2000, which rose to 47,037 in 2010 and 52,991 in 2015. It has the second largest population in Eastern Samar (after Borongan) with a population density of 270 persons per km2.
Majority or 97.7% of the Guiuananons speak the Waray-Waray language. Less than 3.0% speak Cebuano (including the Boholano dialect) and Tagalog. A few percentage can converse in English, with varying degrees of proficiency.
Economy.
Guiuan is classified as a second income class municipality as of CY 2008. Its Total Financial Resources amounted to 67.71 million pesos. Its Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) represents 78.0% of its total financial resources.
Being a fishing community and the only municipality with the most number of island barangays, the town is rich in fishery and aquatic resources. It is considered by the fisheries authorities as the best fishing belt in the region.
The coastal waters offer almost all species of marine life: euchuema, abalone, ornamental fish, lobster and the golden cowry (known for its extraordinary golden sheen). They also offer delicacies, shellcraft products as well as fresh and processed marine products.
Existing land use indicates a predominance of agriculture which covers 38.2% of the total land area. Most of the agricultural lands are dominantly planted with coconut trees. Other major crops include vegetables, root crops, palay, corn, banana and other fruit trees, coffee and pineapple.
The municipality is likewise rich in mineral resources. It has an estimated mineral reserve of bauxite, nickel and titaferous magnitie of more than 26.7 million metric tons.
Transportation.
Guiuan Airport has a 2,800-metre (9,200-ft) runway which can service light private planes, chartered cargo and military planes. The Guiuan Airport was upgraded in 2010. Cebu-based airline Mid-Sea Express had scheduled flights from Cebu City to Guiuan twice weekly on Saturdays and Mondays, using a 19-seater Jetstream 32 aircraft. Service started in 2012 but has now been discontinued.
The town is accessible by land with highway connection from Tacloban City, about three-four hours travel. Several buses and vans regularly shuttle passengers to Guiuan. It is also accessible from Borongan City. Alternatively, several bus companies have daily trips to Guiuan from Manila. Travel time is approximately twenty-one hours.
Since the town is a coastal municipality, it has a small seaport operational throughout the year.
Point of Interest.
The church is also known as The Shrine of St. Anthony of Padua. It is known to both the locals and pilgrims around Eastern Visayas because of being miraculous. Saint Anthony of Padua is considered the patron saint for lost items, articles, people, or even spiritual goods. Many people visit the church to ask Saint Anthony even the most impossible wishes and the saint is believed to grant them.
Linao Cave is one of the most famous attractions in Guiuan because of its crystal clear water. The cave is named "linao" which means “clear” in Waray.
Utilities.
Telephone companies operating in the municipality includes TELECOM, Globelines and Bayantel. Smart and Globe cellular phone companies are also operational. The town also has a local radio station, Radyo Natin Guiuan (103.7 MHz), serving Guiuan and neighboring areas in Eastern Visayas.
In 2004, Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (ESAMELCO) was able to energize Guiuan, Calicoan Island up to Sulangan covering 37 out of 60 barangays. Island barangays are served with electricity through generator sets either privately owned or operated by the barangay council. However, electricity shortages are frequent and subscribers experience weekly power failures, lasting for 10 to 12 hours or for 24 hours in severe cases.
Guiuan is also the site of one of the weather stations of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, located in Barangay Sapao. Positioned at above sea level, the facility consists of a Surface Synoptic Station for usual weather observation and a Doppler weather radar station for detecting intensity (reflectivity) and velocity (by Doppler effect) of distant weather elements. The radar station was built and renovated with the aid of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).


Misima Island

Misima (formerly called St. Aignan) is a volcanic island in the northwest of Louisiade Archipelago within Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea.
History.
Misima Island was inhabited by Polynesians since about 1500 BC. The island was sighted in 1768 by French captain Louis Antoine de Bougainville and explored 1793 by French explorer Antoine Bruni d'Entrecasteaux.
Misima island owes its name to , which was a lieutenant of the Counter admiral Antoine Bruny d'Entrecasteaux during his of scientific exploration.
In 1888 the British Empire annexed Misima Island, and it became part of British New Guinea (since 1904 - the Territory of Papua administered by Australia).
Gold was discovered on Misima late in 1888. By March 1889, eighty men were on the island digging for gold, and a storekeeper had set up a business.
Since 1975, Misima belongs to the independent state of Papua New Guinea.
A gold and silver mine was opened on the island in 1990, by an international corporation.
The mines provided plenty of work for the islanders. however, that mine was officially closed in 2004, because of excessive load on the environment and public health hazards.
Politics.
The island is within the Samarai Murua District.
Geography.
The island measures 40 km by 10 km and has an area of 214,5 km². It is located some 20 km north of the northwest extreme of the barrier reef of Vanatinai at Isu Raua Raua Island, and 80 km northwest of Vanatinai Island itself.
Misima is mountainous and densely forested. Mt. Koia Tau, at a height of 1,036 meters, is the highest peak of the Louisiade Archipelago.
It was not until 24 December 2016 when Kolbe Bare, a Papua New Guinean geologist, and two Misimans, David Kaliton and Kaliton Ada, made the first recorded ascent to the Top of Oia Tau.[4] It was noted by Kolbe that even though the mountain is close to the sea, Higher altitude vegetation covers the top of the mountain at the time of ascent.
Climate.
The local climate is tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds, with a dry season from 1 December to 31 May, and a wet season from 1 June to 30 November. it is usually very humid. Since it is fairly close to the equator, the temperature does not fluctuate much between winter and summer.
Economy.
Misima island is known as a mining island. A huge mine operated many years on the island. The mine was a joint venture by Placer Dome Inc (owning 80%) and the state-owned Orogen Minerals Ltd. In March 2012 Barrick closed its post closure monitoring office in Bwagaoia having successfully rehabilitated the mine and mill sites.
Since 2004 when the mine closed, artisanal mining has become a major source of income in the island, with an association Misima Alluvial Gold Mining Association (MAGMA) starting in 2007. Other sources of income, especially for people living on the north coast, are cash crops of coconuts, copra, and cacao. A commercial fisheries project has been proposed, but has not been developed yet.
Demographics.
The island has a population of 19,330, spread across 78 villages, Misima is the most heavily populated island in the Louisiade Archipelago. By area, it is the third largest, after Vanatinai and Rossel Island.
Since the mines have closed, there are signs of population decrease. people are moving to Alotau for jobs.
Urbanization.
The main town of the island and the seat of the district is Bwagaoia, located on the southeast corner of the island. Other villages are Hinauta, Boiou, Gulewa, Bagilina, Liak, Siagara, Eiaus (on the eastern north coast, reachable by road from Bwagaoia), Gulewa and Ewena (on the western north coast), and Bwagabwaga, Gaibobo and Alhoga (on the south coast).
Religion.
About half the population identified themselves as members of a Christian church. see Religion in Papua New Guinea for more info.
Language.
The main language of the island is also called Misiman, though many residents speak English and also Tok Pisin as a third language.
Transportation.
Misima has a working airport (four flights weekly to the mainland (POM via Alotau) through Airlines of Papua New Guinea, and one charter run by Porgera Joint Venture, a high school (grades 7-12), a small market, a few small stores and a clinic/hospital, a post office,--all of which are located in Bwagaoia. There are ferries from Alotau which service Misima Island, costing around K100 and taking 17 hours.
Flora and fauna.
The following mammals are present on Misima Island:
Other animals:


Pioneer Coal Limited

Pioneer Coal Limited is a Canadian mining company based in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
It was founded in 1980 by John Chisholm, owner of Nova Construction Company Limited. The company currently operates two open pit coal mines:
Both open-pit mines are operated as reclamation mines in areas that used to have underground mining operations. After surface mining has been completed, the land is reclaimed for other uses. The Stellarton mine is slated to cease operating in 2019.
In 2014 the company began a feasibility study to evaluate an additional surface coal mine near Springhill, Nova Scotia.


Prioskolsky mine

The Prioskolsky mine is a large iron mine located in western Russia in the Belgorod Oblast. Prioskolsky represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Russia and in the world having estimated reserves of 2.1 billion tonnes of ore grading 38% iron metal.


European Goldfields

European Goldfields Ltd. was an EU-focused, Whitehorse based Canadian precious metals company engaged in gold, silver and copper exploration, development and production. The mining rights it owned to land in Greece, Romania and Turkey gave it access to over 10 million ounces of 2P gold reserves in addition to over 80 million ounces of silver.
Frank Timiş, the 9th richest Romanian was a major shareholder in the company from 2000 to 2006 (his share ranged from 15% to 18.9%); it was from him that the company acquired 21% of its 95% interest in Hellas Gold. Ellaktor, Greece's biggest construction and civil engineering company, owned 19.36% of European Goldfields and is also the owner of all outstanding shares of Hellas Gold (5%).
In December 2011 Eldorado Gold initiated a $2.5 billion friendly takeover of European Goldfields. The deal came just after Centerra Gold attempted to buy the company and just before European Goldfields was to vote on a $750m (£479m) credit deal offered to it by Qatar Holdings, to finance the Skouries and Olympias gold projects. The acquisition was completed in February 2012.
Operations.
European Goldfields had two main subsidiaries, Hellas Gold (Greece) and Certej (Romania).
Turkey - Joint ventured with Aldridge Minerals, exploration occurs in the area of Ardala.


Indian Valley Mine

The Indian Valley Mine is a historic quartz mine located at 27301 Seward Highway (mile marker 104) within the community of Indian in the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, between the main area of Anchorage and the city of Seward on the north shore of Turnagain Arm. The quartz vein was discovered in 1910 by Peter Strong, who had come to Alaska in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, and had previously staked a small gold claim in the area. Strong worked this claim through the 1920s and 1930s, building a cabin and an assay house that are the oldest known buildings in the Turnagain Arm region.
The mine was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It now a tourist attraction that is open seven days a week during the summer season (mid-May to mid-September).


Boquillas del Carmen

Boquillas del Carmen, frequently known simply as Boquillas (), is a village in northern Mexico on the banks of the Rio Grande. It is the northernmost populated place in the municipality of Ocampo, which lies within the Mexican state of Coahuila.
The village lies immediately west of the northern part of the Sierra del Carmen mountain range and at the south-west end of the Rio Grande's Boquillas Canyon. Boquillas del Carmen was founded as a mining town in the late 19th-century, after valuable minerals were found in the nearby mountains. Mining ceased in 1919 and the population rapidly declined.
Boquillas del Carmen lies adjacent to the Mexico–United States border and visitors on foot from the United States can enter the village via the Boquillas Port of Entry. Situated just next to Big Bend National Park, tourism is the principal industry in Boquillas. After the September 11 attacks, the United States closed the border and the economy of Boquillas was severely affected and the population fell by nearly 50%. In 2013, the border was re-opened and the economy and population subsequently rebounded.
History.
19th century.
Silver was discovered in the Sierra del Carmen in the early 1890s. The arrival of miners led to the establishment of two border camps either side of the Rio Grande: Boquillas in Texas (now Rio Grande Village) and Boquillas del Carmen. In addition to the silver, lead and zinc were also discovered. The mined ore containing these metals was smelted in a small furnace by the banks of the river near Boquillas del Carmen before being
transported by road to El Paso where it was further processed. The local mining company operated a cable car across the Rio Grande between the two Boquillas. At the height of mining operations, there were between 2,000 and 4,000 people living in Boquillas del Carmen.
20th century.
Around the turn of the 20th century up to 2000 people lived in Boquillas. The principal employment came from industries relating to the production of lead, silver and fluorite ore from nearby mines. Mining ceased in 1919 and the town's population rapidly declined.
Efforts began in the 1930s to create a United States-Mexico International Peace Park in the area, joining Big Bend National Park with the Maderas del Carmen in Coahuila. Boquillas del Carmen would have been at the center of this proposed international peace park, but these efforts have not been realized.
Despite this, Boquillas del Carmen interacted with Big Bend in other ways. Tourism from across the Rio Grande became the main trade. Country music star Robert Earl Keen was known to have frequented Boquillas and released an album in 1994 entitled "Gringo Honeymoon" whose title track is said to be about a day he and a female companion visited the village. During the 2000 census, the town's population was calculated as comprising 191 people.
21st century.
The events of September 11, 2001, dramatically affected Boquillas del Carmen's 20th-century way of life. In May 2002, the border crossing from Big Bend National Park to Boquillas was closed indefinitely. By October 2006, only 19 families comprising around 90 to 100 residents remained in Boquillas. Most of the town's residents had been forced to move away by the closure of the tourist crossing and destruction of the town's traditional economy. At the time of the 2010 census, the town's population was recorded as comprising only 110 people.
On January 7, 2011, the US National Park Service announced plans to reopen the crossing using a ferry and a passport control center planned to open in the spring of 2012. After multiple delays, the new Boquillas Port of Entry was finally officially opened on 10 April 2013. The hours of operation currently are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, subject to seasonal changes. Since opening of the border crossing, the town of Boquillas del Carmen has seen substantial growth with the addition of electricity (from solar panels), a new medical care office, and enhancements at the public elementary school. The village's population is now said to be about 200 persons. Visitors are allowed to bring one bottle of alcohol back to the U.S. via this entry point. One may not bring tobacco back to the U.S. via this entry point.
Economy.
After the end of the mining industry, tourism developed in Boquillas in the 20th century with Jose Falcon's restaurant opening in 1973. In the late 1990s, Boquillas was a small town of around 300 residents primarily dependent on the Big Bend tourist trade with visitors crossing the Rio Grande to visit the village's bar, restaurant, and taco stands. Children posted adjacent to the village's Christian mission sold rocks collected in the desert or from nearby caves. Tourism options included pony and donkey rentals, drinks at Park Bar and overnight stays at a local bed and breakfast known as the Buzzard's Roost (since renamed as La Zappolita).
The village continues to generate its income from tourists visiting on foot and in 2018 over 11,000 entered Boquillas from the United States. Local guides offer walking tours of the small village and locally produced handicrafts are on sale. Tours to the Boquillas Canyon, hot springs, archaeological sites and caves in the surrounding area by foot, truck, horse/burro, and canoe are also available.
There are at least two restaurants/bars in the village and several curio shops selling mostly bead craft work.
"Los Diablos", a firefighting team, lives in Boquillas. They work in the national park where they fight wildfires and sometimes support firefighting efforts in the United States.
Infrastructure.
In 2015 a solar farm was brought into operation, providing electricity throughout the village.
Apart from the river crossing to Big Bend, Boquillas can be reached by road along Mexican Federal Highway 53. The nearest settlement of any size is Santa Rosa de Múzquiz which is 150 miles away with a journey time of at least 4 hours on account of the poor road condition.
In 2013, it was noted that there was no mobile phone coverage or internet provision in Boquillas. A single telephone line now comes into the village. When one calls that line, the operator states a specific time at which the caller should call back, promising that the operator will find the person being telephoned and ensure that he/she is at the phone in order to receive the call at the appointed time.
Demographics.
From 1990 to 2010, the population has never been officially recorded as over 200 and it suffered over a 40% drop over the period. By 2017 the population was estimated to have grown to around 300 people although the 2020 official census recorded a more modest growth to a population of 202 people.
The village has a Roman Catholic church and a small Baptist church ("Boquillas Bautista Iglesia"). In 2010 the religious breakdown of Boquillas del Carmen was:
In 2020 the religious breakdown of was:


Nicholas Wood (MP)

Nicholas Wood (1832 – 24 December 1892) was a British industrialist and Conservative Party politician.
He was born in Killingworth, Northumberland, where his father, also Nicholas Wood, was a locomotive engineer. The family subsequently moved to Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, where they took part in developing the coalfields. Educated at Repton School, he went on to be the proprietor of a number of mines in the Hetton area, as well as having interests in shipping and other industries. In 1881 he married Edith Florence Jervis of Staffordshire. He was a justice of the peace and deputy lieutenant of County Durham.
He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Houghton-le-Spring at the 1886 general election, having contested the seat unsuccessfully in 1885. He was defeated at the 1892 general election. He was believed to have been defeated by the votes of local miners who had been engaged in a lengthy strike and of Irish immigrants due to his opposition to Home Rule. He died from typhoid fever later that year in Half Moon Street, Piccadilly, London, aged 60. He was buried in the churchyard at Saltwood near Hythe, Kent on 29 December.


P. K. Mukherjee

Prasun Kumar Mukherjee (born 1 December 1955) is the Executive Director of Sesa Sterlite Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources plc.
Education.
Mukherjee completed his Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from Calcutta University. He is an Associate Member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India, and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Career.
Mukherjee has worked in various profiles including finance, accounts, costing, taxation, legal and management, at various organisations including CEAT Tyres and Bridge and Roof Company (India). He is presently the Managing director of Sesa Goa Limited, having taken up the position in 2006.
Personal life.
He is married to Subhra Mukherjee and they have two sons. The elder, Tathagatha is currently pursuing his MBA in China Europe International Business School and the younger, Sarthak is pursuing his CA.
Mukherjee has a special interest in classical music and soccer. He is also the President of the Sesa Football Academy.
Awards.
Mukherjee was adjudged one of India’s Best Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in the year 2005 by Business Today.
In November 2009, BusinessWorld declared him India’s most ‘Value’able CEO.
In July 2010, Star Ananda conferred on him the "Sera Bengali" award in the business arena.
Associations.
Mukherjee has been associated with various organisations in various capacities, including
- Former Co-chairman of the Mining Committee Federation of the Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry(FICCI).
- Managing Committee Member & Member of Mentoring Committee of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).
- Chairperson of the Mineral Foundation of Goa.
- Executive Committee Member of the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters’ Association (GMOEA).
- Former President and Member of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI).


Zuun Mod mine

The Zuun Mod deposit is one of the largest molybdenum and copper porphyry deposits in Mongolia. The deposit is located in southwestern Mongolia and its mining license is owned 100% by Erdene Resource Development Corporation. The Zuun Mod deposit has NI 43-101 compliant measured and indicated resource amounting to 218 million tonnes of ore grading 0.057% molybdenum and 0.069% copper at a 0.04% molybdenum cutoff grade. This results in 273.5 million pounds of contained molybdenum metal and 330.7 million pounds of contained copper metal.


Aber-Cywarch

Cywarch is a location at the head of Cwm Cywarch in the Snowdonia National Park, in Gwynedd, Wales. Several streams flow through the area, uniting to form Afon Cywarch, a tributary of the River Dyfi.
The area is entirely agricultural, based on sheep farming, with some tourism generated by scenery and hill-walking. Until the end of the 19th century there were lead workings that gave rise to a mining village and works. A mining company office remains, mining buildings have been incorporated into local farms and some earthworks remain, otherwise the buildings, including the village, have vanished. An explanatory sign has been sited at a new car park near the end of the public road.
Prior to mining, the area was isolated and during the 16th century it was home to a band of outlaws known as Cochion Cywarch (The Reds of Cywarch ), said to be named for the colour of their leader's hair. The "Brigand’s Inn" in Mallwyd, is named after them.


Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area

Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area is a nature reserve near Owings Mills in western Baltimore County, Maryland, USA. The site is designated both as a Maryland Wildland (1,526 acres) and as a Natural Environment Area (1,900 acres) and is part of the Maryland Wildlands Preservation System. The site's protected status is due to the presence of serpentine soil and over 39 rare, threatened, or endangered plant species along with rare insects, rocks and minerals.
Amenities.
 of hiking trails have been blazed at Soldier's Delight. While pets are permitted, equestrians and bicyclists are not, to protect the fragile terrain. A visitor center is open on Saturdays and irregularly during the rest of the week. Attractions there include environmental education programs and a scavenger hunt. Bowhunting is allowed from mid-November to the end of January with appropriate permits.
History.
The early colonial records of Maryland describe the area as a hunting ground for Native Americans. In 1693, rangers in the King's service from a nearby garrison patrolled the area calling the land Soldiers Delight. In the 18th century, King George II made gifts of land grants upon Maryland's earliest settlers in what was then Soldiers Delight Hundred.
During the American Civil War, Soldiers Delight was the scene of minor short-term fights between the Maryland Volunteers of the Confederate Army and the regular troops of the Union Army. After the Civil War and the emancipation of slaves, the great estates of the early families were reduced to many small farms and individual properties.
Geology.
The area is mostly underlaid by serpentinite, a rock that contains very little quartz and aluminum-bearing minerals and consists mainly of serpentine. Weathered serpentinite is dissolved rock, transformed into thin, sand- and clay-poor soil which is easily eroded. This creates a land surface which is stony, unfertile and sparsely vegetated and is the reason that the term "serpentine barren" is used to describe these areas. A typical serpentine barren contains bear oak, Virginia pine, Eastern redcedar, grasses and some unique and rare wildflowers.
Serpentine is valued as a decorative building stone, road material, and for this area in Maryland, a historic source of chromium ore. Isaac Tyson, a 19th-century businessman from Baltimore, was one of the first to make the connection between the occurrence of chromite and serpentine barrens. He began mining chromite here in 1827. During the 19th century, Soldiers Delight and the Bare Hills district of Baltimore County were the largest producers of chrome in the world. In Maryland, chromite, a significant accessory mineral in the serpentine, was mined until 1860. Several old mines and quarries are still visible in these serpentine barrens.
Soils.
The most common soil is Chrome silt loam, which occupies well-drained areas over serpentinite. In more moist settings Chrome grades to Travilah silt loam. Areas where serpentinite influence is weak or absent are limited in Soldiers Delight, but are easily recognized by their more luxuriant vegetation on the upland Manor loam or the floodplain Hatboro silt loam.


Linc Energy

Linc Energy was an Australian energy company specialized on a coal-based synthetic fuel production as also on a conventional oil and gas production. It was engaged in development and commercialization of proprietary underground coal gasification technology. Produced gas was used for production of synthetic fuel through gas-to-liquid technology, and has been planned also to be used for power generation. The company had its headquarters in Brisbane, Queensland.
In April 2016 the company was placed into voluntary administration. At the second creditors meeting in May 2016 the unanimous vote was for the company to be liquidated.
History.
Linc Energy was incorporated on 29 October 1996 as Linc Energy N.L. On 17 November 2000, it changed its name to Linc Energy Ltd. It listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on 10 May 2006 and on the OTCQX in New York in December 2007. On 19 December 2013, Linc Energy delisted from the ASX and listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange.
Linc started its Chinchilla Demonstration Facility in July 1999. First gas was produced in that very same year. Initially Linc Energy used the underground coal gasification technology worked out by Ergo Exergy Technologies, Inc, of Canada. However, in 2006 the cooperation with Ergo Exergy was terminated and the cooperation agreement for technology usage, consultation and engineering services was signed with the Skochinsky Institute of Mining and the Scientific-Technical Mining Association of Russia.
In 2005, Linc signed a memorandum with Syntroleum granting a licence to use the Syntroleum's proprietary gas-to-liquid technology and started to build a GTL pilot plant in November 2007 at the Chinchilla facility. The plant was commissioned in August 2008. The first synthetic crude was produced in October 2008.
In November 2007, Linc Energy, in cooperation with BioCleanCoal Pty Ltd, established a joint venture to develop a prototype bioreactor for converting carbon dioxide through a photosynthesis into oxygen and solid biomass.
On 20 December 2007, Linc Energy acquired a 60% stake and later increased it to 91.6% in Uzbekistan's underground coal gasification company SPC Yerostigaz. On 15 October 2008, a South Australian oil and gas company SAPEX Limited was merged with Linc Energy. This acquisition provided Linc Energy with tenements in the Arckaringa, St Vincent and Walloway basins.
In 2009, Linc Energy purchased from GasTech IncNorth American coal tenements in Montana (Powder River Basin), Wyoming, and North Dakota. In 2010, Linc Energy acquired tenements in the Cook Inlet Basin in Alaska from GeoPetro Alaska. At the same year, it sold non-core Emerald, Galilee and Pentland coal mining tenements in Queensland to Adani Mining Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Adani Group.
In October 2010, Linc Energy acquires 10% stake in the UK-based alkaline fuel cell company AFC Energy and in 2011, it increased its stake up to 12%. In the cooperation with AFC Energy and B9 Coal, the company commissioned a hydrogen fuel cell named "Alfa System" at Chinchilla. Combining the fuel cell technology with the underground coal gasification allows usage of hydrogen, produced by the underground coal gasification process, as a feedstock for the fuel cell.
In 2011, it acquired three producing oil fields from Rancher Energy, 14 oil fields from ERG Resources, and purchased Renaissance LLC to take control in the Umiat oil field. In April 2012, Linc Energy partnered with a subsidiary of Hong Kong listed Golden Concord Holdings (GCL) to commercialise fuel using its UGC to GTC technology in China. Golden Concord purchased a 5% stake in the company for 120 million Australian dollars (US$124 million).
On 23 January 2013, Linc Energy announced the discovery of tight oil resource surrounding Coober Pedy estimated at between of oil. At the same year, their subsidiary New Emerald Coal bought the Blair Athol coal mine.
In July 2014, the company announced that it had gained initial approval from the Ministry of Environment of Poland to commence an underground coal gasification project and that the company has been awarded its third coal exploration license in Poland. Also in July 2014, Linc Energy announced plans to commence drilling wells to prove up deeper parts of the Arckaringa Basin.
On 16 April 2016 the company was placed into voluntary administration with some claims in the media this has been done to avoid fines from the Queensland Government. PPB Advisory has been appointed as the administrator. On 13 May 2016 the administrators announced that in their opinion the company should be liquidated. At the second creditors meeting on 23 May 2016 the unanimous vote was for the company to be liquidated.
Operations.
Linc Energy had business interests in Australia, North America, the United Kingdom, Poland, South Africa, China, Vietnam and Uzbekistan. In addition to the underground coal gasification, the company was active in traditional coal mining and oil and gas exploration and production.
The company owned and operated the Chinchilla Demonstration Facility west of Brisbane, which was the world's first gas-to-liquid plant operating on synthesis gas produced by underground coal gasification. The facility hosted five underground coal gas generators, a GTL pilot plant, a laboratory, and a wastewater treatment plant.
Linc Energy also planned to build a gas-to-liquid plant on the Arckaringa Basin in South Australia. The plant was to be designed by Aker Solutions and it was to be fed by synthesis gas produced by underground coal gasification. BP had an option to buy 70% of the produced diesel fuel.
In the Yining mining area in China, Linc Energy planned to develop a coal gasification project in cooperation with Xinwen Mining Group. Together with Vinacomin, Song Hong Energy and Marubeni, Linc prepared the Red River Delta UCG (UCG Tonkin) project in Hung Yen, Vietnam.
Linc Energy cooperated with UK Coal in the UK and Exxaro in South Africa. It had a coal exploration lease in the Upper Silesia Coal Basin, Poland. In December 2012, it started cooperation with Ukrainian energy company DTEK to evaluate potential of the underground coal gasification on the DTEK's local coal resources.
Linc Energy located had a subsidiary in Angren, Uzbekistan called Yerostigaz. Yerostigaz was established in 1961 and operated in the field of underground coal gasification. It produced about one million cubic meters of syngas per day. The produced syngas was used as fuel in the Angren Power Station.
Controversy.
In Australia in 2014 the Queensland Government filed charges over alleged serious environmental harm stemming from Chinchilla Facility. Linc Energy reported that these charges are not material to the company's finances or operations and that it would staunchly defend allegations.
In April 2018, Linc Energy was found guilty of causing serious environmental harm and the following month was fined $4.5 million. The court was told that groundwater underneath its plant in Hopeland, will take 20 years to recover from the leakage of toxic chemicals, such as BTEX. It was also alleged by a whistle blower, that the government ignored warnings and put the company's profits above the environment.


Verkhoyansk mine

The Verkhoyansk mine (Russian: Верхоянский рудник, "Verkhoyanskiy rudnik") is one of the largest silver mines in Russia and in the world. The mine is located in Sakha Republic. The mine has estimated reserves of 704 million oz of silver.


Arizona One mine

The Arizona One mine is a uranium mine located in Arizona about south of Fredonia.
Arizona One represents one of the largest uranium reserves in the United States having estimated reserves of 10.3 million tonnes of ore grading 0.68% uranium.
Arizona One is scheduled to close in early 2014 due to ore depletion and low prices.


Ajoy Ghose

Ajoy Ghose was an Indian mining engineer. Ghose was a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering. He died on 13 March 2019.


El Triunfo, Baja California Sur

El Triunfo is a town in La Paz Municipality, Baja California Sur, Mexico, about 4.5 miles north of San Antonio. The town is located at an elevation of above sea level and has a population of 327. It is a former mining town.
History.
The first mine in El Triunfo was established by Manuel de Ocio in the late 1700s. Ownership of the mine was temporarily transferred to the Spanish Crown at one point. However, the mine remained largely unsuccessful until 1878, where ownership of the mine was transferred.
In 1862, silver and gold were discovered in the southern Baja California Sur mountains, leading miners from Mexico and the United States to rush to settle in El Triunfo in a gold rush. Many of the miners had participated in the 1849 California gold rush. In 1878, the mine was taken over by the British El Progreso Mining Company and became more successful. Once the largest city in Baja California Sur, it was home to more than 10,000 miners. In its heyday the town was a cultural center, where Francisca Mendoza taught and performed. El Triunfo was the first town in the region to install electricity and telephones. Pianos and other instruments were brought to El Triunfo from around the world and a piano museum still exists. When mines shut down in 1926, most of the townspeople left to look for work elsewhere. The 2010 census reported a population of 327 inhabitants. El Triunfo is one of the best preserved 19th and 20th century mining communities in North America and remains an important site for archaeological research.
A notable feature of the town is the 47-meter-high smokestack constructed in 1890 for El Progreso Mining Company. It is called "La Ramona", named after Saint Raymond, on whose feast day the project was completed on. The smokestack was once thought to be designed by Gustave Eiffel, though no conclusive evidence of his involvement in the project has been located. After more than 100 years, the smokestack was cracked and damaged and collapse during an earthquake or hurricane was a concern. In 2018, the nonprofits International Community Foundation (ICF) and the Corredor Histórico CAREM, A.C. collaborated to restore La Ramona for an estimated $200,000 USD.
In recent years, to attract tourism, many of the original buildings have been restored and converted into restaurants, museums, boutiques and other locations.


Milton Santee

Milton Santee (1835–1901), was a 19th-century civil engineer, surveyor, miner, real estate developer, and entrepreneur in Missouri and Southern California.
He developed the city of Ramona, California, and served several terms on the Los Angeles Common Council.
Career.
Eastern US.
Santee was a lieutenant from Pennsylvania in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
During his early career as a surveyor, Santee made surveys of Dixon, Missouri, and also laid out the town of Richland, Missouri in 1869.
California.
Santee was elected to two consecutive terms to represent the 4th electoral district on the Los Angeles Common Council, the legislative branch of the city, the first beginning December 9, 1884, and the second ending December 13, 1886.
In 1887 he opened the Ramona Hotel in Julian, California. a hostelry that was later renamed the Kenilworth Inn.
In 1888, Santee had mines in San Diego County, "30 miles from Dos Palmos and three miles from the line surveyed for the Cuyamaca Road." In January of that year he was one of the incorporators of the Lower California Mining Company (Mexico), which was capitalized at $5 million. He later defended a deal the company made with a Chinese consortium that would send Chinese workers to the mines in Mexico:
When everything is in full working order we expect that there will be about 1,000 Mongolians taken down there, all of whom will come out of this State [California], and thereby greatly decrease the unwelcome resident population. According to the Scott Exclusion Act they will not be able to return, although if they want to I have no doubt that they could manage it, for there are only a handful of men guarding the western 1,000 miles of Mexican frontier. But I do not think that they will want to come back, for they will get better wages down there and will not be looked upon with the aversion they are here.
Santee headed a San Diego group that had platted Coronado, California, as a site for a resort community, but the endeavor failed. He then bought 6,000 acres of Rancho Santa Maria, "halfway between the coast and the San Diego Gold Country, and surveyed it for sale into small farms and ranches." This area originally had the name Nuevo, but Santee changed it to Ramona, to capitalize on the success of Helen Hunt Jackson's book "Ramona," and he began a nationwide sales campaign to sell property there. In 1893 Santee donated land in Nuevo for a park and library; he also laid out the grounds for the park.
Personal.
Santee was born in Pennsylvania in 1835.
In 1883, Santee was a member of the Los Angeles Coeur de Lion Commandery, No. 9, Knights Templar. When living in Lassen County, California, he was a charter member of Lake Lodge No. 135, Ancient Order of United Workmen.
He married the widow Jennie Blodgett Cowles in 1890.
Milton Santee died in Los Angeles on October 16, 1901, at the home of his mother, V. Santee, at 210 West 28th Street in today's Historic South Central area. He was survived by his wife, Jennie Cowles Santee; a son Homer Santee; and five siblings, Addison Santee, Mary Santee, Mrs. L. Scofield, Mrs. A. Siddle of Clinton, Iowa, and Mrs. Dr. J.A. Gall of Winslow, Arizona.
Legacy.
Milton Santee is remembered in the renamed city of Santee in San Diego County, California, which was originally named Cowleston, after its founder George A. Cowles, who died in 1887. Cowles's widow, Jennie, married Milton Santee and, according to historian Harriette Wade, "lobbied hard" to change the name to Santee in honor of her new husband. A "reluctant vote of the citizens" approved the idea in 1893, Wade said.
References.
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Great Flat Lode

The Great Flat Lode is a mineral-bearing body of rock under the southern granite slopes of Carn Brea south of Camborne in west Cornwall, England, UK.
Mining.
The Great Flat Lode lies under the southern granite slopes of Carn Brea and so named because the tin-bearing rock was at an unusually shallow gradient of about 10 degrees to the horizontal. In other parts of Cornwall mineral bearing lodes lie at between 60 and 90 degrees to the horizontal. "Lode" is a mining term for a mineral vein. Its small gradient allowed for optimal location of the mines. The minerals were accessed by the South Condurrow Mine (later renamed King Edward Mine and used by the Camborne School of Mines), Wheal Grenville, South Wheal Frances Mine and the Bassett Mines. The mines were started to obtain copper ore but at greater depths tin was obtained.
Many of the mines amalgamated and continued production until the First World War.
Trail.
The "Great Flat Lode Trail", a long circular trail around |Carn Brea is one of Cornwall's Mineral Tramway Trails.
References.
Footnotes
Bibliography


Helena, Montana

Helena (; ) is the state capital of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County.
Helena was founded as a gold camp during the Montana gold rush, and established on October 30, 1864. Due to the gold rush, Helena would become a wealthy city, with approximately 50 millionaires inhabiting the area by 1888. The concentration of wealth contributed to the city's prominent, elaborate Victorian architecture.
At the 2010 census Helena's population was 28,190, making it the fifth least populous state capital in the United States and the sixth most populous city in Montana. It is the principal city of the Helena Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Lewis and Clark and Jefferson counties; its population is 81,653 according to the 2019 Census Estimate.
The local daily newspaper is the "Independent Record". The city is served by Helena Regional Airport (HLN).
History.
Pre-settlement.
The Helena area was long inhabited by various indigenous peoples. Evidence from the McHaffie and Indian Creek sites on opposite sides of the Elkhorn Mountains southeast of the Helena Valley show that people of the Folsom culture lived in the area more than 10,000 years ago. Before the introduction of the horse 300 years ago, and since, other native peoples, including the Salish and the Blackfeet, visited the area seasonally on their nomadic rounds.
Early settlement and gold rush.
By the early 1800s, people of European descent from the United States and British Canada began arriving to work the streams of the Missouri River watershed looking for fur-bearing animals such as the beaver, undoubtedly bringing them through the area now known as the Helena Valley.
Gold strikes in Idaho Territory in the early 1860s attracted many migrants who initiated major gold rushes at Grasshopper Creek (Bannack) and Alder Gulch (Virginia City) in 1862 and 1863 respectively. So many people came that the federal government created a new territory called Montana in May 1864. The miners prospected far and wide for new placer gold discoveries. On July 14, 1864, the discovery of gold by a prospecting party known as the "Four Georgians" in a gulch off the Prickly Pear Creek led to the founding of a mining camp along a small creek in the area they called "Last Chance Gulch".
By fall, the population had grown to over 200, and some thought the name "Last Chance" too crass. On October 30, 1864, a group of at least seven self-appointed men met to name the town, authorize the layout of the streets, and elect commissioners. The first suggestion was "Tomah," a word the committee thought had connections to the local Indian people. Other nominations included Pumpkinville and Squashtown (as the meeting was held the day before Halloween). Other suggestions were to name the community after various Minnesota towns, such as Winona and Rochester, as a number of settlers had come from Minnesota. Finally, a Scotsman, John Summerville, proposed "Helena", which he pronounced , in honor of Helena Township, Scott County, Minnesota. This immediately caused an uproar from the former Confederates in the room, who insisted upon the pronunciation , after Helena, Arkansas, a town on the Mississippi River. While the name "Helena" won, the pronunciation varied until approximately 1882 when the pronunciation became dominant. Later tales of the naming of Helena claimed the name came from the island of St. Helena, where Napoleon was exiled, or was that of a miner's sweetheart.
Helena was surveyed by Captain John Wood in 1865 for the first time. The original streets of Helena followed the paths of miners, thus making the city blocks of Early Helena various sizes and shapes.
In 1870, Henry D. Washburn, having been appointed Surveyor General of Montana in 1869, organized the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition in Helena to explore the regions that would become Yellowstone National Park. Mount Washburn, within the park, is named for him. Members of the expedition included Helena residents:
Wealth boom.
By 1888 about 50 millionaires lived in Helena, more per capita than in any city in the world. They had made their fortunes from gold. It is estimated about $3.6 billion in today's money was extracted from Helena during this period of time. The Last Chance Placer is one of the most famous placer deposits in the western United States. Most of the production occurred before 1868. Much of the placer is now under Helena's streets and buildings.
This large concentration of wealth was the basis of developing fine residences and ambitious architecture in the city; its Victorian neighborhoods reflect the gold years. The numerous miners also attracted the development of a thriving red light district. Among the well-known local madams was Josephine "Chicago Joe" Airey, who built a thriving business empire between 1874 and 1893, becoming one of Helena's largest and most influential landowners. Helena's brothels were a successful part of the local business community well into the 20th century, ending with the 1973 death of Helena's last madam, "Big Dorothy" Baker.
Helena's official symbol is a drawing of "The Guardian of the Gulch", a wooden fire watch tower built in 1886. It still stands on Tower Hill overlooking the downtown district. The tower being built in 1874, replaced a series of observation buildings, the original being built response to a series of devastating fires that swept through the early mining camp. On August 2, 2016, an arson attack severely damaged the tower and it was deemed structurally unstable. The tower is to be demolished but will be rebuilt using the same methods as in its original construction.
In 1889, railroad magnate Charles Arthur Broadwater opened his Hotel Broadwater and Natatorium west of Helena. The Natatorium was home to the world's first indoor swimming pool. Damaged in the 1935 Helena earthquake, it closed in 1941. The property's many buildings were demolished in 1976. Today, the Broadwater Fitness Center stands just west of the Hotel & Natatorium's original location, complete with an outdoor pool heated by natural spring water running underneath it.
Helena has been the capital of Montana Territory since 1875 and the state of Montana since 1889. Referendums were held in 1892 and 1894 to determine the states capital; the result was to keep the capitol in Helena. In 1902, the Montana State Capitol was completed. Until the 1900 census, Helena was the most populous city in the state. That year it was surpassed by Butte (with a population of 30,470), where mining industry was developing.
In 1916, the United Daughters of the Confederacy commissioned the construction of the Confederate Memorial Fountain in Hill Park. It was the only Confederate memorial in the Northwestern United States. The fountain was removed on August 18, 2017, after the Helena City Commission deemed it a threat to public safety following a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
1980s–present.
The Cathedral of Saint Helena and the Helena Civic Center are two of Helena's many significant historic buildings.
Many Working Helenans (approx. 18%) work for agencies of the state government. When in Helena, most people visit the local walking mall. It was completed in the early 1980s after Urban Renewal and the Model Cities Program in the early 1970s had removed many historic buildings from the downtown district. During the next decade, a three-block shopping district was renovated that followed the original Last Chance Gulch. A small artificial stream runs along most of the walking mall to represent the underground springs that originally flowed above ground in parts of the Gulch.
The Archie Bray Foundation, an internationally renowned ceramics center founded in 1952, is just northwest of Helena, near Spring Meadow Lake.
A significant train wreck occurred on February 2, 1989, in which a 48-car runaway freight train slammed into a parked train near Carroll College, setting off an explosion that blasted out windows up to three miles away, causing most of the city to lose power and forcing some residents to evacuate in subzero weather.
With the mountains, Helena has much outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing. Great Divide Ski Area is northwest of town near the ghost town of Marysville. Helena is also known for its mountain biking. It was officially designated as an International Mountain Bicycling Association bronze level Ride Center on October 23, 2013.
Helena High School and Capital High School are public high schools in Helena School District No. 1.
In 2017, Helena voters elected as mayor former Liberian refugee Wilmot Collins, who was widely reported to be Helena's first black mayor. The "Independent Record" reported contested research indicating that in the early 1870s one E. T. Johnson, listed in the city directory as a black barber from Washington D.C., had been elected mayor, before Helena became an incorporated town.
Geography.
Helena is located at (46.595805, −112.027031), at an altitude of 4,058 feet (1,237 m).
Surrounding features include the Continental Divide, Mount Helena City Park, Spring Meadow Lake State Park, Lake Helena, Helena National Forest, the Big Belt Mountains, the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, Sleeping Giant Wilderness Study Area, Bob Marshall Wilderness, Scapegoat Wilderness, the Missouri River, Canyon Ferry Lake, Holter Lake, Hauser Lake, and the Elkhorn Mountains.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate.
Helena has a semi-arid climate (Köppen "BSk"), with long, cold and moderately snowy winters, hot and dry summers, and short springs and autumns in between. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from in January to in August. Snowfall has been observed in every month but July, but is usually absent from May to September, and normally accumulates in only light amounts. Winters have periods of moderation, partly due to warming influence from chinooks. Precipitation mostly falls in the spring and is generally sparse, averaging only annually.
Demographics.
2010 census.
As of the census of 2010, there were 28,190 people, 12,780 households, and 6,691 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 13,457 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.3% White, 0.4% African American, 2.3% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.
There were 12,780 households, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.2% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.6% were non-families. 39.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.77.
The median age in the city was 40.3 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 29.5% were from 45 to 64; and 15.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.
2000 census.
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,780 people, 11,541 households, and 6,474 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,840.7 people per square mile (710.5/km2). There were 12,133 housing units at an average density of 866.3 per square mile (334.4/km2). The ethnic makeup of the city is 94.8% White, 0.2% African American, 2.1% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 11,541 households, out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.9% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,416, and the median income for a family was $50,018. Males had a median income of $34,357 versus $25,821 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,020. About 9.3% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Economy.
Helena has a long record of economic stability with its history as being the state capital and being founded in an area rich in silver and lead deposits. However, this situation has resulted in a slow growing economy. Its status as capital makes it a major hub of activity at the county, state, and federal level. According to the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce, the capital's median household income is $50,889, and its unemployment rate stood at 3.8% in 2013, about 1.2% lower than the rest of the state. Education is a major employer, with two high schools and accompanying elementary and middle schools for K–12 students as well as Helena College. Major private employers within the city of Helena include Carroll College and the medical community.
Helena's economy is also bolstered by Fort William Henry Harrison, the training facility for the Montana National Guard, located just outside the city. Fort Harrison is also home to , where many Helena-area residents work.
Education.
Primary and secondary education.
List of schools in Helena, Montana
Library.
Helena has a public library, a branch of the Lewis & Clark Library.
Media.
Helena's Designated Market Area is 205th in size, as defined by Nielsen Media Research, and is the fifth smallest media market in the nation.


Poolsbrook

Poolsbrook () is a former mining village near Staveley in North East Derbyshire, England. The village was built by Staveley Coal and Iron Company towards the end of the 19th century to provide housing for workers employed at the nearby Speedwell and the later Ireland Collieries. Since then new houses have been built (dubbed the "new village" by locals) and the old houses have been knocked down.
Local power.
A large number of residents signed up to have their heating and electricity supplied by landfill gas powered CHP. However, due to a lack of council support the scheme did not go ahead.
Poolsbrook is part of Staveley Town council, which is part of Chesterfield borough council. They have local elections to elect councillors on both of these councils. Many residents vote for the Labour Party and labour has been in power over Poolsbrook for many years.