In an age where innovation & disruptive technology are at the forefront of the mining industry, it can be challenging to view our ancestors and their efforts as technologically advanced. But for their era with the knowledge and technology that was available, their achievements are amazing.
Copper mining in Ireland dates back as far as 4500 years, with the invention of the steam engine in the 19th century driving a copper mining boom in Ireland and overseas.
It was during a recent site scoping engagement at Ireland’s Coppercoast on the island’s south coast that IMEC got a glimpse into what mining was like all those years ago. With the constant threat from the Celtic Sea tide & the copper patina bleeding down the narrow shaft walls, its hard to imagine what working in these conditions would have been like.
