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Over
the past 250 hundred years, the coal mining industry has witnessed
significant changes to both its mining techniques and the equipment
used throughout the mining process. Changes evolved through
a need to make a safer underground environment for the thousands
of miners employed in Cape Breton’s coal industry.
It has been said that perhaps the most beneficial development
in mining equipment was the methanometre, an instrument used
to measure the percentage of methane in the air. Its use has
prevented thousands of explosions and fires and has undoubtedly
saved many lives.
The
dawn of mechanical haulage following years of utilizing “pit
ponies”, the development of underground communications
and the design of safer lighting are only some of the noteworthy
improvements to mining equipment. This historical overview will
provide information on the advancement of mining equipment and
techniques since the early days of mining.
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