“The act or business of making mines or of working them”-
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

MINING THROUGH THE AGES

Through the books
Germinal  How Green was my valley  Stars look down   The Road to Wigan Pier
Transition
Where do we stand?

Mining can take place only where an economical mineral deposit occurs. Since the extraction is from what nature has endowed with, no two mines are similar and operating parameters vary depending on their location and occurrence.

In the earlier days, importance was for immediate recovery and the practice usually is to follow the lode, vein or band. This has resulted in economically unworkable residual deposits and unsafe practices. Mining was known mostly for working coal because of the prominent role coal played with everyday life. The transition from crude hazardous mining to sophisticated safe methods has been very gradual and since the development of a mine involves heavy financial outlay, it is always done when unavoidable and out of sheer necessity.

The distinctions between ‘owner’ and ‘miner’ were pronounced and incomparable. It would be difficult in the present days to visualize the conditions prevailing then and the methods employed for mining. A few writers chillingly brought out the general life in mining communities during that time. For any serious reader it is definitely a must to get an understanding. Four books that had a deep impact on the community are referred here and not to be missed.

The mining community through period books:

The Mining Industry has always been in the news since its inception. The amassing of titanic wealth by the owners, the enormous number of jobs created, unheard of disasters, environmental lobbyists calling foul and for a thousand other reasons the industry has always hogged media attention. Laboratory of Mining Technology, Athens, Greece has posted some photographs depicting mining during the 19^th century and early 20^th century.

In the nineteenth century, the condition of the workers in the industry inspired momentous works of fiction that were catalysts for the Industrial revolution. Though the industry was highlighted for the wrong reasons in these monumental works of literature, it should take pride for inspiring classics that changed the destiny of mankind. Let us look at four all time greats - works which no literature buff or miner should miss in his collection.

Germinal:
Author: Emile Zola

The book offers a scorching look at a miner's life in the late nineteenth century in Northern France. The book captures the spirit of the time, with moving accounts of a society that witnessed the exploitation of poverty stricken laborers by their wealthy and powerful mine owners. The chief protagonist, Etienne is a new laborer at the Montsou mine who refuses to take the inhuman treatment lying down. His struggle against the all-powerful system reflects a society, which had reached the threshold and was on the brink of a revolution.

This book is a classic and indeed hordes of people reached out to the streets with shouts of "Germinal, Germinal" on Zola's death. Indeed this work is now synonymous with the call against oppression of the working classes.

For those who prefer an audio version, Frederick Davidson's narrative will be a good buy.

How green was my valley?
Author: Richard Llewellyn

A coming-to-age tale of the youngest son of a traditional Welsh family in a mining town set in the lush fields; this book is a masterpiece whichever way you look at it. It captures the essence of the closely knit Morgan family, and the trials and tribulations it faces over a period of time. Original characters, excellent dialogue and a very picturesque description of the valley make this truly memorable read.

The blackening of the valley coincides with the chief protagonist's coming of age. The Morgan family's responses to the changing times including coal mine disasters, economic troubles and moral issues and their subsequent reluctant migration to the city is likely to leave the stoutest reaching for the nearest hanky.

Also available is a 1941 film based on the book. Surprisingly, the film stays true to the book and Roddy McDowell stages an unforgettable performance in the role of the youngest son, in whose eyes the valley undergoes its transformation. Not surprisingly, the picture won Oscars for Best Director (Ford), Best Supporting Actor (Donald Crisp), Best Art Direction, and Best Cinematography apart from the "Best Picture" Academy award.

Stars Look Down
Author: Archibald Joseph Cronin

The author served as a doctor in a coal mine and this helps him to vividly recreate the life in a "coal mining" colony for his readers. The story is laced with memorable characters- the trademark of any A.J.Cronin work - and set in an English town in the post World War I era. The book traces the life of a young man who grows up in a mining colony. He is distressed by the suffering and loss of family members and loved ones due to the inhuman condition prevailing at the coalmines and enters the political race with a view to reforming the system. His intentions are thwarted however by his colleagues in parliament, who care for nothing but power. Disillusioned he returns to the life of a miner again.

Road to Wigan Pier
Author: George Orwell

George Orwell puts his exceptional observation and narrative skills to good use here as he recreates life of the coal miners. The book has two logical halves - one which projects the inhuman and terrible condition of the coal miners with brutal force and the second which deals with the subject of evolving socialism rules to suit England. Though probably not as well known as his "Animal Farm" and "1984", this is a memorable book, if only for George Orwell's inimitable way of observing well and recreating it for his reader's perusal.

The yeoman services rendered with the barest of resources those days by the surveyors, geologists and mining engineers cannot be adequately expressed.

Transition:

The transition from the olden days to the present sophisticated workings had been gradual. Government Agencies have been hard at work in framing Acts, Rules and Regulations laying down norms for the employment of persons in mining industry. Qualifying certification for competent positions is in force in some countries. Safety was given the required top priority and with depleting resources of mineral, conservation came to the forefront. The advancements in geological sciences particularly geophysical techniques and statistical applications had opened up the access to information on mineral deposits hitherto never even thought of. With the clear understanding of the mineral deposit, technology-followed suit for maximum economic extraction, Computer applications and development of software technology have now revolutionized the thinking and approach of the mining industry. The opening up of various related fields has opened up the logical follow up of positions and specialization in the fields and now mining has become in the real sense teamwork Rapid advancements in the equipment sector now make it possible to work old underground workings with large open pit workings eliminating operational hazards.

Where do we stand?

The exposure to the community on the mining industry has never been so much and environmental awareness and conservation of resources take precedence in a mining project closely monitored by Government Agencies, Private Bodies and Associations. The industry with engineers having technological education background and established norms and procedures now is moving towards a very responsible stage and the field is still opening up.