The document provides information about coal mining and the coal mining museum. It describes the different areas inside the coal mine, including digging for coal, miners at work, and the trolleys and heavy machinery used to transport coal. It discusses how miners would access the mine, go down deep underground, and the ventilation systems used. The document outlines some of the dangers of coal mining, including toxic gas explosions that could kill miners. It shares some local legends and traditions from coal mining communities.

1. THE COAL MINING
MUSEUM
By: Sergio and Aitor

2. INSIDE THE COAL MINE

3. DIGGING FOR COAL

4. MINERS AT WORK

5. TROLLEYS AND HEAVY MACHINES I
THE TROLLEYS FIRST USED ELECTRICITY BUT IT WAS VERY
DANGEROUS (SPARKS + GAS!!).

6. TROLLEYS AND HEAVY MACHINES II
THEN THEY USED DIESEL, AND NOWADAYS THEY USE BATTERIES.

7. GOING DOWN THE CAGE (8 MTS/’’)

8. By: Tania & Iris

9. The mine
The mine has got two
parts: the older one
made of wood, and the
new one made of iron.
On the roof there are
two parts: one bar and
two posts.

10. Pipes
There are two pipes on
the roof. One pipe
carries water, and the
other one carries air.

11. Distribution
The mine is made of
principal and secundary
galleries. Between each
floor or gallery there
are 50 metres.

12. Access to the mine
In the past, the miners went
down to the mine sitting on a
stick tied to a rope or in
stairs made in the rocks.
Then, they went down on
an elevator at 8
metres/second.

13. Ventilation in the
mine
There were three types of
ventilation machines: the first
one, used the horse strength
applied to an axis and a wheel;
the second one, used a horse
to move the wheel; and the
last one, was a miner with a
pedal system.

14. Taking water out
Dirty water was extracted from the galleries with
a gear actioned when a man walked on it. Then
they put water and air through the pipes.

15. Trolleys
First, trolleys worked with electricity, then with
diesel, and finally, with batteries.

16. OF THE MINE

18. The mule was a very intelligent and
clever animal, and very strong too.

19. They worked very hard and they died
in the galleries.

20. The mules could smell the toxic gas and
they warned the accident, and they
refused to work.

21. When they smelt the miners’ sandwiches
they caught them with their mouths and
then they ate it.

23. A local legend: The miners didn’t like
eating salmon every day, because it was
part of their salary.

24. There was so much salmon in the river,
that the miners were fed up with it.

26. In the seventies miners were very rich
and they lit their cigarettes with bank
notes (Another urban legend!!).

28. The boat (in Asturias ``chalana´´)
was used to transport coal along
the river.

29. The boats went from La Chalana
bridge (Laviana) to Sama and
then by train to Gijón.

30. The men who drove the boats
were called “Chalaneru”.

31. “Chalaneru” is a famous love
song between the boatman and
his girlfriend.

32. There are two basic
dangers with gas :

33. Gas can cause big explosions

34. And miners sometimes
breath this gas.

35. Lung diseases caused by gas were very common before the
1970 ´s

36. In order to detect gas, miners used a small cage with a bird
inside
 If the bird died it
was because
there was gas
in the gallery.

37. «Dead man walking» I
The “Dead man walking” was a man
sentenced to death who was given a
chance to live.

38. «Dead man walking» II
 He had to go down to
the mine with a long
torch and wet clothes
to test if there was gas
in the galleries.

39. «Dead man walking» III
 If the “Dead man walking” left the mine alive
three times,he was given his life.

41.  The Security Brigade (security team) is
very important in the coal mine. They
help miners when there’s an accident.
They’re on duty 24 hours per day

43.  The Security Brigade team includes the best
and the fittest coal miners. Their working
hours include rescue exercises and physical
training. They have high salaries because
their activity is extremely risky.

44.  When there is an accident the Security
Brigade uses thermal cameras, oxygen
kits and special equipment to work in
dangerous atmospheres.

45.  In the history of mining there were a lot
disasters like the Aller accident in 1889
with 30 deaths. They are mainly
produced by gas explosion, big rocks,
collapse or landslides.

46.  A tribute to eleven Check coal miners
who died in an accident in 1999.

48. By Alexis Iglesias

49. • Dynamite was used to cause
explosions and take coal. At
present, people use plastic
explosives and detonators.

50. • Dynamite was made with
gunpowder in the laboratory.

51. • The biggest explosives
company in Spain was called
“Explosivos Río Tinto” (ERT).

52. • ERT was a British company that
owned the mines in Huelva
(Andalucia).

53. • Julio Romero de Torres was a
famous Spanish painter who
worked for ERT.

54. • He used to paint “explosive”
women