Black Gold : Blindwells Open Cast Mine Traditional Cache
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Black Gold : Blindwells Open Cast Mine
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Blindwells Open Cast was the modern face of Coal mining in East Lothian. Adopting open cast methods instead of deep pit mining was much cheaper.
The opencast mine was opened in 1979 with the first coal being extracted within 6 months. The mine was operated by Fairclough Parkinson Mining - part of the AMEC Group - on behalf of British Coal (later Scottish Coal).
The mine operated for 22 years, during which time 9.6 million tones of coal were extracted. There were over 100 men employed durin the summer months dropping to around 85 in winter. The coal was crushed on site and transported via rail and road. Bizarely, whilst a lot of the coal went to Cockenzie, a large portion was exported to Scandanavia and Chinese coal was imported for the power station.
The land on which the cache is placed was formerly a hole 280 feet deep (80 metres). Despite enviromentlists concerns and opinions, during the work the mine was a haven to a varied population of wildlife inlcuding perigrin falcons, owls, deer, hares, foxes and gray partridges - during breeding season ringed pluver and oyster catchers nested in reinstated areas.
After the coal was extracted the excavation was back filled and reinstated for prime agricultural use - approved by the Board of Agriculture. The pond in the north end of the site, next to the former Coal Plant, shows the level of the natural water table. There is still a borehole pump 90m deep operating in the north east of the site to main the watertable level.
In 1991 the mine ceased operating bringing an end to the 269 year old industry in East Lothian.
The area is now in advanced stages of consideration for a new town to be constructed.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
ybjre guna gur cngu
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