t_roberts

Rare photo from early days of the pit.

Added 2023-02-19 20:48:13 +0000 UTC

This gives a good idea of how small the operations were back in the early 1970s; about 3 months after the pit was "discovered". In this aerial photo, you can see the natural entry orifice (pre-excavation), a temporary electric lift tower, as well as a utility trunk connecting the surface power and ventilation plant to the basecamp down in the pit. There's also a hydraulic dredging crane that was used to "bite" away at some of the flesh down in the pit to enlarge the working area and remove material.

The area would be unrecognizable only a few months later as paved roads and a half dozen permanent buildings were constructed, transforming this modest camp into a fully industrial mining and excavation site.