Posted by Jock on May 28, 2011 at 14:06:35 user Jock.
In Reply to: Re: Mining at Coniston (was Gold in the Hills) posted by Tom Napier on May 28, 2011 at 13:27:19:
Presumably the lower mine levels were abandoned when it became uneconomical to keep them pumped out.
Exactly so! As the levels went deeper pumping, hoisting and maintaining the vertical shafts became more expensive.
Moreover the quality of the ore decreased. The final blow came when cheaper ore became available from overseas.