The Rusty Lift Mine
After the success of the Morépire project, where we were even filmed by TV Luxembourgh for a report, it didn't last long before we had a new project. For the Department of Nature and Forests we were asked to carry out a 3D exploration and documentation of a site in the South of Belgium. Access to the quarry is difficult because it is located on a hill, but on the day of the exploration we are lucky that there is even a quad provided to transport our equipment.
The road to the launch is not easy as we have to pass two rockfalls with sharp stones and we have to pass with all the diving equipment. Finally we arrive in a huge room with the old rusty elevator in the middle. A small lake provides access and we go down through a vertical well with wooden supports, it’s like I’m transported into history! There is a level at -15 and another at -25 with horizontal galleries which give access to a huge room. The bottom of the well is a mess of waste that fell into it. An iron pipe is still visible and was used to pump water from the lowest point.
We cross the large chamber following the old rails and we again find galleries where a cart is still present as it is ready to load blocks of slate. After a long dive taking photos and measurements in the 8 degree water we finished the 'dry' exploration of the site. Very surprisingly, we found a second lake, but to access it we needed climbing equipment . We return for another exploration where we discover this part of the slate mine with the right equipment. The lake gives access to other galleries. In the highest gallery, well hidden at the bottom of the mine, I discovered a secret stock of alcohol bottles, and it makes me think of the hard work of the scailtons (as the miners were called at the time) and where alcohol could sometimes could bring some comfort for the long days underground.
The other gallery gives access to a small room or another gallery going down towards the other part of the slate mine. I'm eager to explore to check if I can connect the two when water enters the mouthpiece of my rebreather.... It seems that during the transport in the wood a thorn tore it and I had to abort my dive. It will remain a secret until the next exploration!
Attention: Explosive!!!
Another documentation project takes us to another region of Belgium. For the first exploration, we are accompanied by DNF agents (Forresters). A small hole in the hill gives access to the slate quarry and does not indicate the size found inside.
Overall, it amazes me how many of the miners' objects are still present, so it's good that the site is closed and well guarded. Small galleries where it's not possible to walk upright, ending up in huge rooms with heights of 30 meters! We even find a bed there and then we learn that during the war, the mine was used to hide people. One passage proved unstable to us so on the next visit, we took some equipment to stabilize as safety is our main priority!
During the visit we saw some places with water and for the first exploration I took a “lighter” configuration to dive, consisting of 2 - 7L tanks in a sidemount configuration along with my trusty Shearwater Petrel 3 dive computer. We begin to dive in a lake at the far end of the mine, which looks like a blue lagoon. The water is crystal clear and at the bottom there are very large blocks of slate which have fallen from the ceiling. Wooden ladders, metal beams with stalactites contrasting with the blue water create a magical atmosphere.
A second dive turns out to be even more interesting! During my descent, I can observe objects everywhere, but to avoid the inevitable dust, I descend to the lowest level first and ascend slowly afterwards. And that's when I turn around, I discover cardboard boxes with explosives inside! A box is torn open and the explosive sticks are scattered. Nearby is a roller where the wire was to put the explosive charge. I discover a wooden crate which seems to be filled with newspapers. They still seem intact and I can even read the date: September 19, 1942! We continue the topography work and visit the site every year for a stability check for the agents.
The Future?
After those projects being very well received by the landlords and the Forresters department, things seem to go fast for the team, and more demands to explore and document sites are coming in. We realize that we have to step up, and we added some new members to the team so we can cover more ground. We are starting to use new techniques such as 360° cameras and photogrammetry to make a faster documentary instead of the old way by hand.
A huge demand from the European society for a documentation of historical industrial heritage is under progress and is a massive undertaking! Meanwhile we keep having fun, so it’s time for me to put down the pen and go out exploring.
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Written By Stef Panis
Stef Panis is a professional underwater photographer, specialized in shipwreck, cave and mine photography.
Stefan started diving at the age of 6 through his father. In 1992 he did his first “official” course. Since than he moved on doing courses like nitrox and trimix, and he started diving an Inspiration rebreather in 2009, and Started photographing in 2013.
Meanwhile he developed a great interest in wrecks and researching the history of the wrecks and mines in the archives.
He did many dives on wrecks in the north sea, the English channel, and abroad in Sardinia, Portugal and Lithuania just to name a few. He was involved in different successful expeditions searching for new wrecks, like the identification of the 1852 “Josephine Willis”.
In 2014 he also obtained his full cave ccr certificate, and he also loves to dive, explore and document the many old mine sites in Belgium.
Stefan writes articles for several international (Tec) diving magazines, and wrote 4 books.
In 2020, Stefan became member of the Explorers Club in New York.
