The Arsenic Labyrinth at Botallack Mine Photo

Photographer’s Note

Arsenic compounds were an unwanted pollutant in tin ore which ruined the smelting process. The solution was to heat the ore to drive off the arsenic as a vapour. In the early days of mining this badly polluted the surrounding countryside. However arsenic itself proved to be a saleable by-product so the arsenic fumes were sent through a labyrinth of tunnels where it would condense on the tunnel walls. This photo shows part of the arsenic labyrinth at Botallack mine. The maze of tunnels has partially collapsed. Half way through the labyrinth, the tunnel passes over the top of an arch to cross one of the entrances to the mine. At the end of the labyrinth the remaining fumes passed up the tall chimney shown in the photograph.

If anyone would be interested in a TE meet in this area (Botallack, Lands End, Porth Nanven and more), probably in April '09, can you let me know...

Thanks
Derek

jhm, feather, bisok, tiagoalmeida, mikolaj_kawa, Floydian, parbo, gunbud, fulvio52, zeynepe, riclopes, Wandering_Dan, bapun1 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bisok (242) 2008-10-29 0:59

Hallo Derek.

I admit ... I've never heard about it before. Very interesting information in photographer's note.
Great photograph. Amazing colours and sharpness. Well done Derek. Thank you.

Greetings
Mirek

jimkilgallon (0) 2008-10-29 0:59

Hello Derek
Well composed capture here with strong saturated colours and good lighting. I love the haze at the horizon, the cloud formations and graduated blue like sky.
Well done Derek
Cheers
jim

tiagoalmeida (1294) 2008-10-29 1:23

hello Derek,
nice shot with a great view and good colours.
your note is very good too.
have a nice day
regards
tiago

mikolaj_kawa (29738) 2008-10-29 1:40

Hello Derek! Very interesting place. Wonderful architecture and nature. Good composition. Nice lightness and brightness, very nice colours. Good capture. Well done!

Floydian (30970) 2008-10-29 8:06

Hi Derek,
Bright greens, deep blue, combined in a very good composed image with the old ruins were the tower still stands strong. Good work here, looks great in colour and prsentation.
Regards, Henk

parbo (10966) 2008-10-29 17:37

Hello Derek,

Stunning contrast between green-yellow and blues are really very attractive since thumbnail size. Excellently balanced with chimney. Old stone textures makes mine ruins eye catching part in your perfectly captured, sharpened photo in natural colors. Congratulations.

Best Regards,

Ertugrul

gunbud (27741) 2008-10-29 18:39

Hi Derek,
The lush green foreground makes a brilliant color contrast with the vividly blue sky.
Love the details to the old mining ruins and how the old smoke stack stands out so brilliantly against the blue sky.
Excellent informative note as well.
Regards, Tom

fulvio52 (8314) 2008-10-30 14:17

Hi, Derek.
A truly wonderful presentation of this old mine!
Great angle, great light management and colors, and I just love that haze mounting up in the distance. GOOD JOB!
Have a nice evening, buddy. And thanks for your visit to my latest Monument Valley shot. Much appreciated.
See ya soon,
Fulvio.

zeynepe (9342) 2008-10-31 6:11

Hi Derek,
Very interesting note and an interesting place.
As far as I know, unfortunately Arsenic is still used extracted during gold mining activity.
The composition is well composed with vivid colors and a perfect sharpness. Is there any closer view of the labyrinth?
Congrats and have a nice weekend,
zeynep

riclopes (32951) 2008-11-01 1:41

Olá Derek, that chimney makes the success of this picture. So high in the sky it makes a wonderful visual effect and all the lines in the composition lead to it. Good work with the saturated colors as well.
regards,
ricardo

feather (49858) 2008-11-02 8:59

I didn't know about the arsenic before. Well composed image with the chimney off-centre. We can also see the other mine workings in the background, adding extra interest.
About the TE meeting; do you know when in April yet? It might be more difficult for us. May would be better.
Kath

jhm (82155) 2008-11-03 3:05

Hello Derek,

I was not on visit here on this place, Corwall is very great but splendid.
You show us a wonderful quality image, the arsenic labyrinth at botallack mine together with the chimney care for a excellent photograph.
Composition and presentation are very well, together with the soft colours. TFS.

Best regards,
John.

toto (18661) 2008-11-04 1:02

Bonjour,
belle photo de ces ruines qui tiennent debout depuis les années.
Cette cheminée est du solide.
Jolies couleurs, bonne netteté, jolie vue avec l' océan derrière.

Amitiés Thomas

Wandering_Dan (3209) 2008-11-19 12:54

Hello, Derek -

Very interesting note; it would be helpful to know what period you are talking about here. The photo itself shows nice use of minimalist elements - at least, that's how I think of it. Great placing of the horizon and the smokestack, too.

Regards,
Dan