For you rust lovers
For all you rust lovers, and I know you’re out there. These pictures show 4 generations of power production at this placer gold mine in Nyac that I’m working at, that date back to 1908. First there were 2 generations of Fairbanks Morse diesels, a 2-lung then a 6-lung bohemoth that is indeed impressive. I thought I had seem large diesels before but this one sets a new standard for me. This is one big engine.Then they went to hydro power. The third picture is the original pelton wheel which was driven from a penstock on a diversion ditch and flume pipe that drops 70' to the wheel. The generator used to sit on the iron mount to the right. Using this system they were able to continue operating throughout WWII because they were not using fuel for power generation. Very clever of them I think. Then came the 4th and final(or not) generation that has a large green paddle type pelton wheel in a round drum driven by a 4ft-diameter flume from the same ditch and driving the huge round inside generator shown, that has a capacity of 1.1megawatts. They ran it at .8mW and operated it through about 1987, running the camp and two electric dredges at the same time, both miles in opposite directions from the powerhouse, with this system. They ran standard hvy duty power transmission lines mounted on locally cut spruce tree poles to the dredges; most of the lines are still standing. There is talk of refurbishing this latest hydro system and putting it back into commission, along with one of the dredges, which was modernized to some degree in the 1980's. I’d like to see that! I am most impressed. There has been somewhere around 750,000oz. of gold mined here and there is, based on historic churn drill records, at least 130,000oz. left in the ground to mine, so there’s no need to give up yet I guess.
|
Threaded Mode