Max Loiacono

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Mine Explorer Smoke Silhouette – Mines

Deep in the mine on a photography expedition, an explorer's silhouette is seen in a cloud of cigarette smoke.

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Deep in the mine on a photography expedition, an explorer's silhouette is seen in a cloud of cigarette smoke.

Deep in the mine on a photography expedition, an explorer's silhouette is seen in a cloud of cigarette smoke.

This flatcar sits abandoned in deep muck carrying coal chutes. The mine extends on in the distance seemingly forever, and there is some miscellaneous mechanical components just beyond the flatcar. This mine was excruciatingly long difficult to traverse; the muck was as much as 24-30 inches at its worst. This photo was taken towards the end of the trip, at which point we had already trudged 4 miles through deep mud and water.

This EIMCO mucker sits abandoned deep in a coal mine. A mucker is a special type of excavator/bulldozer that scoops mud and launches it directly backwards over itself. These are especially common in underground mining where space is tight. The particular mine this machine was found in was filled with ridiculous amounts of mud, so it makes a lot of sense to find it here.

Looking at a mine cart, transfer station, and shaft at the Lansford No. 9 coal mine. This shaft (center back) extended up and down hundreds of feet, but is flooded in the present day. A transfer station (left) is a machine used to shift and rotate coal cars across different tracks when there is not enough room to use normal tracks and junctions. A small mine office is visible to the right.

A single bench is illuminated in the coal tunnel.

The Brooks Mine in Scranton was built as a "training" mine for foremen and skilled laborers; it never generated revenue and is just around 150 feet long. In 2023, the Underground Miners (UGM) restored the mine to operational condition and opened it to the public, complete with original props and equipment demonstrations. Go check it out!

This photo showcases the main tunnel of the mine. At the end, a loaded coal car is visible.

The coal mine gangway joins with an inner slope.

Taken in an abandoned coal mine. At this point, the main slope splits into two. 2024 Nittany Grotto Caving Club photo contest submission and first place winner.