History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c12.s1.t6.9

v1.c12.s1.t6.9

At the bottom of ‘wide stope’, the ‘finger-stope’ has been developed. These are fireset inclines, about 3 m diameter, and sometimes 5 m or more of characteristic rounded section and driven down-dip at 30-40 degrees inclination. They follow richer shoots of ore. The substantial crossection presumably allowed cold air to flow at the floor and hot air to return at the roof level. No brattice was used. This decline was worked in two benches. Samples from a ‘timber chamber’ yielded an age of 2120 years.