Great Orme Copper Mines

On July 11, 2015, we visited the Great Orme Copper Mines. They are one of the most important archeological site in Wales and the largest Bronze Age mines in the world. Over the last 30-years, archeologists have uncovered and surveyed over five miles. The tour around the mines was self-guided walking tour, and it takes approximately forty-five minutes. The route across these mines is about 200 meters. A tour through the Great Orme Mines is both educational and thought provoking.

The tour around the mines is breathtaking due to the nature of the tunnels and the informative bit on the excavation of copper. A ticket to the mines costs £7.00 for a student, but it is worth it. In the mines, we had a chance to learn about the various methods used during the Bronze Age to mine Copper and compare them with the modern methods. Most of the methods used during the Bronze Age are outdated and dangerous. The extremely narrow nature of the tunnels suggests that children of about five years took part in the mining. It was really interesting tour for me, as a materials science and engineering student.

It was really interesting for me to experience what I am studying about the materials’ properties. Color is a significant physical property of copper. It has a distinctive reddish brown color that is easy to identify. However, heat can alter the color of copper depending on the degree of hotness of the flame and the level of available oxygen. Early humans had discovered this characteristic of copper and used its different shades to make jewelry. Other uses of copper during the Bronze Age include making of weapons, and tools.The tour encourages me to imagine how life during the Bronze Age and appreciate the technology that makes our lives easier today! ~Zainab