Mining, and the use of metals and minerals within the earth, has moved societies and civilizations since the beginning of time. After all, we define eras by the metal that molded them: Bronze Age, Iron Age, etc. However, the process of extracting those metals from the earth is a history that isn’t often told. Fraught with the risk of explosions, collapses, and disease, mining has always been a dangerous pursuit. While the progress of mining technology and safety is slow, it’s also full of amazing ingenuity and resourcefulness. For example, the Davy safety lamp. read more →