The enchanting Journey through the talc of mine Paola
17/30 
A guide demonstrates how holes were done with hand hammer and drill bar
© Archivio Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Val Germanasca (Photo: Borra)
© Archivio Ecomuseo delle Miniere e della Val Germanasca (Photo: Borra)
On the wall of gneiss there are represented two of the system of "volata" (explosion) employed in these mines.
In past times the miner had to dig by hand the hole, with hand hammer and drill bar (the first air compressed drillers arrived in the twenties). Then he had to clean the hole with a tool called «sgüretto» and put the dynamite in the hole connecting it with a fuse (the fuses were of different length to guarantee a sequential explosion).
To complete work the "borraggio" was effected , inserting in the mine holes a paper cork (realized by pressing the paper with a stick) so as to close it tightly and avoid smoke leakage.
In past times the miner had to dig by hand the hole, with hand hammer and drill bar (the first air compressed drillers arrived in the twenties). Then he had to clean the hole with a tool called «sgüretto» and put the dynamite in the hole connecting it with a fuse (the fuses were of different length to guarantee a sequential explosion).
To complete work the "borraggio" was effected , inserting in the mine holes a paper cork (realized by pressing the paper with a stick) so as to close it tightly and avoid smoke leakage.