A glimpse of bygone days at the King Edward Mine Museum

Another day of wet weather meant abandoning plans for the walking tour of the copper and tin mining area of Camborne.  Instead around 25 Physical Separation '15 delegates stayed on after the conference ended, for an extended tour of the King Edward Mine Museum, one of the finest mining museums in the world.

In an atmospheric setting, surrounded by the ruins of 19th century engine houses, the museum contains a working mill which replicates the techniques which were used to process tin ores in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Much of the machinery in the mill is amongst the last of its kind in the world.

I would like to thank my old CSM colleague, Tony Clarke, and Nigel MacDonald, both enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides, for running the machinery for our small group, including the stamp battery, which gave some impression of what the now tranquil scene outside must once have been like.

A 19th century beam from a local engine house

Shaking table

Convex Buddle

Cornish Round Frame

Tony carrying out a 'vanning assay'

Rag Frames

 

A drenching en route to the pub!

The weather has certainly turned sour for Physical Separation '15. After a wet day the rain cleared by mid-afternoon, in time for our late afternoon stroll along the coast to the Chain Locker pub. Unfortunately, however, the heavens truly opened again en route and it was an extremely wet group that was greeted in the old pub by Jon and Amanda with welcome pints of Cornish ale.

At Pendennis Castle minutes before the deluge

Drying off in the pub

 

Ore Sorting sets the scene for Physical Separation '15

The increasing importance of electronic ore sorting was the theme of the first three presentations this morning at Physical Separation '15.

Jon opened the conference, welcoming the 55 international delegates to a Falmouth unfortunately not bathed in sunshine as in the previous few days.

 

Delegates arrive for Physical Separation '15

Computational Modelling '15, a great little conference, finished a couple of hours ago with a Cornish cream tea, while in an adjoining room delegates for Physical Separation '15 got together for the pre-conference wine and cheese reception.

We have had some wonderful weather the past few days, so I am hoping that the weather for the next few days turns out not to be as bad as forecast!

Breaking the ice!

Conferences are about making new friends and cementing old relationships as much as presenting and listening to technical presentations.

Amanda and Bawemi Sichinga Mtonga provide fine examples at last night's ice-breaker at the Chain Locker pub. A common bond was that they were born within 30 miles of each other on the Zambian Copperbelt, Amanda in Chingola and Bawemi in Kitwe.

 

Relaxing with Modelling delegates

Most of the Computational Modelling '15 delegates made the most of the cool dry conditions this evening for the coastal walk to the old Chain Locker pub in Falmouth.

As always, a great opportunity to unwind after a day in the conference room and to relax and get to know everyone.