Mining was the single most dangerous job in the world till about 1950. Old mines would use the change in temperatures combined with tunnels designed to encourage natural ventilation. A fire could be started that would "draw in air" and a smoke shaft would be built.
In 2022 we use 2000 hp fans to keep things cool/ clean air. Some extremely deep mines I have been to legit use the largest air-conditioning system the world has to keep the temp at a cool 120F its so hot 5000ft underground
Look at this graph of deaths each year in USA mining
YourSelf5454 t1_iuk0wun wrote
Reply to Eli5 How did humanity manage to ventilate mines? by EasterBunnyArt
Mining engineer here,
Mining was the single most dangerous job in the world till about 1950. Old mines would use the change in temperatures combined with tunnels designed to encourage natural ventilation. A fire could be started that would "draw in air" and a smoke shaft would be built.
In 2022 we use 2000 hp fans to keep things cool/ clean air. Some extremely deep mines I have been to legit use the largest air-conditioning system the world has to keep the temp at a cool 120F its so hot 5000ft underground
Look at this graph of deaths each year in USA mining
https://www.minesafetycenter.com/mine-fatalities-progress/
Feel free to ask any other mining questions