THE UNEXUP PROJECT
UNEXUP is the successor project to UNEXMIN, running from January 2020 to December 2022 and further developing the submersible robot technology to provide additional manoeuvrability and robustness, allowing the team to start tackling commercial projects to investigate flooded environments in mines, caves, and wells.
In March 2022 the team visited Ecton Mine, to carry out further dives in the pumpung and winding shafts, and to go through a connecting ‘window’ between the winding shaft and the main pipe working that was discovered in 2019, to explore parts of the pipe working that had not already been visited.
In addition to the new robot developed by the project team, commercial submersible ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) were also acquired by the project consortium, with the purpose of carrying out preliminary site inspections. One of these, a BlueROV2 from Blue Robotics Ltd, was deployed three times at Ecton, in September 2021, March 2022, and September 2022, and although it carries only one camera rather than the six that are provided on the UX1-NEO robot, it has provided valuable additional data.
There is now a very large volume of data which will lead to papers in Mining History and other journals, as well as providing raw material for university researchers.
Peter has nearly 50 years experience mostly at the sharp end of the minerals industry. He is a metallurgist who started in the steel industry prior to his degree at Cambridge University. He held senior positions with Anglo American on the Zambian Copperbelt, and at Glebe Mines fluorspar operation in the Derbyshire Peak District; and has been an independent freelance since 2000. He has had connections with Ecton Mine and Geoff Cox since the mid-1980s. He is Secretary of The British Aggregates Association, a member of the CBI Minerals Group and the UK National Minerals Forum; and has various business interests in the industrial minerals industry in the UK, Europe and globally; and is also a Director of MAUK (Mining Association of the UK) and Amemptos Music.
I am an exploration and mining geologist (C. Geol) with over 25 years of experience in the deep geological disposal of radioactive waste and 7 years of experience of exploration, environmental impact assessment and mining feasibility for the Kayelekera uranium deposit in Northern Malawi, Africa. I retired from the British Geological Survey in 2016 and am currently a member of the Government’s Committee on Radioactive Waste Disposal. I undertook a PhD on caves and mines in the Peak District and, as an active caver and mine explorer, have been studying the underground world of the Peak District since the mid 1970’s, including the mines of the Ecton Area. I am a director (editor) of the Peak District Mines Historical Society and the mine manager of their Temple Mine in Matlock Bath.
mongst geologists and others involved in the application of geoscience, particularly through the promotion of professional titles such as CEng, CGeol, and EurGeol. She has served on the Council of the Geological Society of London and is a past President of the European Federation of Geologists. For many years, she has been a member of the Pan European Reserves and Resources Reporting Committee (PERC).
Phil in Organic Chemistry, Nottingham Uni 1977-79, awarded 1981
I am a geoscientist with more than 45 years of experience. After working as a mine geologist in the Yorkshire Coalfield for 12 years, I moved on to seismic exploration for coal, potash and other minerals focussing on seismic interpretation and delineating geological structure to aid mine planning. My prospect experience includes projects in UK, Spain, Turkey, Australia, Africa, Argentina and Canada.
ng and engineering around the world. Although I am now retired I continue to hold Board appointments with national and international regulatory and standards organisations which I find professionally stimulating and thoroughly rewarding.