Drilling for coal on Mynydd y Gwair, near Ammanford, South Wales

Originally uploaded for the GWUK group.

This is on Mynydd y Gwair - an extensive moorland commons between Swansea and Ammanford in the South Wales coalfield. The camera location is on Mynydd Garn Fach and is looking north-westerly.

The photo shows a Foraky rotary drilling rig on a borehole known as 'Ceunant Borehole' (named after nearby Ceunant Farm just out of view to the left). This was drilled to prove the Red Vein coal seam in October-November 1982 as part of a series of boreholes to prove additional coal reserves for Betws Mine, about 5 km to the north, near Ammanford.