IronMiners.com From the early 1700's to 1978, hundreds of iron mines fueled economies and cultures in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. IronMiners.com takes a look at these now-abandoned holes in the ground from which tons of minerals were extracted. Many of these mines are of historical interest —such as this Civil-War era operation in New York —but the main attraction here is the photos. Can there be a more vivid depiction of what it was like to mine for a living than this 1930s group portrait from New Jersey? Many of the images convey a palpable feeling of dank, clammy, claustrophobia; and one or two look like that giant spider from "Lord of the Rings" may be lurking around the corner. Makes that cubicle they stuck you in a little more palatable, doesn't it? (in Science)
