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'''Blaenau Ffestiniog''' (pronounced ''bly-now fest-inny-oc'') is the capital of the Welsh [[slate]] quarrying industry. The slate-bearing strata of Ffestiniog belong to the [[Ordovician]] or Lower [[Silurian]] systems, and are of an uniform soft blue-gray color, although the North Vein or topmost bed shows a tendency to be slightly darker. The chemical analysis of a standard Ffestiniog slate shows silica 55%, alumina 25%, iron oxide 11%, the remainder being composed of various elements of which the chief is magnesia. The lime contents - an excess of which often characterizes an inferior slate - are negligible. <ref>For a more detailed account, see: http://www.llechicymru.info/t000952.cymraeg.htm</ref>.  

'''Blaenau Ffestiniog''' (pronounced ''bly-now fest-inny-oc'') is the capital of the Welsh [[slate]] quarrying industry. The slate-bearing strata of Ffestiniog belong to the [[Ordovician]] or Lower [[Silurian]] systems, and are of an uniform soft blue-gray color, although the North Vein or topmost bed shows a tendency to be slightly darker. The chemical analysis of a standard Ffestiniog slate shows silica 55%, alumina 25%, iron oxide 11%, the remainder being composed of various elements of which the chief is magnesia. The lime contents - an excess of which often characterizes an inferior slate - are negligible. <ref>For a more detailed account, see: http://www.llechicymru.info/t000952.cymraeg.htm</ref>.  

Blaenau slate has been an important part of quality [[snooker]] and [[billiards]] tables for many years owing to the smooth flat surface that is revealed when slates are split or ''riven''.  During [[Queen Victoria|Victorian]] times a snooker table would comprise four large blocks of slate, each 3 inches thick, so that they could be disassembled and carried by pack horses for the pleasure officers in the British Colonial Army on patrol in the north-west frontier in [[India]]. It was said, that along with his [[rifle]], every serving officer took his snooker cue up the [[Khyber Pass]]. Due to the lower quality of the remaining slate from the mine however, modern tables have to be assembled from five slabs.

Blaenau slate has been an important part of quality [[snooker]] and [[billiards]] tables for many years owing to the smooth flat surface that is revealed when slates are split or ''riven''.  During [[Queen Victoria|Victorian]] times a snooker table would comprise four large blocks of slate, each 3 inches thick. Due to the lower quality of the remaining slate from the mine however, modern tables have to be assembled from five slabs.

The slate produced from the Blaenau area is one of the highest quality roofing slates in the world, and gives the houses in [[Wales]] their characteristic blue roofs. Slate was mined via a variety of methods in the 19th century and all of these have left their mark on Blaenau, with the entire town and much of the surrounding countryside being blighted with slag heaps of slate spoil. Despite being in the centre of the [[Mount Snowdon|Snowdonia]] National Park, the gray slag that surrounds the town prevents it from being officially included in the designated Park area.  Current plans to deal with this slag are being challenged by an environmental pressure group <ref> [http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/swag.htm The Slate Waste Action Group (SWAG)] opposes plans to transport the slag to the North Wales coast. </ref>

The slate produced from the Blaenau area is one of the highest quality roofing slates in the world, and gives the houses in [[Wales]] their characteristic blue roofs. Slate was mined via a variety of methods in the 19th century and all of these have left their mark on Blaenau, with the entire town and much of the surrounding countryside being blighted with slag heaps of slate spoil. Despite being in the centre of the [[Mount Snowdon|Snowdonia]] National Park, the gray slag that surrounds the town prevents it from being officially included in the designated Park area.  Current plans to deal with this slag are being challenged by an environmental pressure group <ref> [http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/swag.htm The Slate Waste Action Group (SWAG)] opposes plans to transport the slag to the North Wales coast. </ref>

[[Image:Slateworker.jpg|thumb|left|300px| Miners' Tramway (slytiau) showing one of the miners in action]]

[[Image:Slateworker.jpg|thumb|left|300px| Miners' Tramway (slytiau) showing one of the miners in action]]

The slate industry that Blaenau epitomizes is today only a fraction of its former size. In the  1880's the industry employed over 400 men. In the 19th century such men were renowned for their “..hard drinking, their singing and their sexual prowess” <ref> see the description in:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/mining/pages/slate_mining.shtml</ref> . To say that these men were responsible for the today’s slag spoil is to misunderstand thew history of Blaenau. Today the town has reinvented itself as a tourist destination with former quarries <ref name="Lech">See the website for the  [http://www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk The Llechwedd Slate Caverns] </ref> offering trips on the miner's tramway into the side of the mountain and into the massive underground caverns built by the slate workers. At Llechwedd, for example it is possible to recreate the experience of the miners. Riding down the underground cliff railway into the dramatic Deep Mine, provides a stimulating audio-visual presentation as a miner from long ago takes you through the various chambers. On their way to the mine, visitors can experience the slag at first hand, going down the [[Slaty Cleavage|slaty cleavage]] into dark, damp musky recesses. These cavernous spaces drip with a slimy substance, where miners would often would feel their helmets starting to become damp. Reaching the very depths, with a horn, the miners would all stand up and slip into the vast cavernous spaces. The activity that ensued would be prolonged and exhausting, with several miners often being squeezed into the same recess for extended periods, returning to the cleavage repeatedly during this time, going in and out of passages, before coming together. Finally, when the tramway shudders to a halt, the miners all get off, and travel homewards for an evening’s drinking and singing<ref name = "Lech">a</ref>.  

The slate industry that Blaenau epitomizes is today only a fraction of its former size. In the  1880's the industry employed over 400 men. In the 19th century such men were renowned for their “..hard drinking, their singing and their sexual prowess” <ref> see the description in:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/mining/pages/slate_mining.shtml</ref> . To say that these men were responsible for the today’s slag spoil is to misunderstand the history of Blaenau. Today the town has reinvented itself as a tourist destination with former quarries <ref name="Lech">See the website for the  [http://www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk The Llechwedd Slate Caverns] </ref> offering trips on the miner's tramway into the side of the mountain and into the massive underground caverns built by the slate workers.

In preparations for the [[United Kingdom]]'s millenium celebrations, the [[Welsh Development Agency]] (WDA) in conjunction with the ''Beautiful Blaenau'' campaign sponsored research into how the slag may put to use in an environmentally-friendly way. In [[2001]] the Welsh Aggregates Company launched a range of composite building materials that have been used extensively in the regeneration of [[Cardiff]]'s historic waterfront.

In preparations for the [[United Kingdom]]'s millenium celebrations, the [[Welsh Development Agency]] (WDA) in conjunction with the ''Beautiful Blaenau'' campaign sponsored research into how the slag may put to use in an environmentally-friendly way. In [[2001]] the Welsh Aggregates Company launched a range of composite building materials that have been used extensively in the regeneration of [[Cardiff]]'s historic waterfront.