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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. 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, 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.

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>

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.  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 created by the slate workers.

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.  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 created by the slate workers.

In preparations for the [[United Kingdom]]'s millennium 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 millennium 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. Indeed, traditional Welsh slags can now be found throughout Cardiff city center.

The mined slate was taken on the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway which links Blaenau Ffestiniog with Porthmadog on the coast. The [[Festiniog Railway Company]] is the world's oldest independent railway company, established in 1832 by [[Act of Parliament]]. <ref> http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/history/pages/festiniograilway.shtml

The mined slate was taken on the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway which links Blaenau Ffestiniog with Porthmadog on the coast. The [[Festiniog Railway Company]] is the world's oldest independent railway company, established in 1832 by [[Act of Parliament]]. <ref> http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northwest/sites/history/pages/festiniograilway.shtml