Requirement
4. The dangers of an abandoned mine or quarry
Required
A discussion with your counselor. Distinct from requirement 3, which is about working mines: the hazards of an abandoned site are different and mostly invisible.
Notes and warnings
Note. This is a different question from requirement 3, not a repeat of it. Requirement 3 is about a working mine with its ventilation, monitoring and rescue arrangements in place. An abandoned mine or quarry has none of that: the specific dangers are bad air, flooded workings, unstable ground and vertical shafts hidden by vegetation, and none of them is visible from the surface.
Where this step comes from
- Mining in Society Merit Badge Requirements (Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2025-12-31), Requirement 4