Slate has been mined for centuries using a variety of methods depending on the location and the technology available.

In medieval times and up until the 19th century, slate was mined using hand tools such as chisels, hammers, and wedges. Miners would work in tunnels, removing blocks of slate from the rock using these tools. The blocks would then be split into thinner pieces using saws and hammers.

As technology advanced, larger and more mechanized methods of mining were developed. Explosives were first used in the 19th century to blast slate from the rockface. Later, steam-powered cutting machines were introduced which could cut the slate into precise sizes and shapes.

Today, modern machinery such as diamond-tipped blades, wire saws, and drills are used to extract slate from quarries. The slate is then processed in factories where it is cut, shaped and finished for use in construction and other industries.