These mines don't seem to have yielded much lodestone - whilst the mineral
is magnetite, it carries no field (like un magnetised iron). The few
reasonable ore specimens I have found in this area have certainly been
thus. (The magnetite deposits at Tintagel are the same in this respect). It
would appear, prima facie, that the more coarsely crystallised the
magnetite body, the less lodestone is yielded - I would welcome evidence or
observation for or against hypothesis this, however.
----------
> From: Peter Claughton <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Lodestone Mining
> Date: 06 June 2000 10:02
>
> John,
>
> Magnetite is not uncommon in South Devon (Dines, The Metalliferous Mining
> Region of South-West England, 1956, lists a number of occurences). I
would
> presume the mine referred to is in the area of Haytor, Smallacombe and
Atlas
> mines. There magnetite was worked in the 19th century for its iron
content
> with no reference to its magnetic properties. However I would not be
> surprised if, in the pre industrial periods, it was worked on a small
scale
> for use as 'lodestone'. Hamilton Jenkin (Mines of Devon; vol. 2, p. 136)
> suggests as much but with little real evidence. Perhaps you have new
> documentary evidence?
>
> Peter
>
> ______________________________________________
>
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> Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE.
> Tel. 01437 532578; Fax. 01437 532921; Mobile 07831 427599
>
> University of Exeter - Department of History
> School of Historical, Political and Sociological Studies
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