Hi Trevor -
I think the place you're talking about is part of Ball Eye Mine - there are
big dumps all around the Ball Eye quarry. Unfortunately now enclosed by a
high wire fence and so all inaccessible. A few weeks ago I asked the owner
if I could take a look but he refused because of insurance restrictions. I
found a few pieces outside the wire - creamy barite with a lot of tiny
purple fluorite cubes.
- Steve
-------------------------------------------------------
Dr Stephen Henley
Resources Computing International Ltd
Matlock, Derbyshire, UK +44 (0)1629 581454
http://www.SiliconDale.com
-------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Trevor Dunkerley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 3:35 AM
Subject: Re: Riber Mine - Matlock Bath
> Hi Michael,
>
> Can't add any more to the use of barytes than I have already except to say
> that on the 'backside' of the old Cumberland Cavern at Matlock Bath, down
> through the woods towards Via Gellia (I think that's how you spell it),
> there where massive spoil heaps of barytes being exploited in the 1950's
> amongst the waste of the mines there.
>
> If I remember rightly, the Cumberland system was dolomitic limestone, the
> most incredible growths of gypsum flowers and needles, and below that
> carboniferous limestone on the Via Gellia side. Between these two
limestones
> thick bands of barytes up to 50cm thick. Can't remember the name of the
mine
> system, but another one that was littered with gelly and dets.
>
> regards
>
> Trevor
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Michael Shaw <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 12:42 PM
> Subject: Re: Riber Mine - Matlock Bath
>
>
> > Hi
> > Riber mine sounds fascinating but can anyone give any more information
(or
> > suggest sources) on the use of barytes in making records, was is just as
> an
> > inert filler?
> > All the best
> > Mike Shaw
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Trevor Dunkerley <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 11:20 PM
> > Subject: Re: Riber Mine - Matlock Bath
> >
> >
> > Stephen,
> >
> > Many thanks for the info. - resurrected lots of distant happy memories.
> >
> > I was Gordon Salt's assistant back in the late 50's, surveying for
> > Derbyshire Stone many of the old mines, with a view to extracting
> fluorspar
> > and barytes. They were both fetching very good prices then, the former
> being
> > used as a flux in the steel smelting process, and I seem to remember
> > baryties was used in the manufacture of the old 78 records.
> >
> > We used to go along to Riber Mine to survey and map as they moved the
> drift
> > forward (so I must know Harry). 'Old Man' was intersected quite often -
> some
> > wonderful examples of 'coffin' drifts and underground vertical rakes.
One
> > of the few areas where 'old man' had not been invaded by 16th century
> > mining.
> >
> > It's over 40 years since I was last in Matlock Bath, but if you walk
along
> > the main road from the railway station (Dale Road I seem to remember)
> > towards Matlock, you eventually come to the old iron footbridge over the
> > Derwent, and then under the railway arch. It was only a narrow tarmac
lane
> > in those days, then uphill and the drift entrance was on the right. As
> kids,
> > we used to sledge down the hill there from the drift, under the railway
> arch
> > (doing what seemed to be 100mph), over the footbridge landing with a
thump
> > on Dale Road. Hardly any traffic in those days. God knows how we didn't
> kill
> > ourselves.
> >
> > I remember Allotments shaft well from the bottom end - passing through a
> cow
> > had dropped down and swollen like a barrage balloon. Gordon poked it
with
> > the ranging rod and the blasted thing virtually blew up! Did we stink!
> Harry
> > must remember that episode.
> >
> > Yes, you could get through Paint Mill to the Riber system, and from
> several
> > of the small intersections from when they cut the railway tunnel
through.
> > Paint Mill Adit was notorious for all the gelly and dets left lying
> around,
> > all of it in a very dangerous state. Gordon refused to work there - you
> > could get a blinding headache after only a few hours in that system - I
> > suppose we must have picked some of the weeping stuff up on our hands.
> >
> > I used to lodge almost opposite the bridge with Mrs. M. She delivered
the
> > lemonade in the area in wooden crates on a flat bed lorry. Always wore
bib
> > and brace overalls, was as tough as old boots, swore like a trooper. She
> > knew more about the mines in the area than most.
> >
> > Hadn't heard about the publication by Greenough. Would like sight of a
> copy
> > if anyone knows where.
> >
> > Many thanks for info. again.
> >
> > Many regards,
> >
> > Trevor.
|