Richard,
perhaps the people who might be best able to answer are the Russell Society,
or alternatively British Geological Survey via Brian Young at BGS Edinburgh.
Peter Jackson
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Richard De Nul
Sent: 18 February 2002 11:49
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Witherite.
Thank you Peter and Michael for this excellent answer.
Witherite is a type mineral for the Northern parts.
Does one knows the exact type locality?
Is this Blaygill Bridge (near Nenthead; Alston Moor), the Nentberry Haggs
Mine at Nenthead or the Fallowfield Mine at Settlingstones?
Regards,
Richard
>From: Michael Shaw <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: "The mining-history list." <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Witherite.
>Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2002 13:37:29 -0000
>
>Witherite was mined commercially at the Snailbeach mine in Shropshire, 900
>or so tons being produced over the years. A small amount was also mined in
>Flintshire. Fallowfield mine in Northumberland was a major producer until
>WW1
>It was used as for producing various barium chemicals as it was easier to
>process that barite in that it was acid soluble. It had few uses as itself
>but was(is?) used to control efflorescence on brickwork and was tried,
>successfully during the 2nd war as an extender in paints and varnishes. The
>carbonate in its refined form is used in pottery glazes and in enamelling
>iron and steel.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Alan Vickers <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2002 11:14 AM
>Subject: Witherite.
>
>
>I have been reading in David Temple's book The Collieries of Durham, Volume
>2, of the discovery in 1932 of witherite (barium carbonate) in Morrisn
>North
>pit, in County Durham, in sufficient quantities to be economically mined.
>The following year a new shaft was sunk at Morrison for the purpose of
>riding the men who were to extract the witherite.
>
>Temple says that this made the Morrison pit and Settlingstones in
>Northumberland as the only two pits in Britain to have discovered workable
>reserves of witherite.
>
>Can any list member tell me what witherite was used for?
>
>Alan.
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