Dear Mike,
Since there have been no replies to your question, and I have amazingly a few
spare moments(!), the answer is no, but possibly as a by-product. At this
very moment I can't remember exactly when Settlingstones closed, but I think
it was working up to the late 1960's? - I am sure I will corrected in this. I
was there in 1975, and a small part of the main dump remained, but the other
areas were levelled and grassing over. Shortly before my visit the Main Shaft
opened itself up, taking part of the Duke's Kennels away with it, so quite a
bit of this dump was put down before capping. This luckily enabled me to get
some excellent specimen groups of the 'chisel' barytes crystals that are so
well know from here - with full permission of course. While I was digging in
this partic. area of the dump, I felt I was being watched at one point;
looked up and there was 'he himself', who asked "what on earth is interesting
enough to dig for here in this awful weather"!!! - it was pouring with rain.
So I gave him a piece!
I have been browsing Burt et al's Min.Stats. on Durham and N.berland., and
can only suggest that this will at least give you accurate info. of mines big
enough to have 'lasted'. There does not seem to be much Witherite on the W.
flanks of Dufton, but Barytes is still wkd. here - well, it was the last time
I heard anyway albeit on a small scale now. The collieries to the East of
Weardale produced (W.ite & B.tes), but since coal is not my subject I am sure
others will be able to advise.
I hope this might be of some use to you. Regards, Bernard.
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