Re; historically important mines:
to stand back from the mines-for-mines sake answers,
a mine / group of mines can be of tremendous historic importance for what
they tell us of the way a section of population lived at a given point in
time; or in the case of multi-period occupations, how a region, even a whole
country "lived".
In the context of Wales, the historic metal mines are vital in dispelling
many fallacies not least those involving outside entrepreneurs from the
Romans to RTZ.
Calling the former coal mine at Blaenafon, the National Mining Museum
constitutes one of our more recent own-goals.Try walking in to reception and
asking about bronze Age copper mines at Cwmystwyth and on the Great Orme;
Iron Age argentiferous lead mines in Cardiganshire, Gwent, Glamorgan and
Flintshire; they might have "heard about" the ancient gold mining at
Dolaucothi. It is the importance of mines and mine sites such as Mynydd
Parys on Anglesey that they offer a lens through which to study our history.
Steve Gray
Tongwynlais
PS...and I haven't even mentioned artefacts...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Automatic digest processor" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Recipients of mining-history digests" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 12:06 AM
Subject: mining-history Digest - 21 Jun 2003 to 23 Jun 2003 (#2003-156)
> There are 5 messages totalling 178 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. historically important mines (2)
> 2. Mines in Swansea
> 3. Blaenavon conference, Sept 2003
> 4. Hamstead Disaster - Memorial site
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2003 18:46:33 -0700
> From: JOHN BERRY <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: historically important mines
>
> Don't forget the geological aspects.
>
> (1) Geological uniqueness/classic example of type: In the US White Pine
Copper in Michigan (the only large shale-hosted stratabound Cu deposit in
N.Am., one of only 3 such in the world (Kupferschiefer, Zambian Cu-Belt).
Cornish Tin and Kaolin deposits (both unique & classic)), Parys Mtn (only?
?Sedex Cu in UK).
>
> (2) Quality of Mineral Specimens/Importance in development of
mineralogical science:
> In the UK the Lake District hematite mines (famous for the quality of
specimens),
> Peak Didtrict Blue John mines; Scottish strontianite mines/occurrences.
>
> (3) Importance in evolution of geological science:
> Cornwall, Peak District, Welsh anthracite mines.
>
> As with other reasons for historic designation - no need to preserve every
example (e.g. all tin mines in Cornwall), but only representative or
outstanding examples (e.g.: in Cornish case perhaps a mine that has been
extensivelty studied and shows paragenesis and alsdotransition to Cu ores at
depth).
>
> John
>
>
>
> John Berry Associates
> Geology & Remote Sensing
> 5000 Beverly Hills Drive
> AUSTIN, TX 78731, U.S.A.
> +1-512-452-8068 (Voice)
> +1-512-413-9270 (cell)
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 13:10:23 +0100
> From: Spencer Lewis <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Mines in Swansea
>
> I am trying to trace information of small mines and small mine workings
> around my home in the Swansea area.
>
> Is there anyone who can assist or point me in the right direction ?
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 10:22:26 -0400
> From: Helmut Waszkis <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: historically important mines
>
> Whoever puts together a listing of "historically important mines" should
> include, if this is meant to be of global scope, those mines that did play
a
> significant role in the development of world mining and the world economy,
> such as
> --the Huancavelica "Sta Barbara" mercury mine in Peru, the only mercury
mine
> of any significance in South America
> --The Potosi silver mnountain, without pinpointing any one mine
> --any number of silver mines in Mexico
> --any number of gold mines in Colombia
> --a number of rather recent tin (placer) mines in the Brazilian jungle
> (Rondonia) which took Brazilian cassiterite ore production from zero to
No.
> 1 in the world for a few years
> --The Sao Joao del Rei gold mine in Brazil
> --The big iron ore mine in the Brazilian Northeast
> --Stora Kopperbarget in Sweden
> --The famous silver mines of Laurion outside of Athens
>
> and so on, endlessly. An interesting project. Good luck.
> Best
> Helmut Waszkis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
> JOHN BERRY
> Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 9:47 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: historically important mines
>
>
> Don't forget the geological aspects.
>
> (1) Geological uniqueness/classic example of type: In the US White Pine
> Copper in Michigan (the only large shale-hosted stratabound Cu deposit in
> N.Am., one of only 3 such in the world (Kupferschiefer, Zambian Cu-Belt).
> Cornish Tin and Kaolin deposits (both unique & classic)), Parys Mtn (only?
> ?Sedex Cu in UK).
>
> (2) Quality of Mineral Specimens/Importance in development of
mineralogical
> science:
> In the UK the Lake District hematite mines (famous for the quality of
> specimens),
> Peak Didtrict Blue John mines; Scottish strontianite mines/occurrences.
>
> (3) Importance in evolution of geological science:
> Cornwall, Peak District, Welsh anthracite mines.
>
> As with other reasons for historic designation - no need to preserve every
> example (e.g. all tin mines in Cornwall), but only representative or
> outstanding examples (e.g.: in Cornish case perhaps a mine that has been
> extensivelty studied and shows paragenesis and alsdotransition to Cu ores
at
> depth).
>
> John
>
>
>
> John Berry Associates
> Geology & Remote Sensing
> 5000 Beverly Hills Drive
> AUSTIN, TX 78731, U.S.A.
> +1-512-452-8068 (Voice)
> +1-512-413-9270 (cell)
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 19:51:08 +0100
> From: Jenny Hall <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Blaenavon conference, Sept 2003
>
> Apologies for cross-posting
> Message posted for Martin Locock
>
> A reminder that the Society for Post-Mediveal Archaeology conference at
> Blaenavon will be held 5th-7th September, featuring site trips and
> presentations by speakers from Cadw, RCAHMW, GGAT, the Blaenavon
Partnership
> and elsehwere, providing a unique insight into the history of this World
> Heritage Site.
>
> Details and a booking form will be found at:
>
> http://mysite.freeserve.com/spma_blaenavon
>
>
> Or contact Martin Locock, 38 New Road, Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Ammanford SA18
1UN
> 01269 826397 (eve) 01970 832564 (day) [log in to unmask]
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 20:35:04 +0100
> From: Phil Clifford <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Hamstead Disaster - Memorial site
>
> Does anyone on this list know either Tom Watson or Ken Styler, both of the
> Hamstead Miners Memorial Fund
(http://members.lycos.co.uk/hamsteadminers/)?
>
> They have developed a small site to commemorate the disaster of 1908 but
the
> text used to describe the event appears to have been copied directly from
my
> site.
>
> Despite several e-mails to the contact address they have failed to reply
or
> to acknowledge the source of the information.
>
> My sources are a combination of Mines Inspectors reports, 'The Entombed'
by
> Jack Boddington and a contribution from Peter Appleton and my site
> acknowledges all of these.
>
> I am happy for anyone to copy or quote from my site but do ask that the
> source is acknowledged.
>
> If anyone knows Tom or Ken I would appreciate if this message could be got
> to them - I do not want to be a killjoy but we should all work together.
>
> Regards
>
> Phil Clifford
>
> Mines Rescue Research at www.heroes-of-mine.co.uk
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of mining-history Digest - 21 Jun 2003 to 23 Jun 2003 (#2003-156)
> *********************************************************************
>
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