I'm looking at the processing of argentiferous zinc ores by Dillwyn and Co
in Swansea, South Wales, during the second half of the 19th century. In the
period 1862 to 1866 the company received at least 12 shipments of 'silver
ore' from Alicante, in south-east Spain. As the company were specialist
silver/zinc smelters, the 'silver ore' was most probably silver rich blende
(i.e. sphalerite) or possibly a zinc carbonate. But from which mine or mines?
Zinc ores were shipped into Swansea from other ports in south-east Spain at
that period, including Carthagena, Malaga, and Almeria, but none of the
shipments appear to go directly to Dillwyn's although some may have reached
their smelters via ore buyers like Henry Bath and Son. On the other hand the
Alicante 'silver ore' shipments appear to go only to Dillwyn's.
We appear to be looking at a mine with transport links to Alicante, if not
in the immediate hinterland, producing silver-rich zinc ores over a short
period in the 1860s. Any ideas?
Peter
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Dr Peter Claughton,
Blaenpant Morfil, nr. Rosebush, Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE.
Tel. 01437 532578; Fax. 01437 532921; Mobile 07831 427599
University of Exeter - School of Historical, Political and Sociological Studies
(Centre for South Western Historical Studies)
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Co-owner - mining-history e-mail discussion list.
See http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/files/mining-history/ for details.
Mining History Pages - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/~pfclaugh/mhinf/
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