At 14:36 10/02/03 -0500, you wrote:
>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 am sure that the last exploitation of Witherite in the UK was at
Settlingstone. Witherite is being produced in China (Chengkou and Ziyang
witherite deposits).
As Bernard suggested Witherite was often encountered in Collieries in
Weardale and Tynedale. I am aware of Witherite being exploited or
encountered at : -
Acomb Colliery - nr. Hexham 1½ miles [2 km] NNW of Hexham - closed 1952
Encountered a 15 foot vein of Witherite, a winze was sunk 90 foot, but the
enterprise was abandoned follwoing an explosion in 1872.
Brandon Colliery - Brandon 2½ miles [4 km] SW of Durham - closed 15 Mar 1968
2-3foot vein encountered, associated with the Ludworth Quartz-dolerite
dyke, but not exploited
Craghead Colliery - Craghead 6½ miles [10 km] NW of Durham - closed 11 Apr 1969
Two small deposits worked, both associated with faults and encountered in
workings in the Busty. Worked out and found to be excellent quality.
New Brancepath Colliery - New Brancepeth 3 miles [5 km] W of Durham -
closed 17 Jul 1953
Roddymoor Colliery - Crook 8 miles [13 km] WSW of Durham - closed 10 Aug 1963
Ushaw Moor Colliery - Ushaw Moor 3½ miles [5 km] W of Durham - closed 5 Aug
1960
All encountered and exploited Witherite, but predominately Byrtes
associated with mineralisation along the alignment of the Sharnberry Fault.
New Brancepath Colliery produced up to 200k tons of Barium ores upto 1948.
Ushaw Moor produced 22,000 tons of predominately Witherite ores between
1921 and 1931.
South Moor Colliery - Annfield Plain 8½ miles [13 km] NW of Durham - closed
5 Oct 1973
South Moor deposit discovered in the workings of Morrison Pit, encountered
the South Moor Vein c/w three major ore shoots. Vein is remarkable for
containing nearly pure Witherite (>92% Barium Carbonate). The ore was
hoisted from the Witherite Shaft which was sank directly to the vein.
55,876 tons were produced between 1932 and 1942, at that time it was
estimated that there was sufficient reserves for a further 20 years of
production.
For further detailed information refer to Dunham "Geology of the North
Pennine Orefield" 1948 pgs 328-340 and for information regarding the
collieries please refer to Durham Mining Museum's superb website -
http://www.dmm.org.uk (specifically http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/s917.htm
for information about Settlingstone Mine)
Graham
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