Dear List,
The Tamar Mining Group recently 'liberated' a cast iron sheave wheel on a wrought iron axle from our current dig in a Tamar Valley copper mine.  Its in a pretty dire state, having been impregnated with mine water, which is a dilute solution of sulphuric acid.  Part of the wheel just crumbled away as we removed it, and we would like to know whether anyone else has experience of conserving such degraded iron objects.  We hope to get it on display in a museum eventually, but obviously can't do that if it falls apart.  At the moment its drying out slowly in a member's garage.  What advice can you give?

Robert Waterhouse


========================================
Message Received: Jul 05 2006, 08:53 PM
From: "Philip Mostmans" 
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: 
Subject: Nenthead mining complex and region research

Dear Mining history users,

I am a 4th year archaeology student in Belgium (University of Leuven). I 
am working on my theses (disseration) about the Nenthead mining complex in 
Cumbria. When I first contacted North Pennines archaeology Ltd. (located 
on the mine site) they were more then willing to help out, they even 
suggested that I would focus on the Vieille Montagne Zinc company era in 
and around the mines (since the companies origin in Belgium). I've been 
trying to locate some of the archives and documentations, but a lot of it 
was lost in a fire or sold of to private collections both in Britain and 
Belgium. I don't have the means to travel around too much, so its 
difficult for me to access all the record offices in the UK.

There was a survey done in the late 90thies on the complex describing all 
the features and possible functions. Since the Vieille montagne 
specialisation didn't really work out very well, I was thinking about 
redoing the survey on site, taking photos, reviewing possible functions 
and descriptions (also on a larger scale in the nearby region).

I would very much like suggestions or help on what I should do to continue 
my work. Maybe pro and cons for the two mentioned suggestions above? Has 
anyone valueable information about either the nenthead complex itself or 
the Vieille Montagne period, it would be very much welcome. 

Thanks in advance!

Philip Mostmans
Katholic University of Leuven, Belgium