If i remember correctly some gangue minerals are acidic. Always a good way to spot grassed over ore dressing waste on outcropping limestone.
Martin RoeMeerstone Archaeological Consultancy http://www.martinroe.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/meerstone.htm Lead Mining in the Yorkshire Dales, http://www.martinroe.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk > Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:03:27 +0000> From: [log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: Matters vegetable> To: [log in to unmask]> > Yews like alkaline, well drained sites. For example, they thrive right > on the edge of the linear limestone outcrop of Wenlock Edge. So their > preference for old mine shaft sites may be related to limestone spoil > rather than deliberate planting. Other types of trees have their > preferences, too.> Mike Worsfold> > NEWMAN, Phil wrote:> > Hi Rick,> > > > In 2003 a colleague and I were surveying a series of pit workings and shallow shafts in Cleeve Wood in the Mendips. I think the workings were associated with either lead or calamine, but I'm not certain. It was notable that a large number of the shafts had yew trees either growing from the wall of the shaft or the spoil heap immediately adjacent to the lip of the shaft. As there were very few yews in the wood that were not associated with shafts in a mostly deciduous woodland, we concluded that they must have been deliberately planted in the shafts by someone. Some were quite large trees.> > > > We were greatly puzzled by this at the time but you might just be on to something here.> > > > Regards> > > > Phil> > > > Phil Newman> > Archaeological Survey & Investigation Team (Exeter)> > English Heritage> > 5 Marlborough Court, Manaton Close> > Matford> > Exeter, EX2 8PF> > > > -----Original Message-----> > From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rick Stewart, Morwellham Quay Mine Manager> > Sent: 26 January 2009 12:35> > To: [log in to unmask]> > Subject: Matters vegetable> > > > Yesterday whilst leading a walk at Devon Great Consols I made mention of the practice of planting holy bushes to mark shafts and the belief that this was meant to keep the devil in his proper place. One of the people on the walk suggested that in addition to planting holy bushes miners, on abandoning a working would plant specific plants in the vicinity of a lode to let future generations of miners know what was there, different plants being used to indicate different minerals.> > > > Can anyone expand on this.> > > > Rick Stewart> > > > _________________________________________________________________________________> > > > Concerned about how climate change may affect older properties? What about saving energy? > > Visit our new website www.climatechangeandyourhome.org.uk today. > > > > This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the > > views of English Heritage unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it> > from your system and notify the sender immediately. Do not use, copy or disclose the information in > > any way nor act in reliance on it. Any information sent to English Heritage may become publicly available.> > > >
_________________________________________________________________
Love Hotmail? Check out the new services from Windows Live!
http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/132630768/direct/01/
|