Just to add to Mikes comments on the "English" C.19 being relatively
primitive, hotching etc. At Cobscar Mine Wensleydale, the ore was selectively
picked underground. Even ca.1800 it was mentioned that the company were just
going for calamine and ignoring lead minerals, I presume selective dressing
underground. This was by a Derbyshire Brass company, which surprises me
because there must have been closer deposits there.
Ian Spensley
In a message dated 30/06/2011 20:30:42 GMT Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
At 16:28 30/06/2011, Phil Newman wrote:
>Can anyone enlighten me on how dressing processes would have differed
>between lead and zinc at mines, where both metals are known to have been
>exploited? I'd be particularly interested to know if there are any
specific
>forms of archaeological evidence that might survive, exclusively
associated
>with zinc dressing at British mines. Any published examples, preferably in
>England, would be particularly welcome.
The principal method used to effectively separate the ores of zinc
from those of lead was the froth flotation process. The early
development of this process was in Wales (Glasdir and the Elmore
plant) but it was brought to good effect in Australia (Broken Hill)
in the early 20th century. There will have been plants in England but
I'm pushed to identify any with surviving features.
In relation to the Research Framework for the Archaeology of the
Extractive Industries it would be appropriate to cite the surviving
evidence for Elmore's trial plant at Glasdir and, perhaps, the early
plant at Sygun (also in Wales) although they were utilised primarily
to treat copper ores.
Peter
Dr Peter Claughton,
Blaenpant Morfil, nr. Rosebush, Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE.
Tel. +44 (0)1437 532578; Fax. +44 (0)1437 532921; Mobile +44 (0)7831 427599
Hon. University Fellow - College of Humanities, University of Exeter
http://people.exeter.ac.uk/pfclaugh/about.htm
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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Mining History Pages - http://www.people.exeter.ac.uk/pfclaugh/mhinf/
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