The ore at the ancient (copper age) mine at Ross Island, Killarney, Co. Kerry, is arsenic-bearing (tennantite/tetrahedrite). The ancient metalsmiths still managed to smelt it successfully. The nearby Muckross mine (18th century) has similar mineralogy but with the addition of cobalt arsenides, which the miners discarded, not knowing what it was (it was later identified and gathered up).
In Co. Cork, Ballycummisk mine (19th century) worked ores including tennantite/tetrahedrite.
In modern times, the recently closed Lisheen mine (Co. Tipperary) encountered much nickel arsenide ore (gersdorrfite & niccolite) in the Killoran fault zone, but could not find buyers on account of its high arsenic content. They also had tens of thousands of tonnes of high-grade copper ore, which included tennatite, but could not find buyers owing to inability to maintain a consistent grade, despite a high silver content. In Victorian times it would have made a fortune. But now it was left underground, or processed just for its lead & zinc content. Such are the economics of modern mining.
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