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Thanks for that Mike. The site is adjacent to a small river so no problems with a water supply. I have sent samples of the waste off for heavy metal analysis so this should offer some indication. Kindest regards, Trevor. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Gill" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 8:47 PM Subject: [MINING-HISTORY] Buddling Wastes > Hi Trevor, > > Yes, the feed for a shaking table would be a fine slurry and you would have > seen bands of colour as the material was separated (perhaps lead ore, > barytes, fluorspar, iron, zinc blende and limestone). Presumably Derbyshire > Stone would only be interested in one or two of these bands and the rest > would be collected in a barrow and dumped as a rough mix. > > In the first half of the 18th century, such material may have been treated > in a trunk buddle. This was a long, narrowish wooden trough with a > compartment at its head into which the slurry was placed. A strong flow of > water then washed the finer, lighter material away and left behind grains of > ore. > > The very finest slurry might have been treated in something like a dolly > tub. > > Other fine material may have been caught in rudimentary slime pits. > > If you are really digging a buddle, there should be traces of wooden boards > over a width of say a yard (or so) and a length of maybe seven or eight > feet. There should also be signs of a water supply and a way for water to > leave the buddle. > > Mike Gill > > >