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Michael, I agree with Bernard on this. If the mine's main produce was not tin they would not have the dressing plant to deal with it. However the bal maids bucking the copper/iron pyrites could produce "chips" of high grade tin ore that could be sold without further treatment. Also if the amount of tin being mined was small but of high grade it might not be economical to install a treatment plant and "chips" might be the solution. Having said that I have not heard the term used before for a Cornish mine! Regards, Iain -----Original Message----- From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bernard Moore Sent: 22 October 2011 13:38 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Great Onslow Consols Dear Michael, These chips could be selected hand spalled ore and not dressed ore (viz., not being crushed, washed or dressed in the usual way). Without looking deeper, maybe the products were being sold for further treatment elsewhere (unlikely though), and were as high grade as possible to get the best value... alternatively, if the product was sufficiently pure it might have been sold direct to the smelters - the Rlys. records should show the final destination? - leaving the balance of 'disseminated ore' to be crushed, washed, etc.. Just ideas, and you will probably have considered this anyway. Regards, Bernard