Three veins, the main South vein being the most worked. Worked via a number of shallow and deep levels
Note: Following description is from Mindat. For the avoidance of doubt, mineral collecting in the Caldbeck Fells is only allowable under license, which are granted for specific zones.
Situated in Swinburn Gill, a minor tributary to the Dale Beck valley in the northern Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria. The mine focused on exploiting an approximately WNW-ESE trending quartz-baryte-chalcopyrite-galena vein, primarily located on the west side of the gill. Over time, the primary minerals underwent alteration due to a period of supergene enrichment, followed by prolonged intense oxidation.
Interestingly, the vein lacks carbonates, which has resulted in the oxidation giving rise to a collection of rare minerals. Among these minerals are excellent specimens of caledonite, leadhillite, and especially linarite, which have been collectible until fairly recent times.
1863-1872 Red Gill Mining Co.
In the 1980s, a mineralological society applied to re-open the mine, but were refused on safety grounds.
External Links
Publications (8)
- (1921); BGS - Mineral Resources of GB (c1920s) Vol XXII - Lead & Zinc: Lake District; 65 pages
- (1922); BGS - Mineral Resources of GB (c1920s) Vol II - Barytes and Witherite; 136 pages
- (1925); BGS - Mineral Resources of GB (c1920s) Vol XXX - Copper Ores: Midlands, Lake District & N Wales; 102 pages
- (1992); CATMHS - Newsletter 033-December; 35 pages
- (2008); CATMHS - Newsletter 091-May; 44 pages
- (2021); CATMHS - Newsletter 143-May; 36 pages
- (2021); CATMHS - Newsletter 144-August; 43 pages
- Adams, John (2nd Ed 1995); Mines of the Lake District Fells; pp. 75-78