See also: Susan. Amalgamation: Lonclose, Dudnance. Worked With: Pen.

The South Crofty mine is a vast, structurally controlled, underground vein system that reaches a depth of approximately 910 metres (3,000 feet). It is one of the highest-grade undeveloped tin deposits globally, with a current indicated mineral resource grade of around 1.5% tin.

Currently (2025), the mine is undergoing dewatering and redevelopment by Cornish Metals Inc with a view to resuming commercial tin extraction by mid 2028.

Project Status

• Dewatering: Mine dewatering commenced in November 2023 and is progressing well. Engineers have accessed areas 350 meters below ground, with the mine tunnels reported to be in good condition.
• Infrastructure Development: Construction of new workshops, stores, and offices at the Bartles Foundry site is underway, supported by over £4 million in grant funding.
• Future Operations: The project has all necessary permissions, including a mining license valid until 2071 and a permit to dewater the mine. The goal is to create up to 320 permanent, high-skilled jobs when in production.
• Tin as a Critical Mineral: The project is a “flagship” part of the UK government’s Critical Minerals Strategy, as tin is essential for electronics and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Shafts

several usable vertical shafts that reach significant depths, including:

• Williams Shaft: 915m
• New Cooks Kitchen Shaft: 770m, intended as the main production and service shaft.
• Roskear Shaft: 610m
• Taylors Shaft: 520m

1854-1896
1896-1906

• Early Beginnings (Pre-17th Century to mid-1800s): Evidence of mining activity dates back to at least 1592. The early workings, initially known as Penhellick Vean, primarily focused on extracting copper from shallow depths, which generated significant wealth for the owning Bassett family in the 18th century.
• The Shift to Tin (Mid-1800s to early 1900s): The collapse of copper prices in the mid-19th century prompted a shift to deeper tin deposits. By 1854, several small mines merged to form South Wheal Crofty (later just South Crofty). The mine became financially dependent on tin by 1873, a change that secured its future for the next century.
• Expansion and Modernisation (1900s to mid-1980s): In 1906, South Crofty Limited was incorporated, beginning an era of modernisation and expansion through the acquisition of adjacent mines, including the significant Dolcoath Mine assets in 1936. The mine continued to grow in size and depth, reaching over 900 meters (3,000 feet) and spanning almost 4.5 km in length.
• Decline and Closure (1985-1998): The international tin price crash in 1985 severely impacted the Cornish mining industry, leading to widespread closures. South Crofty managed to survive for over a decade longer, with local investment and cost-cutting measures, but ultimately closed on March 6, 1998, marking the end of continuous tin mining in Cornwall after 400 years.