Tilberthwaite, Horse Crag Mine · AditNow Community

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phycops1
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

I was up at Tilberthwaite, Horse Crag Mine (Cumbria) last weeknd. Opposite the ruined mine building and across the road there is the dressing floor for the mine. I found a very large piece of Haematite, Kidney Ore. I can't find any evidence of Haematite being mined here (Only Copper and Slate). I know Haematite is associated with limestone and a thin band of Coniston Limestone runs through the area.

Can anybody throw any light (not intended as a joke) onto how a very large piece of Haematite is here at this mine. Would there have been Haematite around this area as the nearest known areas for Haematite production are at Egremont west Cumbria and Ulverston, south Cumbria.

Slightly Puzzled 😢

Knowledge Dispels Fear

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Captain Scarlet
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

17 years ago

Definitely no naturally occurring haematite in that area. Very strange indeed.

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phycops1
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Newbie Topic Starter

17 years ago

Very strange indeed Colonel, it's a lovely specimen as well, about 4-5 kg in weight. If the areas of Haematite production in Cumbria hadn't been so far away from Tilberthwaite I would have suggested the Haematite may have been brought here for processing at some stage. Would the processing of copper and haematite be of a similar nature.

Even more puzzled now

:confused:

Knowledge Dispels Fear

Roy Morton
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Newbie

16 years ago

I should think the copper and iron concentrating processes would differ enormously. The primary ores of copper in this country being the sulphide Chalcopyrite and the sub-sulphide Chalcocite (Redruthite).
The major iron deposits were generally oxides such as Haemetite, and carbonates such as Siderite.
There was also the copper oxide Cuprite. This was also worked in reasonable deposits but mostly in Cornwall and was encountered in zones associated with native copper.

"You Chinese think of everything!"
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Captain Scarlet
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

I recall discussing this with a few people and the concensus of opinion was that a mineral collector was likely in the area and somehow lost the specimen. There is no way at all that is is native to the area in which it was found.

STANDBY FOR ACTION!!!!...

ben88800
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

16 years ago

Who would cart a heavy lump of hematite up there just to dump it? where was the kidney ore sited eg in the tip below the tip road way. i ask because one day when we where out walking near to my home town which is a good distance from any iron mine (20 miles is as the crow flys) we found a lump of kidney ore in a gravel track turns out they had been clearing one of the tips from west cumbria and used it to make this road so it is possible for material to be moved long distances.

Kidney ore has been found at quite a few of the central lakeland mines so you never know the source good be relatively close by

phycops1
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

The specimenI found was heavy and a very good example of kidney ore, in excellent condition, a fine piece indeed.

I doubt it very much if a collector lost it and never noticed it missing. I have been there again and have found no more pieces. I was talking to an old guy (from Tilberthwaite) who worked in the Horse Crag Mine and he could't even recognize the piece and said he had never seen anything like it around Tilberthwaite.

Just one of those strange things that happen now and then, strange indeed.

Thank you all for your comments on the subject, much appreciated.

:confused:

Knowledge Dispels Fear

phycops1
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

16 years ago

Hi ben88800.

I found it on the bend of the river (not in the river) across from the main road that leads up to Tilberthwaite and right opposite from the buildings up on the hill.

There are dressing floors right next to the river.

Cheers.

Knowledge Dispels Fear