My son is getting into rocks and spent sometime on Sunday investigating the spoil heaps at Virtuous Lady. He came away with a number of interesting bits and pieces. We've washed themand he's added hem to his collection. I don't really know what they are ... a lot of iron pyrites as much of it looks 'rusty'. My worry is that he may have picked up something toxic as e.g. I understand there has been a lot of mining for arsenic around there. Can anyone advise me please ?

Can anybody help edfdave with this enquiry? I've slightly modified the subject so it's clearer it's a mineral query rather than a request for info on the mine itself.

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This link ...... http://www.mindat.org/loc.php?loc=1517  ........ will take you to the relevant page. have a dig round, there are pictures to help id rocks, happy hunting!

I've added a photo to my album of his findings. I originally thought that it's the byproduct of copper/tin/arsenic production at this site. There's tons of it, a lot of it looks like it contains rusty iron or looks like it has been subject to great heat maybe.

This takes me back many years!
I think that in the circumstances you describe there is little to worry about. The samples have been washed and are being appropriately stored. They are unlikely to contain high levels of freely available elements or compounds that could cause harm.
This might not be the case if he starts dry cutting, pulverising or treating them in other ways which might allow the ingestion or absorption of the material or its products. Common sense!
He should be appraised of the fact that, as with so many things in the natural world, there are dangers and consequences; that's why the Mad Hatter is as he is! Common sense! I don't know your son's age but he might just like Rocks, Minerals and Fossils of the World. ISBN 0-330-29953-0. Pellant&Phillips.MacMillan.£17. Lots of excellent pictures.

The basic advice when picking things off mine dumps is simply to wash your hands before you eat. I've picked up samples containing arsenopyrite from the dumps at Tilberthwaite Gill head, and I'm still here to tell the tale 😉 although I often wonder what the copper and arsenic levels are like in the water flowing down to Yew Tree farm, with that lovely clear blue tint !

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I was told by an old miner that arsenopyrite needs to be refined before it becomes dangerous.

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The Country rock is: - Killas with cleavage dipping South. There's also greenstone intrusions in the area. The rocks from the photograph (as far as I can see) are killas with a few small quartz crystals (xls). The silver metallic that can be found in the majority of specimens would be the arsenopyrite, which as previously stated needs to be refined before it is lethal. Although, the arsenopyrite in its natural state can be dangerous. It will make a child or animal feel sick, and can have long and damaging effects. My advice would be to wash his hands after each time the specimens are handled.
Arsenopyrite cubes can be found on the tips. I've seen cubes almost 2-inches acros each face, although the biggest I've managed to loctae is only 1 inch.
If you would like to know more about the mine in question please Private Message (PM) me. Our club actually use the mine with permission of the estate that own it. The mine is in the process of being gated due to mineral collectors using explosives inside the mine. It is a well-known bat habitat, and Natural England will prosecute if they find anyone in the mine when they shouldn't be.
Regards Tin Miner

Out of interest, prosecute on what grounds?

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/ewd/index.htm 
Look at European protected species.
About time too!

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/ewd/index.htm 
Look at European protected species.
About time too!

Sorry, I still cant see anything that makes it practical to prosecute mine explorers

If the mine's a bat roost and mineral collectors are going in and using chemical crowbar, that will count as disturbing the bats which is certainly enough to get you up before the bench under said act!

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And other Acts!
Ignorance of the Law is not an excuse.
There are mine explorers and mine explorers.
We should all be aware that mines etc are used by bats (particularly for hibernation) and that disturbing them is not good!
This seems to being going off thread!
Do the bats have low level, chronic arsenic poisoning?

If the mine's a bat roost and mineral collectors are going in and using chemical crowbar, that will count as disturbing the bats which is certainly enough to get you up before the bench under said act!

Kindly diferentiate between mine explorers and mineral collectors please :lol:
I'm not to bothered by the bats, I will leave them alone if they leave me alone!
The post refers to prosecution of mine explorers accessing the place without the proper authority, I still dont understand what grounds they can be prosecuted on other that a very flimsy trespass.

Isn't doing anything that "disturbs" bats illegal? I know "disturbs" can be taken to mean plaenty of different things. For instance, around here notices were put up on public footpaths to the effect do not proceed past this point. If you do you will be causing disturbence to Ospreys, which will be reported to North Wales police. On one occasion I walked with a friend up to Moel Fferna via the old mill and the slab quarry along the old trackbed. We had parked by the house where the lane ends. His number must have been taken because a few nights later he got a visit from Her Madjesty's Gestapo wanting to know "about an incident near Llangollen" he had been reported because some birds of prey were nesting in the slab quarry apparantly. He was able to prove why we were walking there (even though it is a public footpath) so no further action was taken.

www.bats.org.uk
www.arborecology.co.uk
Both the above have good pages on bats and the law.
The National Association of Mining History Organisations and The National Caving Association both have Codes of Conduct/Ethics which pertain, in part, to bats.
The Bat Workers' Manual. Mitchell-Jones,McLeish.JNCC. ISBN 1 86107 462X is a comprehensive introduction to the subject.

Interesting reading, however it does not present any reason why mine explores (or cavers for that matter) cannot go about their business in the normal manner.
Simply quietly wandering through a mine in the way the majority of us do should have no impact on bats whatsoever.
As such EN will still only have the power to prosecute for civil trespass (good luck to them) unless great lumps of gate are carved off gaining entry.
Bats are no reason to restrict access. Mineral collectors and explosives is a valid reason.

Its a shame people need to go looking for reasons to gate mines and create access agreements.

I think this paragraph from bats.org.uk might lead to grounds for prosecution.

"Intentionally or recklessly disturb a bat while it is occupying a structure or place that it uses for shelter or protection. ..........Under the Habitats Regulations it is an offence to deliberately disturb a bat (this applies anywhere, not just at its roost)."

As I said in my earlier post, just walking along a nearby public footpath was deemed to be "causing disturbance", as was also the case (although other than advice no action was taken) when we inadvertantly while walking along a public footpath apparantly migt have disturbed a bird of prey.

Most have passed bats by the dozen over the years.
To suddenly consider us a disturbance in ludicrous.
Its not as if the majority of us are lighting fires under them or prodding them with sharp sticks.
That legislation is far to open to interpretation so I personally will interpret to mean I can continue to go where I please
😉

Yes, I agree Jagman, that's the problem - interpretation. The police/courts can make it mean virtually whatever they want. I personally think it is a bloody liberty closing a public footpath just because some birds happen to be nesting somewhere in the area!