Day of meet was Sun 5th Oct 2014. Peregrine back again. Getting back to the subject of the crystals stolen from level 2 on the harding vein. We did notice on arrival at the site that the lock was missing from the gate at the bottom, now re-thinking about the matter it sort of ties in with these crystals being stolen. Before we entered the mine we was approached by a part time National parks warden who quizzed us about the lock being missing. I personally go in this mine about 30times a year and I know a lot of people who also enter the mine so I will do my best to get to the bottom of this.
These black quarts crystal are unique to one place in Carrock, they are small points but the black does not rub off and they do look pretty good. The piles of muck containing the scheelite and the wolfram were put there by the last Carrock workers waiting to be dragged along with a scraper shovel powered by a winch to go down the ore shoots. All this was left just as it was when then mine was in use and should have been left for all to see but some people only think of themselves.I do hope people will keep their eyes open and report anything immediately My number is 01282 711893 or 07851 245 286 Gordon (peregrine)

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Isn't access just an Allen key, what lock are you on about?

As someone who has lived on the Caldbecks and collected down there with the miners when it was working - what the hell is the problems with someone collecting a few grubby flamin quartz crystals.... I can't get my head around the pathetic geriatric old farts who call themselves wardens, with nothing better to do than interfere - when the LDNPA are responsible for the wholesale flattening of the site, including the historic old Emerson's stone cabin - they have demonstrated they have no interest in mining - so why would they want to argue about a lock, or a few grotty bits of quartz?

Pissed off Pete

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If you read it right I was referring to the gate at the bottom of the track to the mine not the mine gate. Normally this is always kept locked and the key is leant out to proper organised meets from time to time. I apologise if you misunderstood
Peregrine

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Hi Pete I fully agree with you and everybody should have the right to help themselves to bits of quarts etc. but I was referring to the whole lot being taken from a level they more or less stripped it.
Peregrine

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Hmmm - fair enough - that's not on. I knew of a beautiful cavity of barite in one of the yorkshire mines that was well hidden. I used to take people down and show them -after looking round the cavity in amazement (you could crawl around in it - was so big) - they'd all get a lovely bit, then we'd wall it up again. It had kept friends and mineralogists going since I found it in about 1978. Then about 5 years ago a mine explorer/collector from Weardale found out about it and stripped it in one go. The greed of a few. I guess we all change as we get older - I used to do that sort of thing as a kid - which is how I built a big mineral collection of northern material - I'm now more interested in where it is going to go if I kark it - I dont want them all going overseas to trophy collectors - they need to stay in the north of england where they belong.

Carrock is special - the best mineralogy is behind the slime dam - higher up in the stopes, but probably hidden forever now. Many years ago with Grant and Noel Waller we found native gold, around bismuth cores, and bismuthinite and joseite - fantastic mineralogy. I still have a couple of tiny bits.

Such a pity the LDNPA choose to obliterate mining - it is as much a part of the Caldbecks as the scenery. Thousands of kids learn about geology from bashing rocks and scrabbling around on the dumps - it hurts nobody, but these so called rangers constantly interfere. Thousands of tons weather from the outcrops every year, but woe betide if we hit them with a hammer. It's pathetic.

As for the gate at Carrock - I can't really see why there is one there - does it really achieve anything? I can get the landy round it anyway!:devil:

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Hi Pete Peregrine again, Ill bet I know you I lived in Keswick for 18yrs and knew all the Carrock miners and a few from sandbeds. I knew your 2 mates the Wallers a lot of them are dead now Im sorry to say. Them days I was not interested in collecting in fact most of the miners did' bother either all they wanted was a good pint after work
Regarding coombe height I think you can still get in it from the top shaft (abseiling of coarse) Its on our list as a not too far off trip so If we do get in I will write a blog on it. You are well right about the LDNPA they ruined every mine site in Cumbria and should have never pulled down Emerson' stone building at Carrock mine
Peregrine

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Unfortunately the people who should have stood up for Cumbrian, mining remains and the odd bit of collecting, did not do so at the time and so this mineral ban and no mine
exploration came into being.

We saw a similar potential ban likely to take place at Wanlockhead so we lobbied one the members of the Scottish Parliament who stopped the museum imposing a collecting ban. Although underground exploration, is frowned upon.

One advantage of a devolved administration!

@Peregrine:
I've tracked Grant down - he's living in Devon now, managing a quarry - have his phone number if you like it. Noel still runs a walling company - based down near Barrow I think. I'd love to get an old farts meeting together!

@John:
We just have to hope things quieten down on the fells - less money = less rangers. I helped one of them collect campylite specimens for his son - he said the whole thing was ridiculous in his eyes.. .

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Skippy,


At some stage read the rant in a CAT newsletter, from a ranger. In a national park I woulld admit nothing, to anyone! Underground activity is banned unless authorised, and clearly you are disturbing micro fauna, by moving rocks!
This is one of my concerns about potential Geoparks.

Hi Pete Peregrine again
Could be interested in some of your collection especially any from carrock if or when you want to part with any. I started too late all the good stuff has gone now but you do get a bit of luck sometime.
I was a bricklayer in Keswick we called ourselves Derwent Builders

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The lane gate has a lock on it , I checked last weekend and the ranger responsible assures me t he lock has not been changed , so if it was missing on your trip whoever took it put it back ? the proof will be tomorrow when I'm up there as I have a key for the lane gate padlock if its not been changed then the gate will open if it has been changed then the ranger is in trouble !

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How easy/safe is it to get onto the second level ? My boys and myself have been in here a few times. We've done Smith vein north and east and been as far as the waterfall cross cut on the Harding vein north but haven't been any further yet. The boys want to explore a bit further but I've heard the air is bad in parts of it.

Any info please ?