Conwy Mountain - Sychnant Pass · AditNow Community

Mine exploration, photographs and mining history for mine explorers, industrial archaeologists, researchers and historians

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

TheBogieman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

Yesterday afternoon, took avoiding action for a massive queue for Conwy Tunnel on the A55 (and looked like through the Junction / I Conwy Bridge) so went over the Sychnant for the first time in many years.

Looking to the right soon after starting down (by the echoing wall - if you know that) I espied what looked like a couple of adits in the near vertical cliff face across the valley on the Conwy Mountain side.

Any thoughts, anyone taken a look?

Clive

Explorans ad inferos

Wanna join the discussion?! Login to your AditNow Community forum account or Register a new forum account

BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Can't say I've noticed those. There is an obvious one near the bottom of the valley up a steep slope above the house near the junction to Dwygyfylchi. And I've spotted one further round to the west (as spied from the hill above Fairy Glen)

The rock is rhyolite around there, but there is a more crystalline igneous intrusion to the north which has been quarried above the A55. Not sure what you'd expect to find there apart from a lot of silica rich rock.

Robin

RAMPAGE
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

I know there are some lead trials on Conwy Mountain, but not sure if they are the ones you refer to.

Not a particularly helpful response I know but I guess someone, at some point, thought there might be some lead there. Might have been a fraudulent promotion like Klondike.

Beneath my steely exterior beats the heart of a dashing hero

danswift
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

I know the one you mean, looks like a bit of a mission to get to it, probably abseil from the top. My lad always points it out too :lol:

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

There are various odd minor mineral occurrences in the Penmaenmawr area - wasn't there a level for asbestos on the north-facing side? Foster-Smith notes nothing north of Trecastell but as his desk top reconnaissance seems to have been based on 1:25,000 OS maps, he inevitably missed some outlying trials.

I can't see anything marked on six inch maps on the NLS website but noticed a level that appeared for the first time on the 1911 edition, located about 100m east of Castell Caer Lleion, the hillfort on the summit of Conwy Mountain, which appears to have lain at the east end of a tramway and incline system. It lies on the north side of the mountain, only perhaps 75ft below the summit ridge to judge from the contours on the 1948 edition six inch map. Does anyone know anything about it?

TheBogieman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

Think Ian Adams and UCET have been to the level near the summit. IIRC, I think they found it to be a short trial level.

Because that apparent adit on the side of the Sychnant looks almost an impossibility to work off the almost vertical face, I wondered whether it might have been worked thro' from somewhere else on the mountain for drainage / ventilation. Certainly seems an odd one. SRT gear to reach on the outside!!

Explorans ad inferos

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Thanks for information!

Ian A
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Yes, we had a peep ....

;)

Ian

A door, once opened, may be stepped through in either direction.

Graigfawr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Many thanks!

Unusually commodious level.

Not completely clear what the mineralisation is - suggest you pm John Mason.

rhychydwr
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#10

"Ian A" wrote:
Yes, we had a peep ....

;)

Ian

I really like Ian's videos. Must start a fan club 😮

Cutting coal in my spare time.

droid
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#11

Soundtrack is good. One of those choons I should know, but don't.

Ian?

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

8 years ago

#12

Crockett's Theme... Get your Miami Vice boxset out and party like its 1987 🙂

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

JohnnearCfon
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#13

I was trying to think what it was too. It was familiar but couldn't quite place it. :thumbsup:

BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#14

I'd be very surprised if the adits were for actual proven metal.

There are analogues driven in rhyolite on the Jubilee Path at Foel Lus.

John Mason
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#15

There is some manganese oxide mineralisation up there. I have a piece somewhere here that Dave Jenkins gave me years ago. Looks visually similar to that stuff around the Arenigs (e.g. Mynydd Nodol).

BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#16

Hmm, interesting. Mynydd Nodol mineralisatioin felsitic tuff, so not too unlike rhyolite. That adit near the Dwygyfylchi junction does have some dark spoil.

John Mason
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#17

These oxide ores were likely formed in deep tropical weathering in the super-greenhouse climate of the early Cenozoic. The distinctive thing with that kind of weathering is completely pervasive bleaching of wall-rocks to pinkish or buff shades instead of the usual greeny grey of most N Wales rocks. Another similar occurrence (but iron dominated) is SW of Sygun - the path up to Llwyndu comes close to the workings getting towards the top of the main slope. Drosgol and Llettyhen in Central Wales are also in this class of deposits.