Number of working underground mines in the UK

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simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

6 years ago

As the subject line, anybody have an inkling how many there are actually are? Actually working rather than proposed.

There are apparently 2,000 working mines and quarries, but the quarries form the vast majority of that.

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

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simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration Topic Starter

6 years ago

"The Fresh Prince of Portreath" wrote:
You'd be better off stating the number of share pumping schemes.

That's why I said working. Just trying to get an idea of those currently working in addition to the 12 to 14 currently proposed / financing / in planning / in development.

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

staffordshirechina
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

Even then, not all "working mines" are actually mining anything...

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

"The Fresh Prince of Portreath" wrote:
You'd be better off stating the number of share pumping schemes.

:lol::lol::lol:

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Bill L
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

Legally all 'tourist mines' are working mines

Blober
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

"The Fresh Prince of Portreath" wrote:
Then a working mine like geevor wouldn't allow the local caving club up it's adit and when they made it very very secure like they have to, the local caving club wouldn't have keys and treat it like their own playground. ;)

There are mines in Cornwall? 😮

FILTH - Think this is a playground? Think again...

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

"The Fresh Prince of Portreath" wrote:
Then a working mine like geevor wouldn't allow the local caving club up it's adit and when they made it very very secure like they have to, the local caving club wouldn't have keys and treat it like their own playground. ;)

Oh Wales, the Land of the Free. Come to NAMHO 2019 and enjoy. As seen on T.V.
:lol:

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Dr J
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

Steering back on topic :tongue: answer probably best if listed, so, to start (ignoring tourist mines and purely as sites where resource being physically extracted):

Milldam Fluorspar

Fauld Gypsum

Marbleagis/Silver Seal Gypsum

Barrow-on-Soar Gypsum

Kirby Thore Gypsum

Boulby Salt/Potash

Winsford Salt

Foss Baryte

Honister Slate

Hartham Park/Pickwick Freestone

Park Lane Freestone

Limpley Stoke Freestone

Westwood Freestone (technically active?)

Elm Park Freestone (possibly mothballed?)

Jordans Portland Stone

Bowers Portland Stone

Perryfields Portland Stone

Clearwell Iron Ochre/Pigment?

Collyweston Slate

Carrickfergus Salt

Cavanacaw Gold

...

Over-ground, underground, wombling free...

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

Brightling gypsum

crickleymal
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#10

Forest of Dean free mines. Currently the largest active coalfield in the UK (so one of the miners told me). I think there are about 4 being worked on an ad hoc basis.

Malc.
Rusted and ropey, Dog eared old copy
Vintage and classic or just plain Jurassic
All words to describe me.

TheBogieman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#11

Add MilwrTunnel (Halkyn)

Technically not a working mine anymore - just a water source for industry on Deeside, NE Wales, but sections are declared a working mine periodically when the tunnel requires maintenance to keep the water flowing.

Clive

Explorans ad inferos

staffordshirechina
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#12

Does water count as a resource?
What about care and maintenance mines?

Just askin!

Dr J
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#13

I was going purely on locations where resource being physically extracted/excavated, and removed as product, so not water. By same definition nor would mines under care and maintenance, as otherwise fair few more to add to the list! Likewise, didn't include mines under development,-Woodsmith, Stonehills.

Or Crofty, which just comes under entirely category of yes but no but maybe, possibly perhaps, we've dug a few more tunnels anyway!

Over-ground, underground, wombling free...

staffordshirechina
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#14

OK, I agree in many ways.
We've just been caring, maintaining and pumping water for the last 35 years.
We still have the HSE on our backs too!

DaveM
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#15

The Brightling gypsum mine in East Sussex must be huge by now, its been operating for decades, I've never seen a plan of it but the workings should be very extensive and cover quite a large area.

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#16

A bit of info on Brightling.

https://apps.eastsussex.gov.uk/environment/planning/applications/register/documents/datawright%20saved%20documents/scannedinfo/planning/mr-16/appendix%20d%20visitors%20guide/a%20visitors%20guide%20to%20brightling%20mine [1].pdf

somersetminer
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#17

"Dr J" wrote:
Steering back on topic :tongue: answer probably best if listed, so, to start (ignoring tourist mines and purely as sites where resource being physically extracted):

...

Elm Park is stopped.

Lochaline Silica is being worked,
you also have Aberpergwm and Cononish coming on now.
Would be interested to hear what is happening with Foss Barytes new underground project Duntanlich.

Ty Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#18

Don`t forget Danygraig No4 in Crynant,still raising about 80ton per week,mainly for filtration.

There seems to be a gagging order on Aberpergwm,no news coming out,lol,as its back to the original private owner.

darkmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#19

Is anything happening at Unity ?

Ty Gwyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

6 years ago

#20

Nothing at all.