Hello,

My name is Anya and I am doing a PhD at the University of Bristol on Uranium Ore Geochemistry, I am looking at how the composition and isotope ratios of uranium ore changes across a deposit within a mine and between mines in Cornwall, as well as mines in eastern Europe.

I would like to know if anyone on here has information on Uranium mining in Cornwall I have already extracted quite a few mines from Dines's book that I would like to visit and hopefully collect a few samples from. I'm also interested in surveys of mines containing uranium in the crosscourses.

I am the Secretary of the university of Bristol caving society (UBSS) so I already have all the gear needed for mine exploration.

Cheers,

Anya

You might have equipment for caves BUT
Do you have equipment to visit mines with high Radon content and with Alpha emitting dust particles which can lodge in your lungs?
Think Prince Edward Zawn ! :devil:

If you need to yap radioactives, daughter products etc etc then Stuey is your man on this site. :thumbsup:
Down here in Cornwall Uranium minerals are fairly common with many 'famous' locations, South Terras near St Austell being probably the top of the list.
The spoil heaps have been leveled and grassed over, but still show a more than healthy kick with a Geiger counter.
The adit is open for a short distance and secondary deposits (Torbernite) can sometimes be deen growing on the mud in the adit.
Levels in the adit are pretty high and I believe Stuey went in with BA kit.
There are hot-spots all over the place in west Cornwall and Carbis Bay beach has some remarkable hot-spots.
The joke is it's the only place you can get an all over tan without turning over 😮 .......or taking your clothes off come to that :lol:

This a sample of Torbernite from Sth Terras I collected about 30 years ago.

🔗Personal-Album-342-Image-34712[linkphoto]Personal-Album-342-Image-34712[/linkphoto][/link]

I have a lump of Pitchblende, which I keep outside, and it puts nice shadows on light sensitive photographic printing paper after a 2 day exposure in a light tight box.

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I am in the process of obtaining such equipment, I'm hoping to get hold of a respirator, also have access to a gamma spec and Geiger counter.

Anya

Hi Roy,

I think I may have already been in contact with Stuey if he is the same Stuey on mine-explorer.
Yes it is quite surprising how common these minerals actually are.
Where abouts in South Terras did you collect your Torbernite sample? I have definitely seen that picture somewhere before.

Its really interesting that the Torbernite is precipitating on the mud, uranium is very soluble...

Anya

http://www.dangerouslaboratories.org/rcw5.html 

Note that plan for starters.

We went in "Jem adit" with breathing apparatus on. The adit is gated to stop cows going in there and it's about wellies deep. Off the top of my head, there is a bit of a crank and then you get to a bend where it is on lode. I'd say this was on Uranium Lode. At this point, there was a collapse although it would have been possible to go caving up the hole, but not with BA on. My facemask was not up to scratch and due to this, I couldn't go caving. I would like to go back and climb the stoping with better fitting gear. I think people had been going in there and climbing through the hole probably without BA. I'm not one for method statements and risk assessments, but 18mSv in an hour is pretty full on.

There is some discussion about it here:-

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:eB8WBWwmStQJ:www.aarst.org/proceedings/2001/2001_07_Two_Abandoned_Metalliferous_Mines_in_Devon_and_Cornwall_UK_Radon_Hazards_and_Geology.pdf+south+terras+adit&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESiNjSmXOq21EG3-3l46a9V4TCQ-29NirdvfKMwB0vx6EkWA6n35xJnvIve7I7wSA2EhH8KMzGjB21OvhhC9tFl2vQVwUOPgA8t7nQS6fUsINMvxRTZfLVvNjzdJpdR0DR4VhWG0&sig=AHIEtbSxBo_4Ihf_dDsLkH11b0GTlCvwZw 

I couldn't find any evidence of "new adit". We really looked for it. All the shafts (bar the one with the pumping gear in it) were obscured.

I'd be up for another go at it.

There migjht have been a trial for uranium just off Heather Lane, Cannonstown off the A30.

Lozz.

Plymouth University have been doing some work at South Terras recently, a member of Plymouth Caving Group involved. Think its more about possible future enviromental issues re the dumps.

Probably metatorbenite not torbenite to be precise also metazippeite can be seen.

Anya,

Other places you should look at include:

Tremayne to the NE of St Columb Major which was has two holes into it by the BGS - grading about 800ppm I think but the logs are not public on the BGS website.

Botallack which has large lumps of Uraninite on surface

South Crofty - I've seen +10% U samples in drill core.

Anything Geochemistry related in Cornwall then the oracle will be Dr Charlie Moon as CSoM.

If you are gooing to be in Cornwall then you should stop by our exploration office in Winnards Perch, very close to the Tremayne anomoly - we are more interested in Tin (by far) but always happy to make new acquaintances.

Kind Regards

Mark Thompson.

I used to rent a bit of Jack's unit at Winnard's Perch, behind the "leisure complex". Our big fires used to cause quite a stir!