Fron Oleu · 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

BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

Hi all,

Was having a peruse through National Museum of Wales booklet 'Welsh Minerals' by Bevins and Sharpe, when I came across the occurrence of Brookite - a titanium mineral at Fron Oleu, Tremadoc. Looking at the map, this appears to be between Tremadoc and Prenteg, an area I've previously noted for having some indetreminate scratchings at the base of the rock adjacent to the road, assumed to be for manganese. There is a Fron Oleu slate quarry listed in the mine list here, but nothing for minerals. Is there a specific mine here anyone knows about?

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

davel
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

I've come across mention of Tan'rallt lead mine at SH564404 - see The Gestiana, Robert Isaac Jones as Alltud Eifion (1892), trans. Jack Kidd, ed. Richard Walwyn, 2013 p. 46.

Also, though I'm not sure if it's relevant, I've recently come across what I think may be a very small open working trial (for iron?) in the woods behind the layby on the Tremadog bypass at SH56513977.

Dave

edited to correct grid reference

John Mason
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

The brookite occurred in quartz veins in the cliff - Sir Arthur Russell obtained a haul of specimens in the early 20th century by blasting.

There is an adit in the cliff-base but it does not appear to have been driven on any particular structure.

Mark Lamb
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

Not being an expert (or an amateur, either!) I looked on wikipedia to see what Brookite was. A couple of links took me to:

http://www.mindat.org/loc-4279.html which could be the one you're looking for. Twll Maen Grisial, Fron Olau, Prenteg. SH582410

Regards,

Mark Lamb

BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

Confusingly, a gentleman in Tremadoc has called his house Fron Oleu, and all the google hits go to his house.

BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

Hi Mark,

Yes I think that must be it then. Within a 100m tolerance at any rate. Still, good enough for a gander.

Cheers,

Robin

John Griffiths
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

An article by Tom Cotterell in the Welsh Mines Society newsletter No. 64, Spring 2011 describes Twll Maen Grisial as a dolerite intrusion containing "alpine type" fissure veins filled with quartz, albite, brookite, anatase and rutile. Mineral dealers frequented the site during the 19th century, collecting what were regarded as the finest brookite crystals to be had anywhere in the world. Explosives were used to break the rock, making the outcrop unstable. The site is now inaccessible, with access restricted to prevent rock falls onto the nearby road.

davel
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

9 years ago

"John Griffiths" wrote:
An article by Tom Cotterell in the Welsh Mines Society newsletter No. 64, Spring 2011 describes Twll Maen Grisial ...

http://www.hendrecoed.org.uk/wms/newsletter/64.pdf - see pages 9-11.

Dave

BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

9 years ago

"onto the nearby road" should close it down a bit. I might have a 1/2d on Friday for a wander.

maxpower
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#10

Any luck finding the workings? Stumbled across the same PDF while researching mining sites in the Snowdonia region - very interesting rabbit hole created by lots of misdirection... in order to stop their precious crystals being 'pillaged' by other collectors :lol:

euros
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#11

Twll Maen Grisial= Hole (or Mine) of the Crystal Stone(or Rock)

RAMPAGE
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

7 years ago

#12

Hmmm, that sounds like the mine Pred was talking to me about the other day. I can't remember what he said about it now but I think there was something very usual about it. I'll ask. He knows pretty much everything there is to know about mining and quarrying around Snowdonia...

Beneath my steely exterior beats the heart of a dashing hero

BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

7 years ago

#13

Didn't get back, but given the grid ref, I assume this would be the intrusion mentioned.

https://ibb.co/goY1sc