Borrowdale Graphite Mine · 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

jonnycarter
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

15 years ago

I am very interested in obtaining some contact details for the Graphite Mine in Borrowdale, Cumbria.

I work as an artist and wish to discuss the possibility of visiting the mine to abstract a pure block of graphite to use in my work.

Any help would be much appreciated. :thumbsup:

Kind Regards

Jonny (Based in Cambridge)

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

SimplyExploring
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

"jonnycarter" wrote:
I am very interested in obtaining some contact details for the Graphite Mine in Burrowdale, Cumbria.

I work as an artist and wish to discuss the possibility of visiting the mine to abstract a pure block of graphite to use in my work.

Any help would be much appreciated. :thumbsup:

Kind Regards

Jonny (Based in Cambridge)

Ive been through the mine on a few occasions, and I can tell u now there is not much in the way of graphite left!

ttxela
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

It is possible to buy blocks of Graphite without mining it yourself!

Not cheap though.

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

Not been yet, but there a trip report about the place here

http://www.rrcpc.org.uk/newsletters/NL_V38_N2_A7.htm

They also make the comment :-

"The one thing you wont find is any Wad - it's all gone!"

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

"christwigg" wrote:
Not been yet, but there a trip report about the place here

http://www.rrcpc.org.uk/newsletters/NL_V38_N2_A7.htm

They also make the comment :-

"The one thing you wont find is any Wad - it's all gone!"

Curiously, one of the documents attached to the mine entry does suggest that there is some graphite left in there...

This may well make an interesting day out for a trip in the spring some time? 🙂

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

RJV
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

"Vanoord" wrote:

This may well make an interesting day out for a trip in the spring some time? 🙂

Like Chris I've not been to the mine itself but I've walked round there a bit. You'll love the walk up from the farm if you go.

Vanoord
54.4% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

I will?

There's more to it than that, isn't there...? 😉

Hello again darkness, my old friend...

RJV
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

Actually no, as long as your not carring the rope it'll be a lovely walk.

superkev
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

Almost 100% certain That seathwaite mine is listed as an SSSI, and would most likely carry a hefty fine for removal of any mineral, resource or rock.
I'm almost sure that I remember taking a picture of the laminated sign last time I was there!

Jimbo
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#10

"Vanoord" wrote:
I will?

There's more to it than that, isn't there...? 😉

Yup, Root loved it when we were there for BB08 ;)

Like simply says though, not much graphite left.

"PDHMS, WMRG, DCC, Welsh Mines Society, Northern Mines Research Group, Nenthead Mines Society and General Forum Gobshite!"

christwigg
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#11

I get the feeling from that first drawing in the trip report that the approach to the mine is a 45 degree slope.

Would certainly like to give it a try this year though, perhaps the guy from Honister can chopper lift us to the top ?

AR
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#12

It is a very steep climb but you get some nice views from the very top. You can still find bits of graphite on the tips but I wouldn't like to speculate on how pure it is and if it is a SSSI then you could get into trouble for taking bits home, not that I've done that in the past 😞

Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!

jonnycarter
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

15 years ago

#13

Thanks for the information people! Much appreciated :flowers:

@ttxela - do you know where you can purchase blocks of graphite? I've tried Derwent Pencil's Cumbria, and various art suppliers but they only buy graphite in powder form - still searching for the source...

Many thanks

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#14

"jonnycarter" wrote:
@ttxela - do you know where you can purchase blocks of graphite? I've tried Derwent Pencil's Cumbria, and various art suppliers but they only buy graphite in powder form - still searching for the source...

Is graphite the stuff in electric motor brushes?
If so you could try motor brush suppliers as there were some pretty large brushes available. (when DC ruled the world).

ttxela
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#15

I believe you can buy sawn blocks of Graphite ready for machining. In the distant past we bought something like this for a project at work. It cost £100 or so for a block a few inches square.

A google search is bound to come up with a supplier.

Jeff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#16

Hi all.
I guess I have been through this mines a couple of dozen times over the years but it was only after I spent 2 days with scientists and B.G.S. geologists during an intensive study of the mine that I became aware there is actually still quite a bit of graphite in the mine...though of course not economic amounts.

The site has a number of protections against removal of minerals etc.

For those interested you can read a paper I wrote about this visit..the results and see photos showing some of the graphite deposits and hand samples.

Download here: http://www.aditnow.co.uk/documents/Borrowdale-Graphite-Mine/Graphite-at-Seathwaite.pdf

The paper is called:
Visit & Analysis of the Borrowdale Graphite Deposit.

Jeff

[tweak]Link made clickable.[/tweak]

carnkie
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#17

Trust this is the correct link Jeff. http://www.aditnow.co.uk/documents/Borrowdale-Graphite-Mine/Graphite-at-Seathwaite.pdf

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

Jeff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#18

Thanks for that crankie
Jeff

Monty Stubble
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#19

There are small pieces of low grade graphite in there - if you know where to look.

You have to remember that when the mine was operating 'wadd; was so fantastically valuable at ine time they had armed guards on the level mouths to stop pilfering.

Consequently it was pretty much picked clean of any decent stuff. I found a couple of walnut sized pieces in the spoil at the bottom of the Grand Pipe. Very impure though but it did make a mark on paper.

The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.
Henry David Thoreau

derrickman
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

15 years ago

#20

there's a widespread misconception regarding the relationship between minerals in their natural state and their refined form.

People rarely understand that production grades usually range from ounces per tonne to single figure percentages at best, and chunks of native metals etc are very rare

plus the 1930s saw a general picking-over of any accessible workings by men with plenty of time, few direct costs and direct experience of what they were looking for.

''the stopes soared beyond the range of our caplamps' - David Bick...... How times change .... oh, I don't know, I've still got a lamp like that.