Mine exploration, photographs and mining history for mine explorers, industrial archaeologists, researchers and historians aditnow.co.uk
Devon Great Consols Copper Mine (United Kingdom)
Includes the mines of Wheal Maria, Wheal Fanny, Wheal Anna Maria, Wheal Josiah, Wheal Emma, which lie from west to east along the main lode and were the principal sources of firstly copper then arsenic in the latter days. Wheal Frementor, Watson's Mine and Bedford United Mine all lie south of the main lode, Frementor (also called Framator) was mined latterly for tin in the most part and did not finally close until 1930.
Ref: Richardson P.H.G. (1991) Mines of Dartmoor & the Taymar Valley after 1913, Devon Books, Tiverton.
Despite earlier attemps the mine did not become a going concern until Josiah Hitchins took up a lease in 1844. The lode was struck just 4 fathoms below the bottom of the previous working in Gard's Shaft at the western end of the sett. Within 6 months and at only 28 fathoms in depth this shaft was 'cutting yellow ore from corner to corner' and in March alone 810 tons of ore was sold.
For the year of 1845 £72,704 profit was divided.
When wheal Fanny was started in 1845 the lode was cut only 3 fathoms below the surface.
In March of 1856 with the lode being worked on its full length from Wh Maria to Wh Emma 3389 tons of ore were sampled, an all time record for Cornwall. The 1856 year total was 28,836 tons. The only limiting factor on output was transport and storage to the quays at Morwellham.
By 1860 the lode at Anna Maria was up to 45 feet wide and yielding up to 80 tons per fathom.
By 1870 refined arsenic was also being produced from arsenopyrite deposits up to 6 feet thick which lined the copper lode and had previously been left in place as having no value. The mine produced over half the British output and only limited output to avoid depressing the world market price.
By 1880 the copper boom was over. Arsenic production sustained the mine for another 20 years until the original compsny folded in 1901.
The overall output from 1844 to 1902 had been 736,229 tons copper ore sold for £3,473,046 and 72,279 tons refinec arsenic for £625,062.
As a means of estimating current worth, miners wages were then 'a few shillings a week'. So even if you multiply the above figures by 100x you still probably have a very low estimate of the value today.
From 'The Mines of East Cornwall and West Devon, D.B. Barton, 1964.
Latest Documents for Devon Great Consols Copper Mine
|
Devon Great Consols letter 1925 General Interest / 792Kb Last modified 17/02/2009 18:21:19 by mikebee62. |
Documents are available as Adobe PDF files. If you do not have the Adobe PDF reader simply click on the PDF logo to download it free of charge.Photo Albums for Devon Great Consols Copper Mine
Devon Great Consols Archive Album You are welcome to use this album for uploading archive or historical photographs of Devon Great Con...
Last modified 25/08/2011 08:07:50 by RogF.
Devon Great Consols User Album You are welcome to use this album for uploading photographs of Devon Great Consols.
Last modified 28/09/2010 11:44:51 by DougCornwall.Google Earth Map of Devon Great Consols Copper Mine
To view the Google Map for this mine please log in or register an account.
Click here to discuss Devon Great Consols Copper Mine in the forum.
The correct forum will be automatically selected.
There are no events currently planned.
Add an Event
If you would like to visit Devon Great Consols Copper Mine then click here to add an event to the calendar.
If you worked or work at Devon Great Consols why not share that information with other AditNow members?
Add Yourself
If you would like to share your photographs and documents please use the links below:
Upload a Document
Post a Sticky (Note)
Discuss in Forum
You must be logged in to access your Favourite Mines/Quarries.
Please log in or register an account.
To view the grid reference for this mine please log in or register an account.
Bedford United Copper Mine
Bramble Mixed Mine
Chilsworthy Mixed Mine
Clitters United Mixed Mine
Combe Vale Consols Copper Mine
Devon Great United Mixed Mine
Dimson Mixed Mine
Ding Dong Copper Mine
East Gunnislake Mixed Mine
East Tincroft Mixed Mine
Great Duchy Consols Mixed Mine
Greenhill Works Arsenic Factory
Gunnislake Clitters Mixed Mine
Hawkmoor Mixed Mine
Hingston & Clitters Mixed Mine
Hingston Down Granite Quarry
Hingston Down Consols Mixed Mine
Latchly Consols Mixed Mine
Luscombe Copper Mine
New Cornish Mixed Mine
New Cornwall Consols Mixed Mine
New Devon Consols Mixed Mine
Old Gunnislake Copper Mine
Old Gunnislake Mixed Mine
Pearson's Granite Quarry
River Tamar Cu Copper Mine
Roundabarrow Mixed Mine
South Bedford Copper Mine
South Devon Mixed Mine
South Wheal Josiah Mixed Mine
South Wheal Maria Mixed Mine
South Williams Mixed Mine
Watson's Copper Mine
West Devon Consols Mixed Mine
West Hawkmoor Mixed Mine
Wheal Emma (Gulworthy) Copper Mine
Wheal Fanny (Gulworthy) Copper Mine
Wheal Fremator Copper Mine
Wheal Frementor Wolframite Mine
Wheal Josiah Copper Mine
Wheal Maria Copper Mine
Williams Mixed Mine
Change view area
If you have any questions at all about mine exploration or the AditNow web site please get in touch:
info@aditnow.co.uk
Spotted any problems with the web site, or any inaccuracies or errors in the information on here? Please let us know:
info@aditnow.co.uk
