Mine Exploration Forum

Author	Moel Meirch
BertyBasset Joined: 13/12/2007 Location: Caernarfon, North Wales View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message	Moel Meirch Posted: 11/07/2019 22:33:59 Reply \| Quote I recently read an interesting article in a WMS newsletter about a 'crystal' mine on Moel Meirch near Nant Gwynant - crystal being gem quality quartz for collectors. Having a browse of the general area on the OS map I notice there are tips and a level at SH 6451 5044, this being some distance from the aforementioned crystal affair. I wonder if it's a slate site along the lines of those at Blaen Nanmor which are in the Cwm Eigiau formation, but this seems to be associated with the Lower Rhyolitic Tuff (difficult to place the precise location of the level from the map), so could be mineral or silica working ? Nothing in AN dB. Might be a Friday afternoon option if it's not chucking it down. Robin IP: 86.163.239.116
JonK Joined: 24/01/2008 Location: Yorkshire View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message	Moel Meirch Posted: 12/07/2019 07:56:09 Reply \| Quote Robin The 6 inch maps shows the woods below as "Hone Quarry Wood" which might give a clue. Having been up Moel Meirch from the Nant Gwynant side in wet summer weather I remember getting soaked to the skin flogging up through neck deep bracken - enjoy! Jon IP: 109.145.129.190
BertyBasset Joined: 13/12/2007 Location: Caernarfon, North Wales View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message	Moel Meirch Posted: 12/07/2019 13:56:25 Reply \| Quote Ah. That might be an autumn option then. Don't fancy picking up ticks from foliage. Cheers, Robin IP: 185.19.209.50
davel Joined: 24/07/2007 Location: Gwynedd View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message	Moel Meirch Posted: 12/07/2019 23:28:48 Reply \| Quote This seems to be the same site as the one Gwynfor Pierce Jones and Alun John Richards name as Nantgwynant (Cwm Gwyrfai, 2004, p. 204). They give the grid reference as SH645505? (note question mark), which is marked as "Tip" on the Defra's "Magic Map". The authors say that the site may be one of Alan Searell's trials for slate and suggest that hones were produced there. They describe it as "Excavation and spoil heap". Dave IP: 80.47.200.145
davel Joined: 24/07/2007 Location: Gwynedd View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message	Moel Meirch Posted: 13/07/2019 12:42:30 Reply \| Quote BertyBasset wrote: I recently read an interesting article in a WMS newsletter about a 'crystal' mine on Moel Meirch near Nant Gwynant - crystal being gem quality quartz for collectors. I think the mine that Berty refers to is at SH65665017 – see Welsh Mines Society Newsletter 53 p. 21 and 55 p. 38. On the subject of rock crystal collecting/mining in north Wales and Wales generally, there were items in the WMS newsletters 55 p. 39, 57 p. 34, 61 p. 21 and 64 p. 9. Dave IP: 80.47.200.145
BertyBasset Joined: 13/12/2007 Location: Caernarfon, North Wales View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message	Moel Meirch Posted: 14/07/2019 17:39:38 Reply \| Quote Thanks Dave. I'll have a look at those issues. IP: 86.149.232.15
MomJanCool Joined: 18/09/2019 View Profile View Posts View Personal Album View Personal Files View all Photos Send Private Message	Moel Meirch Posted: 18/09/2019 16:22:14 Reply \| Quote Hi - I know the site that you are looking for - I was taken to see it way back around 1960 - when I was just a wee lass. It is NOT the hone quarry - it is actually a cave in volcanic ash and breccia, with 2 small entrances, and the inside is about the same as being inside a small car. It used to be completely lined with beautiful long quartz crystals, but but by the time that I got to see it then had just about all been stripped out - there will be non left by now! (It does have some connection in local legend with the crystal cave where the priestess Nimue entraped Merlin in his old age.. I can't remember the exact location ( I was taken there by a local farmer who was then in his 70's but who could still leave me standing as he shot up the hills!) I do remember that it was high on Moel Meirch, and we approached from the Edno river... IP: 146.200.173.169

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