Log In
Meldon Mine, Okehampton Hamlets, West Devon, Devon, England, UKi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Meldon Mine | Mine (Abandoned) |
| Okehampton Hamlets | Civil Parish |
| West Devon | Borough |
| Devon | County |
| England | Constituent Country |
| UK | Country |
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
50° 42' 26'' North , 4° 1' 40'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
UK National Grid Reference:
SX569917
Type:
Mine (Abandoned) - last checked 2021
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Okehampton | 7,647 (2018) | 3.9km |
| South Zeal | 912 (2018) | 8.4km |
| Exbourne | 358 (2018) | 10.6km |
| Hatherleigh | 1,518 (2018) | 13.1km |
| Beaworthy | 236 (2018) | 13.3km |
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
| Club | Location | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| British Micromount Society, Devon and Cornwall Branch Meetings | Liskeard, Cornwall | 42km |
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Red-a-Ven Mine; Okehampton Wheal Maria; Devon Copper Mine
One of three mines working a broken line of what De la Beche (1839) referred to as tin lodes that ran across Homerton and Longstone Hills. However, these are now considered to be sulphide-rich mineralised beds, rather than being true lodes, and the minerals present are largely copper, iron and arsenic sulphides.
Located on the Red-a-Ven brook above Meldon Aplite Quarry, Meldon Mine was last worked in the 1920s.
Sometimes known locally as Okehampton Wheal Maria or Devon Copper Mine or Red-a-Ven mine, though this is also the name of the mine close by that operated between the aplite quarry and the West Okement River.
NB: Hamilton Jenkin (1981) differs from the above regarding the location of Okehampton Wheal Maria/Devon Copper Mine and makes no mention of a Red-a-Ven mine. Whilst HJ locates Meldon Mine here (SX 570 518), he also notes that a new sett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_sett) known as Devon Copper Mine, previously named Okehampton Wheal Maria, was started in 1863 on the eastern side of the West Okement River. Although a shaft was sunk to 25 fathoms (45.72 m) (18 fathoms/32.92 m below adit), and despite the initial promise, the working was unsuccessful and the machinery and materials were put up for auction in 1866. However, he does not equate Okehampton Wheal Maria/Devon Copper Mine with Meldon Mine and considers the location of the former uncertain.
Dines (1956) makes no mention of Okehampton Wheal Maria, Devon Copper Mine, or Red-a-Ven mine.
Note on the mineral list: Helvine has been removed from the list due to the high probability of fraudulent recording of discovery by A.W.G. Kingsbury.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.Mineral List
20 valid minerals. 2 erroneous literature entries.
Rock Types Recorded
Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Molybdenite | 2.EA.30 | MoS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Löllingite | 2.EB.15a | FeAs2 |
| ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Melanterite | 7.CB.35 | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| ⓘ | Scheelite | 7.GA.05 | Ca(WO4) |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Andradite | 9.AD.25 | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | Grossular | 9.AD.25 | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | Malayaite | 9.AG.15 | CaSn(SiO4)O |
| ⓘ | Datolite | 9.AJ.20 | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| ⓘ | Epidote | 9.BG.05a | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| ⓘ | Vesuvianite | 9.BG.35 | Ca19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9 |
| ⓘ | Hedenbergite | 9.DA.15 | CaFe2+Si2O6 |
| ⓘ | Wollastonite | 9.DG.05 | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| ⓘ | Allophane | 9.ED.20 | (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O |
| ⓘ | Danburite ? | 9.FA.65 | CaB2Si2O8 |
| ⓘ | Helvine ? | 9.FB.10 | Be3Mn2+4(SiO4)3S |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Heulandite Subgroup' | - | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| ⓘ | 'Hornblende Root Name Group' | - | ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| ⓘ | 'Pyroxene Group' | - | ADSi2O6 |
| ⓘ | 'Garnet Group' | - | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | 'Axinite Group' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Allophane | (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O |
| H | ⓘ Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| H | ⓘ Vesuvianite | Ca19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9 |
| H | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Be | Beryllium | |
| Be | ⓘ Helvine | Be3Mn42+(SiO4)3S |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Danburite | CaB2Si2O8 |
| B | ⓘ Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Allophane | (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O |
| O | ⓘ Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Danburite | CaB2Si2O8 |
| O | ⓘ Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | ⓘ Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Hedenbergite | CaFe2+Si2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Helvine | Be3Mn42+(SiO4)3S |
| O | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Malayaite | CaSn(SiO4)O |
| O | ⓘ Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| O | ⓘ Vesuvianite | Ca19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9 |
| O | ⓘ Wollastonite | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| O | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| O | ⓘ Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Vesuvianite | Ca19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Allophane | (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Al | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Al | ⓘ Vesuvianite | Ca19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9 |
| Al | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Allophane | (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O |
| Si | ⓘ Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
| Si | ⓘ Danburite | CaB2Si2O8 |
| Si | ⓘ Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Si | ⓘ Hedenbergite | CaFe2+Si2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Helvine | Be3Mn42+(SiO4)3S |
| Si | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Malayaite | CaSn(SiO4)O |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Vesuvianite | Ca19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9 |
| Si | ⓘ Wollastonite | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| Si | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Pyroxene Group | ADSi2O6 |
| Si | ⓘ Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Helvine | Be3Mn42+(SiO4)3S |
| S | ⓘ Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| S | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Danburite | CaB2Si2O8 |
| Ca | ⓘ Datolite | CaB(SiO4)(OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Hedenbergite | CaFe2+Si2O6 |
| Ca | ⓘ Heulandite Subgroup | (Na/Ca/K)5-6[Al8-9 Si27-28 O72] · nH2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Malayaite | CaSn(SiO4)O |
| Ca | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| Ca | ⓘ Vesuvianite | Ca19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9 |
| Ca | ⓘ Wollastonite | Ca3(Si3O9) |
| Ca | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | ⓘ Helvine | Be3Mn42+(SiO4)3S |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Hedenbergite | CaFe2+Si2O6 |
| Fe | ⓘ Löllingite | FeAs2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Fe | ⓘ Vesuvianite | Ca19Fe3+Al4(Al6Mg2)(◻4)◻[Si2O7]4[(SiO4)10]O(OH)9 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| As | ⓘ Löllingite | FeAs2 |
| Mo | Molybdenum | |
| Mo | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
| Sn | Tin | |
| Sn | ⓘ Malayaite | CaSn(SiO4)O |
| W | Tungsten | |
| W | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
British and Irish IslesGroup of Islands
Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate
- Rheno-Hercynian BeltOrogenic Belt
EuropeContinent
UK
- England
- Cornubian mining districtMining District
- Devon
- Dartmoor National ParkNational Park
- Okehampton Mining DistrictMining District
This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to
visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders
for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.
References
www.jhluxton.com (2020) https://www.jhluxton.com/The-35mm-Film-Archive/Mines-of-Cornwall-and-Devon/Dartmoor-Mining-Miscellany/
spiral.imperial.ac.uk (n.d.) https://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitstream/10044/1/70999/2/CI250%20Geology%20fieldtrip%20paper%20-%20text%20and%20figures%20for%20simplectic%20submission%2027062019.pdf
www.mineralienatlas.de (2021) https://www.mineralienatlas.de/lexikon/index.php/UK/England/Devon%20Co./Okehampton/Meldon%20Mine
www.dartmoor.gov.uk (n.d.) https://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/72177/sheet_3e-b.pdf
www.dartmoor-railway-association.org (n.d.) https://www.dartmoor-railway-association.org/cms/files/Exploring-Meldon.pdf
johnblanchard.net (n.d.) https://johnblanchard.net/index.php/some-sites/226-meldon-aplite-quarry-sssi
webapps.bgs.ac.uk (n.d.) https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/data/britrocks/britrocks.cfc?method=viewSamples&sampleId=121624
Meldon Mine, Okehampton Hamlets, West Devon, Devon, England, UK