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Wherry Mine, Wherrytown, Penzance, Cornwall, England, UKi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Wherry Mine | Mine (Flooded) |
| Wherrytown | Residential Area |
| Penzance | Civil Parish |
| Cornwall | County |
| England | Constituent Country |
| UK | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
50° 6' 36'' North , 5° 32' 20'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
UK National Grid Reference:
SW470294
Type:
Mine (Flooded) - last checked 2019
Köppen climate type:
The Wherry mine was situated 240 yards out to sea at Wherry Town, on the southern edge of Penzance. The shaft was sunk on a mineralized dyke of 'elvan' (quartz-feldspar porphyry) which ran parallel to the shore and exposed only during low tides.
The mine was sunk by Thomas Curtis, a poor 57-year old miner who devoted three years from about 1778 to the effort, working during the summer to build a wooden coffer 25 inches square and 20 feet tall to exclude the water before sinking a shaft. Curtis died in 1791 by which time the mine had begun making a good profit.
During operation a steam engine on land operated pumps by a system of flat rods carried on a trestle bridge to the coffer.
The mine was destroyed in 1798 when an American ship, adrift in a storm, demolished the trestles and coffer, later efforts to re-open the mine failed - the Wherry mine was almost certainly the only mine ever to have been destroyed by a shipwreck!
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
19 valid minerals.
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:
| ⓘ Actinolite Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Alloclasite Formula: Co1-xFexAsS |
| ⓘ Alunogen Formula: Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| ⓘ Arsenopyrite Formula: FeAsS References: |
| ⓘ 'Axinite Group' |
| ⓘ Cassiterite Formula: SnO2 References: |
| ⓘ Chalcocite Formula: Cu2S |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 References: |
| ⓘ 'Chlorite Group' References: |
| ⓘ Cobaltite Formula: CoAsS |
| ⓘ Epidote Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| ⓘ Erythrite Formula: Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS |
| ⓘ Graphite Formula: C |
| ⓘ Ilmenite Formula: Fe2+TiO3 |
| ⓘ 'K Feldspar' |
| ⓘ 'K Feldspar var. Adularia' Formula: KAlSi3O8 |
| ⓘ Orthoclase Formula: K(AlSi3O8) |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Skutterudite Formula: CoAs3 References: |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS References: |
| ⓘ 'Tourmaline' Formula: AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ Uraninite Formula: UO2 |
| ⓘ Uraninite var. Pitchblende Formula: UO2 References: |
| ⓘ 'Wad' |
| ⓘ 'Wad var. Cobalt-bearing Wad' |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Graphite | 1.CB.05a | C |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Alloclasite | 2.EB.10b | Co1-xFexAsS |
| ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
| ⓘ | Cobaltite | 2.EB.25 | CoAsS |
| ⓘ | Skutterudite | 2.EC.05 | CoAs3 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Ilmenite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2+TiO3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Cassiterite | 4.DB.05 | SnO2 |
| ⓘ | Uraninite var. Pitchblende | 4.DL.05 | UO2 |
| ⓘ | 4.DL.05 | UO2 | |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Alunogen | 7.CB.45 | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Erythrite | 8.CE.40 | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Epidote | 9.BG.05a | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| ⓘ | Actinolite | 9.DE.10 | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Orthoclase | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'K Feldspar var. Adularia' | - | KAlSi3O8 |
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Tourmaline' | - | AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ | 'Wad' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'K Feldspar' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Axinite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Wad var. Cobalt-bearing Wad' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| H | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | ⓘ Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Graphite | C |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
| O | ⓘ Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| O | ⓘ Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| O | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | ⓘ Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| O | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Uraninite var. Pitchblende | UO2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| O | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
| Al | ⓘ Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| Al | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
| Si | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Alloclasite | Co1-xFexAsS |
| S | ⓘ Alunogen | Al2(SO4)3 · 17H2O |
| S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | ⓘ Cobaltite | CoAsS |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ K Feldspar var. Adularia | KAlSi3O8 |
| K | ⓘ Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Alloclasite | Co1-xFexAsS |
| Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Co | Cobalt | |
| Co | ⓘ Alloclasite | Co1-xFexAsS |
| Co | ⓘ Cobaltite | CoAsS |
| Co | ⓘ Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| Co | ⓘ Skutterudite | CoAs3 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Alloclasite | Co1-xFexAsS |
| As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| As | ⓘ Cobaltite | CoAsS |
| As | ⓘ Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| As | ⓘ Skutterudite | CoAs3 |
| Sn | Tin | |
| Sn | ⓘ Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| U | Uranium | |
| U | ⓘ Uraninite var. Pitchblende | UO2 |
| U | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
British and Irish IslesGroup of Islands
Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate
- Rheno-Hercynian BeltOrogenic Belt
EuropeContinent
UK
- England
- Cornwall
- Mount's Bay Mining DistrictMining District
- Devon and Cornwall metalliferous mining districtMining District
- Cornwall
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Wherry Mine, Wherrytown, Penzance, Cornwall, England, UK