Brow Head Mine (Mullavoge Mine), Mizen Peninsula, Cork County, Munster, Irelandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Brow Head Mine (Mullavoge Mine) | Mine |
| Mizen Peninsula | Peninsula |
| Cork County | County |
| Munster | Province |
| Ireland | Country |
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Schull | 658 (2013) | 17.3km |
| Castletownbere | 912 (2017) | 24.2km |
| Ballydehob | 271 (2017) | 24.4km |
| Durrus | 334 (2017) | 25.0km |
| Baltimore | 347 (2015) | 28.0km |
Brow Head Mine (Mallavoge or Mullavoge Mine; Browhead Copper Mine; "Mallavoge (Brown Head)" in Griffith's list of 1861, a misprint) is an abandoned copper mine on the cliff-top at the tip of the Brow Head peninsula, in the townland of Mallavoge, 3 km south-west of Crookhaven village and 3.5 km east of Mizen Head, one of the most southerly points of Ireland.[1] It worked a bed-like lode about ten feet thick of grey, purple, yellow and peacock copper ore on the same strike as the Crookhaven lodes, by three cliff-face adits, a shaft driven sixty fathoms down the dip of the lode and a sea-level level with a winze seventeen fathoms below the beach.[2] A private partnership headed by Sir William Brougham and Samuel Hyde opened it in 1852, sold 59 tons of 12–14 % ore for £855 in 1853–54, and after a contentious break the mine was "robbed" of its rich pockets by Captain Penrose and John Roberts in 1859, the year of its recorded peak of 179 tons; the Brow Head Company held it in 1862–65, John Pascoe managed it in 1864, and the West British Development Syndicate and Browhead Copper Mines Ltd of Liverpool reopened it in 1906–10, shipping two tons of 22 % ore.[3]
The ore lay in an east-pitching chute some 300 feet long, whose sales were put at £7,000; the mineralogical interest is the bornite ("erubescite", "purple ore") with chalcopyrite and malachite, of which the 1932 survey found "beautiful specimens" on the cliff-top dressing floor, and museum bornite that assayed 24.5 and 42.6 oz of silver per ton.[4] The site was surveyed for the EPA/GSI historic-mine inventory in 2007 and scored 1 (Class V); the miners' terrace, magazine, reservoir, dressing floor and two shafts survive on the headland, and the adits are open but reachable only by rope.[5]
Location and access
The mine lies immediately north of Brow Head, "the cape at the S.E. of Barley Cove", on 6-inch sheet Cork 152 NW and 1-inch sheet 204; the Geological Survey's mine index gives the grid reference 077E 025N and the EPA survey the Irish Grid position E 77247 N 23592 in Mallavoge townland.[6] Cole placed it 2.5 miles south-west of the Crookhaven mine "on the same line of strike"; Daly put it "near the extreme point of Browhead, and about 1.5 miles from the deep-water port of Crookhaven".[7] It is reached by a 0.5 km walking track running south along the peninsula from the end of the sealed road, which stops immediately north of the old signal tower on the summit; the main part of the site is on the cliff edge at the end of the peninsula but it extends 400 m inland, largely under grass and bog.[8]
The most prominent feature is a small two-storey terrace of three houses, including the mine manager's house and counting house, with the ruins of miners' cottages and an engine house nearby, a gunpowder house or magazine close to the cliff, and north of the terrace a large flat low-walled area that served as a reservoir, linked by a still-discernible sluice to two smaller walled areas that may have been processing ponds; O'Sullivan measured the man-made lagoon at about one acre.[9] Two shafts are visible: the eastern main shaft, open to at least 5 m and then water-filled, with its fence breached, and a second fenced shaft with subsidence around it; three adits open in the cliff face.[10] A 1906 prospectus map shows the engine house beside the reservoir with a "power line" running to the mine entrance, and the offices, dwelling houses, storehouses, waterwheel-driven crusher, reservoirs, dressing floors and roads described in 1872.[11] The ground is private; the shafts are fenced and the cliff adits should not be entered without ropes and an experienced team.[12]
Brow Head mine location identifiers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Geology
The copper and barite mines of West Cork are hosted by the Old Red Sandstone succession of the Munster Basin, deposited in a half-graben and later uplifted and folded into east-north-east-trending anticlines that form the peninsulas; the Brow Head deposit is hosted by the Toe Head Formation, a series of cross-bedded sandstones and minor mudstones, 4 km south-west along strike from the Crookhaven mine.[13] Kinahan described the worked lode as "about ten feet thick", hading north-east at 43°, with "a little on the N. of the lode ... a bed impregnated with gray ore", and Cole summarised it as "the inclined bed being proved down its dip for a distance of 60 fathoms".[14]
Duffy in 1932 saw the ore as "a number of irregular pockets strung together by thin streaks of ore in the direction of strike of the beds" in "contorted, quartz-invaded grits", with beds of grey grit stained with green carbonate of copper 200 yards north and 100 yards south of the mine, three thin cupriferous grit beds with quartz strings south-west of Kelly's drive, and further stained beds at Coosdaff in the south-east corner of the townland.[15] Holmes described the ore as occurring "in the form of chutes", almost all pitching east at a flat angle, in a "quartzite lode formation", the main pay-chute or "bonanza" of the old workings pitching east at 30°.[16] The 1987 drill section for Europa Minerals shows sandstones and shale-mudstones with chlorite, pyrite and mica, and bornite in green and purple varieties.[17]
The Mining Journal's earliest notices already describe the setting: in 1853 "the strata is principally clay-slate, with beds or layers of slaty elvan, twisted and contorted" about Barley Cove, one of the "seams of slaty elvan" at the base of the cliff taking "the form of an inverted cone", and in 1858 "the formation of this headland consists of clay-slate and beds of sandstone, which are curiously twisted and contorted", the ore being "found in detached masses, in contact with elvan formations, and not in continuous veins".[18]
Lodes and ore shoots
Only one lode was worked, on the same strike as the four Crookhaven lodes; Kinahan recorded that Captain Roberts, working it by tribute in 1860, found that at thirty fathoms' perpendicular depth "it seemed to be changing into a 'good yellow stone'", and that "a shaft has been driven down the lode for sixty fathoms, proving it for a perpendicular depth of thirty fathoms or twenty fathoms below the adit level".[19]
Daly's longitudinal section of 1917 showed "a defined chute of ore pitching east at an angle of 30 degrees", stoped above the upper and No. 1 levels and for some depth below the latter, from which copper ore "to the approximate value of £7,000" had been stoped over a length of 300 feet under John Pascoe in 1864; the last company had not carried No. 2 level far enough east to intersect it.[20] Holmes's new work east of the main adit consisted of drives A to D and cross-cuts 1 to 3: drive A followed a vein in the quartzite lode formation from which a two-ton trial parcel assayed 21.92 % copper and 14 oz of silver per ton; drive B was in barren country; the lode was recovered by No. 1 cross-cut and followed in drives C and D, where a chalcopyrite vein on the footwall gave three tons of 10 % ore and passed east into "generally mineralised" ground with bornite replacing chalcopyrite in the roof.[21] Galley Cove, a mile to the north-east, has cliffs stained with green carbonate where copper ore was also found and proved half a mile farther north-east.[22]
The Mining Journal's correspondents counted more lodes than were worked. Brenton Symons in 1865 saw "several lodes to be seen here on the cliffs, one of which may be traced from its base to 300 feet in height, and on which a shaft has been sunk about 15 fathoms under the sea, the attle and ore having been drawn up the face of the cliff for 48 fathoms"; the special correspondent of 1875 spoke of a "centre lode" on which adits could be driven to over 60 fathoms without machinery; a son of Captain Penrose wrote the same year that his father had taken £9,000 of copper "from one lode", that "there are four other lodes of most magnificent indications", and that "a proposed engine-shaft was sunk on the Champion lode and at the depth of 2 fms the lode produced half-a-ton of grey and yellow ore to the fathom, impregnated with silver. This lode is 12 ft wide, and at the time the mine was stopped was only 2 fms in depth; on the three other lodes nothing whatever has been done"; and William Thomas in 1880 put it that the mine, "though possessing three or four veins likely to produce mineral in quantity, only one has been tested".[23]
Mineralogy
The miners' ores were "gray, purple, yellow, and peacock copper ore", that is tetrahedrite-group grey copper, bornite, chalcopyrite and tarnished bornite or chalcopyrite; the 1906–17 reports single out "very rich erubescite" (bornite) in short disconnected veins and in the roof of drive D, and the EPA summary gives the lode as bornite, malachite and quartz with good chalcopyrite ore mined to 30 fathoms.[24]
Duffy found the cliff-face drivings on "a grit bed highly stained with green carbonate of copper" and "beautiful specimens of chalcopyrite and bornite ... near the old dressing floor on the top of the cliff", with malachite and purple copper ore in the grits south of Coosdaff.[25] Two University College Cork specimens assayed in 1963 gave more than 35 % copper each with 42.6 oz of silver per ton (bornite with malachite, UCC 6) and 24.5 oz per ton (bornite with quartz, UCC 7), and the 1906 trial parcel carried 14 oz of silver per ton.[26]
The 1987 drill core logged bornite, chlorite, pyrite and mica; a black carbon-like material dripped onto the floor of the Roe Brothers level was sampled for the Mining Heritage Trust in 2005–06.[27] Sir Arthur Russell's collection at the Natural History Museum, London, holds three bornites registered from "Brow Head mine (Mullavoge), Crookhaven" (BM 1964R,00630 to 00632).[28] The EPA in-situ analyses of the waste gave copper of 52 to 2,580 mg/kg with lead not above 65 mg/kg, arsenic not above 32 mg/kg and barium not above 442 mg/kg.[29]
The Mining Journal supplies the contemporary descriptions. At the Crookhaven sale of October 1855 the auctioneer produced "some splendid specimens of copper ore from the Brow Head Mine adjoining, taken out of the 53 fm level, and containing 60 per cent of copper", worth "from £40 to £50 per ton" against £4 or £5 for Cornish ores, and the Swansea sale of June 1855 included 1 ton 3 cwt of Brow Head prills at £46 3s a ton; the former manager's son recalled that ton in 1875 as "producing 35 ozs of silver".[30]
George Henwood, standing on the cliff in 1859, admired "the long streaks of green carbonate of copper and red oxide of iron exuding from the cliff" and quoted a Cornish authority's "Well, if ever Tresavean was rich, its match is here", which a correspondent called hyperbole; the ore was "of the rich purple and grey kinds" above sea level "but in the winze below there are fine specimens of rich yellow ore" (1872), "exceedingly rich, consisting of the purple and grey kinds, with malachite, &c., and requires but little dressing to yield from 20 to 25 per cent of pure copper" (1875), and "the true Erubescite variegated copper ore, containing 50 per cent copper; this, however, gave way [to] copper pyrites, yellow copper ore in the deepest working" (Thomas Tonkin, 1878).
William Thomas's survey of the district's ores in 1880 lists Browhead among the localities of erubescite (bornite) and, with Skull Bay, of "Tetrahedrite, grey copper ore ... also silver", and describes the outcrop in the cliff as "very beautiful, as green carbonate of copper and azurite are seen to tinge the gangue and containing strata"; a note of 1882 names Browhead with Cosheen and Colleras among the district's silver-bearing copper ores.[31]
History
Griffith's map of 1855 and list of 1861 record the mine as "Mallavoge (Brown Head)", and Kinahan in 1860 found it "formerly worked" and then being worked by Captain Roberts on tribute.[32] The operation which began in 1852 is ascribed by Cowman and Reilly to a private partnership comprising, among others, Sir William Brougham and the London businessman Samuel Hyde, later the owner of Ballycummisk and Coosheen; "splendid copper ores" were reported and 59 tons of good 12–14 % ore were sold during the next two years for £855, but later in 1854 the Dublin correspondent of the Mining Journal called Brow Head "a take of herrings", "rather queer as to returns and prospects", "a three horse mine" and "split into branches and also the staff", though the Mining Journal records Swansea sales of 21 tons 6 cwt at £22 3s 6d and 1 ton 3 cwt at £46 3s in June 1855 and of 15 tons in July 1857, and Captain Penrose was already "of the Brow Head Mine" in February 1857.[33]
Mining stopped in 1857 and was resumed in 1858 "in contentious circumstances": one partner bought out the others (a letter of 1875 from Penrose's son says a shareholder "largely engaged in American railways" bought "the whole concern from the rest of the shareholders" on Penrose's advice and failed twelve months later, so that the buyer was not the landlord Lord Clinton, who had acquired the headland from Mr Hyde in 1858), arranging with Captain Penrose to work the mine for himself; Penrose took the retired Cornish miner John Roberts, then keeping the Prince of Wales Hotel in Schull, into partnership, and together they "robbed" the mine in 1859, picking out the rich pockets; Lord Clinton, back from losses on American railway shares, used his authority as landlord to force Penrose out in 1860.[34]
The Mineral Statistics give their first return in 1859, 179 tons of ore at 10 % copper, and 59 tons in 1860; the Brow Head Company was responsible from at least 1862 to 1865, and Daly's informants placed John Pascoe as manager in 1864, when the ore realised £10 to £46 per ton at Swansea; Brenton Symons cited a report of June 1864 for a further 20 tons not in the statistics.[35] A letter of October 1872 in the Skibbereen Eagle described "a level driven east on the course of one of the lodes, fifty seven fathoms from the face of the cliff, and a winze sunk seventeen fathoms below the sea beach", sales of £7,000, and surface works of offices, dwelling houses, storehouses, a crusher worked by a waterwheel, reservoirs, dressing floors and roads, claiming that "the mine from the beginning paid its way".[36] The Mining Journal's own record, set out below, has the mine at work from 1852, selling ore at Swansea in 1855, 1857 and 1859 and idle from about 1861.[37]
Tests were carried out in 1906 by the West British Development Syndicate of 7 Tower Buildings North, Liverpool (the West British Mining Company Ltd of O'Sullivan's account), which shipped two tons of selected ore assaying 21.91 % copper; The Browhead Copper Mines Limited was registered in July 1906 with a prospectus and map, the Mineral Statistics recording 25 surface workers in 1905, two or three in 1906–10 and a maximum of eleven underground in 1908.[38]
Thomas Holmes, the young Englishman in charge, drove the new levels east of the main adit and argued for further development; Herbert J. Daly inspected the idle mine underground for the Ministry of Munitions on 29 May 1917, concluded that the development had "disproved the existence of any payable ore-bodies in the upper levels", judged the plant "practically useless", and named Thomas L. Miller of Lever Buildings, Liverpool, as liquidator of the old company.[39]
Duffy's survey of 1932 recorded the cliff drivings, the almost filled shaft on the cliff top, the fallen ladder to the adit, Kelly's drive, the Roe Brothers tunnel driven about 220 yards towards Holmes's water-filled shaft without meeting a lode, and the shallow Primrose shaft 200 yards west of it.[40] Dana Exploration plc and Europa Minerals Ltd explored the headland under Prospecting Licence 3230 in 1987: A. S. Lings and S. H. Watsham surveyed the workings, the sea cave and second levels and the Roe Brothers adit in April 1987, cut trenches BH1 (194 m) and BH2 (37.7 m) with Pionjar sampling, and drilled two BQ diamond holes, B1 (135 m, dip minus 50°, azimuth 160°, drilled 29 April to 6 May 1987, 91 % recovery) and B2 (194 m).[41] Paddy O'Sullivan explored the adits by boat and rope in 2005–06 for the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland, and the EPA/GSI inventory survey followed in 2007.[42]
The Mining Journal record, 1852–85. The paper noticed in May 1852 that in the face of the Brow Head cliff "are to be seen some large lodes containing copper ore. We are informed that it is intended shortly to work them; but the land and minerals belong to a different party" from the Crookhaven adventurers; by August 1854 "at Brow Head, the lode split into branches, and also the staff", and in July 1855 "a long discussion" on "the geological formation and mineral character of the district" had ended with the decision "that the local director was not the right man in the right place; and that the mining agent should be no longer controlled by an incompetent authority".
Two parcels were sold at Swansea in June 1855, 21 tons 6 cwt at £22 3s 6d and 1 ton 3 cwt at £46 3s a ton, and 15 tons in July 1857; specimens from the 53-fathom level assaying 60 per cent were shown at the Crookhaven sale in October 1855.[43] Captain Penrose "of the Brow Head Mine" was reporting on neighbouring setts by February 1857; in November 1858 the paper's Rough Notes described the mine as "worked by private individuals" and as having "produced several cargoes of rich ore", the property "formerly belonged to Mr. Hyde, and was recently purchased by Lord Clinton" with the town of Crookhaven. A Swansea sale of 83 tons for £825 19s is recorded in January 1859, and further Brow Head parcels were in the sales of June and October 1859; in August the paper said the mines "are now making profitable returns", in November 40 tons were ready, and in December John Roberts of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Schull, wrote that the mine "has sold many thousands of pounds worth of copper ore from shallow workings, and another valuable cargo ready for shipment".[44]
George Henwood's district series of September 1859 complained that the eastern part of "the Browhead sett is a piece of land sufficiently large to constitute a splendid mine, that never can be wrought by the Browhead Company", and his praise of the cliff drew a correspondent to ask why a mine "devoid of" a steam engine and a properly placed shaft was kept "a close borough" and never reported; "Alpha" doubted that "Browhead will never be worked by Cornish tributers", and Henwood answered in October that an interview with the proprietors had produced assurances that "the captain will be enabled to work the mine as it should be ... partially by the aid of tributers, two pare of whom have already applied".[45]
A Crookhaven shareholder in August 1861 held up "the adjoining sett of the Brow Head, which is on the run of the same or parallel lodes, and yielded ores that have realised upwards of £7000 within five years' working"; Penrose was still "of Browhead" in May 1861 but "late of the Browhead Mine" and managing Gurtavallig by November 1862; a district paper of July 1862 found the mine "now idle, but produced several thousand pounds worth of rich copper ore", and a visitor in December 1863, who had seen "hundreds of tons of rich grey and purple ore" raised, reported it "idle these three years, and would have been recommenced of late, were it not for the landlord".[46]
Captain William Thomas reported on the mine for Lord Clinton at the end of 1864, and in January and February 1865 Brenton Symons and "A Mine Proprietor" of Crookhaven argued its merits in the paper: Symons called it "the best piece of ground yet opened in the county of Cork", cited Penrose's statement that during his management "the copper sold had equalled the whole cost within £2000, and that for this sum there were nine dwelling-houses and account-house built, besides all the machinery erected", and Penrose's report of June 1864 that "the last two months the mine was worked it was done on tribute, the tributers paying the whole expenses of the mine. The yield of ore in that time was over 20 tons, which was sold at Swansea for £10 4s per ton. The mine was kept dry by hand-pumps to the 63, the water being easy"; he thought a 40-inch engine and £4,000, or £7,000 on the cost-book system "to put the Browhead to the 110, where it will meet the course of ore already proved at the whim-shaft", would suffice, while his opponent, who had known the headland "long before a pick was ever put into the lodes", insisted that "an engine-shaft will have to be sunk from 130 to 150 fms" with steam pumping and hauling engines before the mine could pay.[47] The later notices are retrospective.
In 1870 the mine had been "abandoned" for want of capital though "few mines in the kingdom produced so much ore of high percentage near the surface"; William Thomas in 1872 gave the working as "a level driven east on one of the lodes, 57 fms from the face of the cliffs, and a winze sunk 17 fathoms below the sea-beach"; the special correspondent of 1875 put the sales "from a series of 'diggings'" at £7,000 and held that, surface works considered, "the mine from the beginning paid its way ... at the very time the mine ought to have been vigorously worked it was abandoned"; Penrose's son answered in May 1875 that his father had raised £9,000 from one lode at prices from £23 6s a ton, that the concern was stopped when the shareholder who had bought it failed in American railways "just as the mine was beginning to return profit", and that his father and another manager then "worked the mine on tribute for two months, making a clear profit of £250, part of which the landlord claimed for previous royalty".
Tonkin in 1878 thought it "next in this district to Dhurode Mine in point of prospective value", worked "in a very primitive fashion", with "about £7000 worth of ore ... in great part above the level of the sea" and nothing done for ten years; Thomas in 1880 recorded that "two Cornish foremen miners worked the lode on tribute, and were making good profits after clearing royalty and other charges, but a fine of £2000 being demanded of them in addition to royalty, they were unable to go on", that later applications for a grant had met "most extravagant" terms, and that Lord Charles Pelham Clinton owned the property; and in 1882 and 1885 the paper repeated that a mine which "paid the cost of working from the sale of mineral obtained" had stopped when the water level was reached and machinery was needed.[48]
Operators and companies at Brow Head | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Workings
O'Sullivan counted five levels: to the east near the signal tower the Roe Brothers level, running straight for almost 200 m; west of it Kelly's level, a mere 13 m; and north-west of Kelly's the main workings of three adits plus the haulage shaft from the "big cavern", which represent mainly nineteenth-century work with early twentieth-century extensions.[49] The "High adit" runs into blank rock at 6 m with a right-hand branch; the "Low adit" gives access to the main workings 72 m in from the cliff-top, 10 m below the "big cavern" that may have served for raising ore; the "Sea entrance" adit, above high-tide level, is about 182 m long with an immediate deep shaft, three minor sinkings and a major one 31 m below sea level, overhead stulls, flanged pipes that once pumped the 70-ft shaft below sea level, stored ladders, and a wooden base for a hand windlass.[50]
Duffy in 1932 placed the old mine "about 400 yards north-east of the Brow Head", with horizontal drivings in the cliff face, an old shaft on the cliff-top "almost filled in and ... never very deep", an old driving at the head of a narrow cove about 350 yards from the head, Kelly's drive 130 yards farther on the same bed, the Roe Brothers tunnel 330 yards south-south-east of the signal station driven about 220 yards to beyond Holmes's shaft (said to be 75 feet deep), and the Primrose shaft, a shallow sinking 200 yards west of Holmes's.[51] Holmes's plan of the 1906–10 work shows the main adit, the upper and No. 1 and No. 2 levels, stope E (never carefully unwatered), and the new drives A, B, C and D with cross-cuts 1, 2 and 3.[52]
Brow Head workings named in the sources | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Mining Journal adds the working method. There was never a steam engine: the mine was opened "by adits in the face of the cliff, and by the simple appliance of a horse-whim to haul the stuff over the cliff", the attle and ore "drawn up the face of the cliff for 48 fathoms" from a shaft "about 15 fathoms under the sea", the mine "kept dry by hand-pumps to the 63, the water being easy", with a whim-shaft on which a course of ore was proved; Symons in 1865 noted an adit "already driven 60 or 70 fathoms" that would take the shaft at "about 80 fathoms from grass" and proposed a 40-inch engine to reach a 110-fathom level, and Thomas in 1872 gave the deepest work as a level "57 fms from the face of the cliffs" with a winze "17 fathoms below the sea-beach". Nine dwelling-houses and an account-house were built under Penrose, and the son's letter of 1875 places the flag quarry north of the dressing floors and the slate vein "to the south of the flooring, and east from whim-shaft", worked only to roof the mine houses.[53]
Production
Records are scarce because the first working was private; the recorded sales are 59 tons in 1853–54, 179 tons of 10 % ore in 1859, 59 tons in 1860 (238 tons for the two years), an unlisted 20 tons in 1864 and two tons of 22 % ore in 1906, while Daly's informants and the 1872 letter both put the value of ore stoped from the main chute at about £7,000.[54]
Ore sold from Brow Head by year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Mining Journal references
The Mining Journal is the only continuous contemporary record of the private working. In the Internet Archive's run of the paper (collection pub_mining-journal, which lacks the 1860 volume and the years 1886–93) 85 issues between 1852 and 1885 mention Brow Head, most of them Swansea sale lists and district notes; the substantive items are tabled below. Each identifier opens at archive.org/details/ followed by the identifier; the text is uncorrected OCR and figures should be checked against the page images.[55]
Mining Journal issues noticing Brow Head Mine (Internet Archive run) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Environmental data
The EPA/GSI survey found solid waste in two small heaps and as a thin layer around the cobbled dressing floor near the cliff edge, with a processing pool floored by brown silt-sand processing waste; the calculated volumes are SP01 1,274 m3, SP02 642 m3, SP03 928 m3 and POOL2 101 m3. No surface water, groundwater or stream sediment could be sampled; five in-situ XRF analyses gave copper of 52 to 2,580 mg/kg; the HMS-IRC site score is 1, the low score reflecting the absence of high-toxicity elements, of adit discharges and of streams, and the remoteness of the site.[56]
Collecting and specimens
The mineralised material at surface is the coarse waste around the cliff-top dressing floor, where Duffy saw "beautiful specimens of chalcopyrite and bornite" in 1932; the underground workings are reputedly extensive but production was low and the surviving waste is modest.[57] Specimens in public collections are the three Russell bornites at the Natural History Museum, London, and the two University College Cork bornites assayed for silver in 1963.[58] The site is private and the cliff adits are dangerous; a full set of Paddy O'Sullivan's captioned photographs of the mine is lodged in the archive of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland.[59]
Brow Head specimens in public collections | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
References
1. Cole, G.A.J. (1922) Memoir and Map of Localities of Minerals of Economic Importance and Metalliferous Mines in Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Brow Head entry (typed extract in the Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files, GSI Goldmine record 9554308, Mine Reports, p. 54); EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report, p. 1.
2. Kinahan, G.H. (1861) in Jukes, J.B., Du Noyer, G.V., Willson, W.L., Wyley, A. & Kinahan, G.H., Explanations to accompany Sheets 200, 203, 204 and 205, and part of 199, of the maps of the Geological Survey of Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, p. 22; O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, pp. 31–33.
3. Cowman, D. & Reilly, T.A. (1988) The Abandoned Mines of West Carbery: Promoters, Adventurers and Miners. Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, pp. 95 and 127–128; Cole, G.A.J. (1922) Memoir and Map of Localities of Minerals of Economic Importance and Metalliferous Mines in Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Brow Head entry (typed extract in the Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files, GSI Goldmine record 9554308, Mine Reports, p. 54); Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, to the Controller of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Munitions, 29 May 1917, with the statement of Thomas Holmes. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), pp. 1–2.
4. Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, to the Controller of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Munitions, 29 May 1917. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), p. 1; Duffy, J. (1932) Report on copper deposits in south-west Ireland (Counties Cork and Kerry), 13 January 1932. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554307, Mine Records: Reports), pp. 46–47; Cowman, D. & Reilly, T.A. (1988) The Abandoned Mines of West Carbery: Promoters, Adventurers and Miners. Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Table 6, p. 106.
5. EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report, pp. 1–5; O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, pp. 31–36.
6. Kinahan, G.H. (1861) in Jukes, J.B., Du Noyer, G.V., Willson, W.L., Wyley, A. & Kinahan, G.H., Explanations to accompany Sheets 200, 203, 204 and 205, and part of 199, of the maps of the Geological Survey of Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, p. 22; Cole, G.A.J. (1922) Memoir and Map of Localities of Minerals of Economic Importance and Metalliferous Mines in Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Brow Head entry (typed extract in the Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files, GSI Goldmine record 9554308, Mine Reports, p. 54); Geological Survey of Ireland mine index, West Cork (GSI Goldmine record 9554308, Mine Reports, p. 1); EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report, Brow Head site report, p. 1.
7. Cole, G.A.J. (1922) Memoir and Map of Localities of Minerals of Economic Importance and Metalliferous Mines in Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Brow Head entry (typed extract in the Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files, GSI Goldmine record 9554308, Mine Reports, p. 54); Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, to the Controller of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Munitions, 29 May 1917. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), p. 1.
8. EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report, p. 1.
9. EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report, p. 2; O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, p. 34, Figs 33–40.
10. EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report, p. 2.
11. O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, p. 33 and Fig. 30, reproducing the map accompanying the 1906 prospectus of The Browhead Copper Mines Limited, The National Archives, Kew, Board of Trade file BT 31/11573/89313; letter of 8 October 1872 in the Skibbereen Eagle, as quoted by O'Sullivan.
12. EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report, p. 2; O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, p. 31.
13. EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report, p. 1, citing Reilly, T.A. (1986) A review of vein mineralization in SW County Cork, Ireland. In: Andrew, C.J. et al. (eds) Geology and Genesis of Mineral Deposits in Ireland. Irish Association for Economic Geology, Dublin, 475–480.
14. Kinahan, G.H. (1861) in Jukes, J.B., Du Noyer, G.V., Willson, W.L., Wyley, A. & Kinahan, G.H., Explanations to accompany Sheets 200, 203, 204 and 205, and part of 199, of the maps of the Geological Survey of Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, p. 22; Cole, G.A.J. (1922) Memoir and Map of Localities of Minerals of Economic Importance and Metalliferous Mines in Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Brow Head entry (typed extract in the Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files, GSI Goldmine record 9554308, Mine Reports, p. 54).
15. Duffy, J. (1932) Report on copper deposits in south-west Ireland (Counties Cork and Kerry), 13 January 1932. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554307, Mine Records: Reports), pp. 46–47.
16. Holmes, T. (c. 1906–17) Explanations to accompany plan of Browhead Copper Mine. Typed copy appended to Daly (1917), Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), pp. 3–4.
17. Lings, A.S. & Watsham, S.H. (1987) Diamond drilling cross-section, holes B1 and B2, Brow Head, Prospecting Licence 3230, for Europa Minerals Ltd (Fig. 15). Geological Survey of Ireland open-file item (GSI Goldmine record 10207783).
18. The Mining Journal (London), 22 January 1853, Vol. 23 No. 909, notes on the Crookhaven district mines (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1853-01-22_23_909); The Mining Journal (London), 13 November 1858, Vol. 28 No. 1212, Mining in Ireland, Rough Notes No. III (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1858-11-13_28_1212).
19. Kinahan, G.H. (1861) in Jukes, J.B., Du Noyer, G.V., Willson, W.L., Wyley, A. & Kinahan, G.H., Explanations to accompany Sheets 200, 203, 204 and 205, and part of 199, of the maps of the Geological Survey of Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, p. 22.
20. Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, to the Controller of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Munitions, 29 May 1917. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), pp. 1–2.
21. Holmes, T. (c. 1906–17) Explanations to accompany plan of Browhead Copper Mine. Typed copy appended to Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), pp. 3–4.
22. Kinahan, G.H. (1861) in Jukes, J.B., Du Noyer, G.V., Willson, W.L., Wyley, A. & Kinahan, G.H., Explanations to accompany Sheets 200, 203, 204 and 205, and part of 199, of the maps of the Geological Survey of Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, p. 22.
23. The Mining Journal (London), 28 January 1865, Vol. 35 No. 1536, Symons, B., Cork Mining District No. II, the Browhead Mine (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1865-01-28_35_1536); The Mining Journal (London), 24 April 1875, Vol. 45 No. 2070, The Mineral Resources of the South-West of Ireland No. I, Crookhaven district (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1875-04-24_45_2070); The Mining Journal (London), 22 May 1875, Vol. 45 No. supplement, letter on the mineral resources of the Browhead Mine by the son of its former manager (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1875-05-22_45_supplement); The Mining Journal (London), 13 March 1880, Vol. 50 No. supplement, Mining in the South-West of Ireland, a dialogue on the West Cork copper mines and their ores (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1880-03-13_50_supplement).
24. Kinahan, G.H. (1861) in Jukes, J.B., Du Noyer, G.V., Willson, W.L., Wyley, A. & Kinahan, G.H., Explanations to accompany Sheets 200, 203, 204 and 205, and part of 199, of the maps of the Geological Survey of Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, p. 22; Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, to the Controller of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Munitions, 29 May 1917. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), p. 1; Holmes, T. (c. 1906–17) Explanations to accompany plan of Browhead Copper Mine. Typed copy appended to Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), p. 4; EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report, p. 1.
25. Duffy, J. (1932) Report on copper deposits in south-west Ireland (Counties Cork and Kerry), 13 January 1932. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554307, Mine Records: Reports), pp. 46–47.
26. Cowman, D. & Reilly, T.A. (1988) The Abandoned Mines of West Carbery: Promoters, Adventurers and Miners. Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Table 6, p. 106; Holmes, T. (c. 1906–17) Explanations to accompany plan of Browhead Copper Mine. Typed copy appended to Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), p. 3.
27. Lings, A.S. & Watsham, S.H. (1987) Diamond drilling cross-section, holes B1 and B2, Brow Head, Prospecting Licence 3230, for Europa Minerals Ltd (Fig. 15). Geological Survey of Ireland open-file item (GSI Goldmine record 10207783); O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, p. 31.
28. Natural History Museum, London, register of the Sir Arthur Russell mineral collection (BM 1964R series), Irish entries as listed by the Department of Mineralogy, entries BM 1964R,00630; 1964R,00631 and 1964R,00632.
29. EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report, p. 3.
30. The Mining Journal (London), 20 October 1855, Vol. 25 No. 1052, report of the sale of the Crookhaven Mine, 17 October 1855 (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1855-10-20_25_1052); The Mining Journal (London), 16 June 1855, Vol. 25 No. 1034, Dublin correspondence, Brow Head ore sales at Swansea (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1855-06-16_25_1034); The Mining Journal (London), 22 May 1875, Vol. 45 No. supplement, letter on the mineral resources of the Browhead Mine by the son of its former manager (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1875-05-22_45_supplement).
31. The Mining Journal (London), 1 October 1859, Vol. 29 No. 1258, Mining in Ireland, the Brow Head Mine, letter on G. Henwood's description (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1859-10-01_29_1258); The Mining Journal (London), 19 October 1872, Vol. 42 No. 1939, Mining in Ireland, West Cork Mines (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1872-10-19_42_1939); The Mining Journal (London), 24 April 1875, Vol. 45 No. 2070, The Mineral Resources of the South-West of Ireland No. I, Crookhaven district (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1875-04-24_45_2070); The Mining Journal (London), 23 February 1878, Vol. 48 No. supplement, Tonkin, T., The Mineral Resources of Ireland No. III (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1878-02-23_48_supplement); The Mining Journal (London), 13 March 1880, Vol. 50 No. supplement, Mining in the South-West of Ireland, a dialogue on the West Cork copper mines and their ores (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1880-03-13_50_supplement); The Mining Journal (London), 29 April 1882, Vol. 52 No. supplement, note on silver-bearing ores of West Cork (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1882-04-29_52_supplement).
32. Cole, G.A.J. (1922) Memoir and Map of Localities of Minerals of Economic Importance and Metalliferous Mines in Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Brow Head entry (typed extract in the Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files, GSI Goldmine record 9554308, Mine Reports, p. 54); Kinahan, G.H. (1861) in Jukes, J.B., Du Noyer, G.V., Willson, W.L., Wyley, A. & Kinahan, G.H., Explanations to accompany Sheets 200, 203, 204 and 205, and part of 199, of the maps of the Geological Survey of Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, p. 22.
33. Cowman, D. & Reilly, T.A. (1988) The Abandoned Mines of West Carbery: Promoters, Adventurers and Miners. Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, p. 95 and the references to section 15; Mining Journal 1854 as cited there.
34. Cowman, D. & Reilly, T.A. (1988) The Abandoned Mines of West Carbery: Promoters, Adventurers and Miners. Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, pp. 127–128, citing Mining Journal 1858 p. 754, 1859 pp. 614, 630 and 799, 1860 p. 755, 1865 pp. 5 and 35 and 1875 p. 568 (letter of J. Penrose, son of the captain).
35. Cole, G.A.J. (1922) Memoir and Map of Localities of Minerals of Economic Importance and Metalliferous Mines in Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Brow Head entry (typed extract in the Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files, GSI Goldmine record 9554308, Mine Reports, p. 54); Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, to the Controller of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Munitions, 29 May 1917. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), p. 1; Cowman, D. & Reilly, T.A. (1988) The Abandoned Mines of West Carbery: Promoters, Adventurers and Miners. Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, p. 128, citing Mining Journal 1865 p. 35.
36. Letter of 8 October 1872, Skibbereen Eagle, first of a series on the local mines, as quoted by O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, p. 33.
37. Geological Survey of Ireland (n.d.) An index to references to Irish mineral resource and mining activities in the Mining Journal 1835–1920. Geological Survey of Ireland report RS 89/1 (GSI Goldmine record 9536085), pp. 106–107 and 192.
38. Cole, G.A.J. (1922) Memoir and Map of Localities of Minerals of Economic Importance and Metalliferous Mines in Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Brow Head entry (typed extract in the Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files, GSI Goldmine record 9554308, Mine Reports, p. 54); Cowman, D. & Reilly, T.A. (1988) The Abandoned Mines of West Carbery: Promoters, Adventurers and Miners. Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, p. 128; Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, to the Controller of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Munitions, 29 May 1917. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), p. 1; O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, p. 36, citing the prospectus in Board of Trade file BT 31/11573/89313 and the Mineral Statistics; Geological Survey of Ireland (n.d.) An index to references to Irish mineral resource and mining activities in the Mining Journal 1835–1920. Geological Survey of Ireland report RS 89/1 (GSI Goldmine record 9536085), p. 203 (Mining Journal 19 January 1907, pp. 78 and 80).
39. Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, to the Controller of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Munitions, 29 May 1917. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), pp. 1–2; Holmes, T. (c. 1906–17) Explanations to accompany plan of Browhead Copper Mine. Typed copy appended to Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), pp. 3–4.
40. Duffy, J. (1932) Report on copper deposits in south-west Ireland (Counties Cork and Kerry), 13 January 1932. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554307, Mine Records: Reports), pp. 46–47.
41. Lings, A.S. & Watsham, S.H. (1987) Brow Head, Prospecting Licence 3230: sketch of workings, plan of sea cave and second levels (11 April 1987), plan of the Roe Bros adit, trench logs BH1 and BH2, drill-hole records and summary logs B1 and B2, geological and compilation maps, for Dana Exploration plc and Europa Minerals Ltd. Geological Survey of Ireland open-file items (GSI Goldmine records 10207765, 10207772, 10207778, 10207831, 10207841, 10203567, 10203572, 10207820, 10207827, 10207749, 10203510, 10207760, 10207966).
42. O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, pp. 31–36; EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report.
43. The Mining Journal (London), 22 May 1852, Vol. 22 No. 874, Mines in Ireland, Crookhaven and the Brow Head (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1852-05-22_22_874); The Mining Journal (London), 12 August 1854, Vol. 24 No. 990, Dublin correspondence on the West Cork mines (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1854-08-12_24_990); The Mining Journal (London), 21 July 1855, Vol. 25 No. 1039, Skibbereen correspondence (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1855-07-21_25_1039); The Mining Journal (London), 16 June 1855, Vol. 25 No. 1034, Dublin correspondence, Brow Head ore sales at Swansea (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1855-06-16_25_1034); The Mining Journal (London), 18 July 1857, Vol. 27 No. 1143, copper ores for sale at Swansea, 21 July 1857 (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1857-07-18_27_1143); The Mining Journal (London), 20 October 1855, Vol. 25 No. 1052, report of the sale of the Crookhaven Mine, 17 October 1855 (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1855-10-20_25_1052).
44. The Mining Journal (London), 14 February 1857, Vol. 27 No. 1121, prospectus notice citing reports by Captain Henry Thomas of the Letter Mine and Captain Penrose of the Brow Head Mine (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1857-02-14_27_1121); The Mining Journal (London), 6 November 1858, Vol. 28 No. 1211, Mining in Ireland, Rough Notes No. II (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1858-11-06_28_1211); The Mining Journal (London), 13 November 1858, Vol. 28 No. 1212, Mining in Ireland, Rough Notes No. III (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1858-11-13_28_1212); The Mining Journal (London), 29 January 1859, Vol. 29 No. 1223, Swansea copper-ore sales (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1859-01-29_29_1223); The Mining Journal (London), 4 June 1859, Vol. 29 No. 1241, Swansea copper-ore sales and list for 14 June 1859 (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1859-06-04_29_1241); The Mining Journal (London), 24 September 1859, Vol. 29 No. 1257, Swansea copper-ore sales and list for 4 October 1859 (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1859-09-24_29_1257); The Mining Journal (London), 27 August 1859, Vol. 29 No. 1253, Mining in Ireland, the Crookhaven Mining Company of Ireland (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1859-08-27_29_1253); The Mining Journal (London), 26 November 1859, Vol. 29 No. 1266, Mining in Ireland, Brow Head and Crookhaven (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1859-11-26_29_1266); The Mining Journal (London), 17 December 1859, Vol. 29 No. 1269, letter of John Roberts, Prince of Wales Hotel, Schull, Facts from the Schull mining district (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1859-12-17_29_1269).
45. The Mining Journal (London), 10 September 1859, Vol. 29 No. 1255, Henwood, G., The Mines of the South-West of Ireland, Brow Head and Crookhaven (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1859-09-10_29_1255); The Mining Journal (London), 1 October 1859, Vol. 29 No. 1258, Mining in Ireland, the Brow Head Mine, letter on G. Henwood's description (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1859-10-01_29_1258); The Mining Journal (London), 22 October 1859, Vol. 29 No. 1261, letter of Alpha on the Browhead Mine and working on tribute (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1859-10-22_29_1261); The Mining Journal (London), 29 October 1859, Vol. 29 No. 1262, Mining in Ireland, Brow Head Mine, reply of G. Henwood (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1859-10-29_29_1262).
46. The Mining Journal (London), 24 August 1861, Vol. 31 No. 1357, letter on the Crookhaven Mine and the adjoining Brow Head sett (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1861-08-24_31_1357); The Mining Journal (London), 25 May 1861, Vol. 31 No. 1344, prospectus notice citing Captains John Roberts of Schull, Henry Thomas of Crookhaven and John Penrose of Browhead (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1861-05-25_31_1344); The Mining Journal (London), 1 November 1862, Vol. 32 No. 1419, Mining in the West of Ireland, a visit to the Gurtavallig and Crookhaven mines (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1862-11-01_32_1419); The Mining Journal (London), 12 July 1862, Vol. 32 No. 1403, paper on the mines of the Crookhaven and Schull district (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1862-07-12_32_1403); The Mining Journal (London), 26 December 1863, Vol. 33 No. 1479, Mining in Ireland, a tour of the West Cork mines (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1863-12-26_33_1479).
47. The Mining Journal (London), 31 December 1864, Vol. 34 No. 1532, notice of Captain William Thomas's report on the mines and quarries of Lord Charles Clinton's estates (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1864-12-31_34_1532); The Mining Journal (London), 21 January 1865, Vol. 35 No. 1535, Symons, B., letter on the Cork mining district (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1865-01-21_35_1535); The Mining Journal (London), 28 January 1865, Vol. 35 No. 1536, Symons, B., Cork Mining District No. II, the Browhead Mine (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1865-01-28_35_1536); The Mining Journal (London), 4 February 1865, Vol. 35 No. 1537, letter of A Mine Proprietor, Crookhaven, on the Cork mining district (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1865-02-04_35_1537); The Mining Journal (London), 11 February 1865, Vol. 35 No. 1538, Symons, B., reply on the Browhead Mine quoting Captain Penrose's report of June 1864 (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1865-02-11_35_1538); The Mining Journal (London), 18 February 1865, Vol. 35 No. 1539, letter of A Mine Proprietor, Crookhaven, 15 February 1865 (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1865-02-18_35_1539).
48. The Mining Journal (London), 5 February 1870, Vol. 40 No. supplement, Mining in Ireland, letter on the Brow Head and Crookhaven mines (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1870-02-05_40_supplement); The Mining Journal (London), 19 October 1872, Vol. 42 No. 1939, Mining in Ireland, West Cork Mines (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1872-10-19_42_1939); The Mining Journal (London), 24 April 1875, Vol. 45 No. 2070, The Mineral Resources of the South-West of Ireland No. I, Crookhaven district (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1875-04-24_45_2070); The Mining Journal (London), 22 May 1875, Vol. 45 No. supplement, letter on the mineral resources of the Browhead Mine by the son of its former manager (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1875-05-22_45_supplement); The Mining Journal (London), 23 February 1878, Vol. 48 No. supplement, Tonkin, T., The Mineral Resources of Ireland No. III (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1878-02-23_48_supplement); The Mining Journal (London), 13 March 1880, Vol. 50 No. supplement, Mining in the South-West of Ireland, a dialogue on the West Cork copper mines and their ores (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1880-03-13_50_supplement); The Mining Journal (London), 10 April 1880, Vol. 50 No. supplement, Thomas, W., Short Notices on Irish Mines, the Browhead and Crookhaven mines (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1880-04-10_50_supplement); The Mining Journal (London), 4 November 1882, Vol. 52 No. 2463, article on the mines of the south-west of Ireland (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1882-11-04_52_2463); The Mining Journal (London), 4 July 1885, Vol. 55 No. 2602, Irish Mines, a tour of West Cork (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1885-07-04_55_2602).
49. O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, p. 31, citing Lings, A.S. & Watsham, S.H. (1987) Brow Head, Prospecting Licence 3230: plans and sections for Dana Exploration plc, Geological Survey of Ireland open-file items.
50. O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, pp. 32–33 and 36, Figs 29, 31–32 and 41–45.
51. Duffy, J. (1932) Report on copper deposits in south-west Ireland (Counties Cork and Kerry), 13 January 1932. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554307, Mine Records: Reports), pp. 46–47.
52. Holmes, T. (c. 1906–17) Explanations to accompany plan of Browhead Copper Mine. Typed copy appended to Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), p. 3.
53. The Mining Journal (London), 10 April 1880, Vol. 50 No. supplement, Thomas, W., Short Notices on Irish Mines, the Browhead and Crookhaven mines (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1880-04-10_50_supplement); The Mining Journal (London), 28 January 1865, Vol. 35 No. 1536, Symons, B., Cork Mining District No. II, the Browhead Mine (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1865-01-28_35_1536); The Mining Journal (London), 11 February 1865, Vol. 35 No. 1538, Symons, B., reply on the Browhead Mine quoting Captain Penrose's report of June 1864 (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1865-02-11_35_1538); The Mining Journal (London), 19 October 1872, Vol. 42 No. 1939, Mining in Ireland, West Cork Mines (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1872-10-19_42_1939); The Mining Journal (London), 22 May 1875, Vol. 45 No. supplement, letter on the mineral resources of the Browhead Mine by the son of its former manager (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1875-05-22_45_supplement); The Mining Journal (London), 1 October 1859, Vol. 29 No. 1258, Mining in Ireland, the Brow Head Mine, letter on G. Henwood's description (Internet Archive item sim_mining-journal_1859-10-01_29_1258).
54. Cowman, D. & Reilly, T.A. (1988) The Abandoned Mines of West Carbery: Promoters, Adventurers and Miners. Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, pp. 95 and 128; Cole, G.A.J. (1922) Memoir and Map of Localities of Minerals of Economic Importance and Metalliferous Mines in Ireland. Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Brow Head entry (typed extract in the Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files, GSI Goldmine record 9554308, Mine Reports, p. 54); Daly, H.J. (1917) Report upon Browhead Copper Mine, Co. Cork, to the Controller of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Munitions, 29 May 1917. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554150, Mine Records: Brow Head Reports), p. 1; O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, pp. 33 and 36.
55. Internet Archive, The Mining Journal (London), collection pub_mining-journal, per-issue scans and OCR text, identifiers sim_mining-journal_YYYY-MM-DD_volume_issue (archive.org, consulted September 2026).
56. EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report, pp. 2–5.
57. Duffy, J. (1932) Report on copper deposits in south-west Ireland (Counties Cork and Kerry), 13 January 1932. Geological Survey of Ireland mine-record files (GSI Goldmine record 9554307, Mine Records: Reports), p. 46; EPA/GSI (2009) Historic Mine Sites – Inventory and Risk Classification, Vol. 1 and site reports. Environmental Protection Agency and Geological Survey of Ireland, Wexford and Dublin, Brow Head site report, p. 4.
58. Natural History Museum, London, register of the Sir Arthur Russell mineral collection (BM 1964R series), entries BM 1964R,00630 to 00632; Cowman, D. & Reilly, T.A. (1988) The Abandoned Mines of West Carbery: Promoters, Adventurers and Miners. Geological Survey of Ireland, Dublin, Table 6, p. 106.
59. O'Sullivan, P. (2006) The Mines of Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas, County Cork. Journal of the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland 6, 23–36, p. 36, editor's note.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Azurite Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 References: |
| ⓘ Bornite Formula: Cu5FeS4 References: |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 References: |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 References: |
| ⓘ Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 References: |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 References: |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 References: |
| ⓘ Siderite Formula: FeCO3 References: |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.00.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Siderite | 5.AB.05 | FeCO3 |
| ⓘ | Azurite | 5.BA.05 | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
- Rheno-Hercynian BeltOrogenic Belt

Brow Head Mine, Mizen Peninsula, Cork County, Munster, Ireland