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Gortdrum Mine, Monard, Tipperary County, Munster, Irelandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Gortdrum Mine | Mine |
| Monard | - not defined - |
| Tipperary County | County |
| Munster | Province |
| Ireland | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
52° 31' 18'' North , 8° 11' 12'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Monard | 205 (2017) | 2.7km |
| Oola | 311 (2017) | 4.9km |
| Tipperary | 4,976 (2012) | 5.8km |
| Cappawhite | 369 (2017) | 6.8km |
| Donaskeagh | 147 (2017) | 7.1km |
This open-cast copper mine discovered in 1963 and worked from 1967-1975 is unique being the only mine in the British Isles to have produced mercury, albeit as a by-product. Most of this came from mercurian tennantite, but cinnabar crystals up to 2 mm have been found by collectors scouring the enormous dumps.
It is also home to the exceedingly rare gortdrumite and to the best tyrolite from the British Isles.
Grid ref: R870410
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
31 valid minerals. 1 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ 'Apatite' Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| ✪ Azurite Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 Habit: Tabular Colour: Blue Description: Found infrequently in association with oxidised copper ores. Ironically it was said be found in considerable quantity and good quality in the extreme top of the orebody/oxidisation zone. References: |
| ⓘ Baryte Formula: BaSO4 References: Embrey, Peter G. (1978) Fourth supplementary list of British minerals. Mineralogical Magazine, 42 (322) 169-177 doi:10.1180/minmag.1978.042.322.01 Steed, G. M. (1983) Gortdrumite, a new sulphide mineral containing copper and mercury, from Ireland. Mineralogical Magazine, 47 (342) 35-36 doi:10.1180/minmag.1983.047.342.05 |
| ⓘ Bornite Formula: Cu5FeS4 References: Steed, G. M. (1983) Gortdrumite, a new sulphide mineral containing copper and mercury, from Ireland. Mineralogical Magazine, 47 (342) 35-36 doi:10.1180/minmag.1983.047.342.05 |
| ⓘ Brannerite Formula: UTi2O6 Description: In dolomitized greywackes at Gortdrum mine, near Tipperary, Co. Tipperary; a grain (90µm) was analysed by electron microprobe. M. J. Duane (1981) unpubl. Ph.D. thesis, University of Dublin; M. J. Duane, H. J. Welke and H. L. Allsopp (1986) Geology 14, 477-80. |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 |
| ⓘ Chalcocite Formula: Cu2S References: Steed, G. M. (1983) Gortdrumite, a new sulphide mineral containing copper and mercury, from Ireland. Mineralogical Magazine, 47 (342) 35-36 doi:10.1180/minmag.1983.047.342.05 |
| ✪ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 Colour: Golden metallic Description: Found in dolomite vugs in association with cinnabar or as massive lumps. |
| ⓘ 'Chlorite Group' |
| ⓘ Cinnabar Formula: HgS Description: A vein of massive cadmian cinnabar (ca. 1.5% Cd), with inclusions of cadmian metacinnabarite (11.1% Cd) and mercurian sphalerite (12.9% Hg), occurred in the topmost part of the ore deposit. References: Embrey, Peter G. (1978) Fourth supplementary list of British minerals. Mineralogical Magazine, 42 (322) 169-177 doi:10.1180/minmag.1978.042.322.01 |
| ⓘ Cobaltite Formula: CoAsS |
| ⓘ Covellite Formula: CuS |
| ⓘ Digenite Formula: Cu9S5 |
| ⓘ Djurleite Formula: Cu31S16 References: |
| ⓘ Dolomite Formula: CaMg(CO3)2 Habit: Rhombs Colour: White, tan, light brown Description: Very commonly found as massive strings and veins through host rock but also as tan coloured rhombs which host the bulk of the crystallized minerals such as cinnabar, tennantite, chalcopyrite...etc. |
| ⓘ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite Formula: Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 Habit: Rhombs Colour: Brownish, iron coloured References: Steed, G. M. (1983) Gortdrumite, a new sulphide mineral containing copper and mercury, from Ireland. Mineralogical Magazine, 47 (342) 35-36 doi:10.1180/minmag.1983.047.342.05 Duane, M.J. (1988) Genesis, mineralogy and geochemistry of uranium in the Gortdrum stratiform copper deposit, Ireland. Mineralium Deposita, 23 (1). 50-57 doi:10.1007/bf00204228 |
| ⓘ Erythrite Formula: Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| ⓘ Goethite Formula: Fe3+O(OH) |
| ✪ Gortdrumite (TL) Formula: Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 Type Locality: Habit: Lath like crystals, similar to stibnite Colour: Grey Description: Extremely rare, found in association/similar conditions (dolomite vugs) with cinnabar. |
| ⓘ Hematite Formula: Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ Lavendulan ? Formula: NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| ⓘ 'Leucoxene' |
| ⓘ Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 Habit: Botryoidal/Mammilated Colour: Green References: |
| ⓘ Metacinnabar Formula: HgS Description: A vein of massive cadmian cinnabar (ca. 1.5% Cd), with inclusions of cadmian metacinnabarite (11.1% Cd) and mercurian sphalerite (12.9% Hg), occurred in the topmost part of the ore deposit. References: |
| ⓘ Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite Formula: K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Native Copper Formula: Cu |
| ⓘ Native Silver Formula: Ag |
| ⓘ Native Silver var. Amalgam Formula: (Ag,Hg) Colour: Grey Description: Rare grey metallic crystals associated with ferroan dolomite.
Thin dull brassy sheets on grey baryte with tennantite in limestone (British Museum of Natural History specimens collected by A.J. Criddle & G.S. Byrne in 1974) |
| ⓘ Native Silver var. Kongsbergite Formula: (Ag,Hg) |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Skutterudite Formula: CoAs3 |
| ⓘ Smolyaninovite Formula: Co3Fe3+2(AsO4)4 · 11H2O References: |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS |
| ⓘ Sphalerite var. Mercury-bearing Sphalerite Formula: (Zn,Hg)S Description: A vein of massive cadmian cinnabar (ca. 1.5% Cd), with inclusions of cadmian metacinnabarite (11.1% Cd) and mercurian sphalerite (12.9% Hg), occurred in the topmost part of the ore deposit. References: |
| ⓘ Stromeyerite Formula: AgCuS Description: An accessory ore mineral at this locality. |
| ✪ 'Tennantite Subgroup' Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S Habit: Tetrahedral Colour: Grey Description: Contains up to 12 % mercury. |
| ⓘ 'Tennantite Subgroup var. Mercury-bearing Tennantite' Formula: Cu6[Cu4(Zn,Fe,Hg)2]As4S13 Description: A major ore mineral at this locality. Hg up to nearly 12% at the top of the deposit, decreasing to <1% with depth. |
| ✪ Tyrolite Formula: Ca2Cu9(AsO4)4(CO3)(OH)8 · 11H2O Colour: Light lustrous green/blue Description: Quite likely the finest example of tyrolite in the British Isle References: |
| ⓘ Wittichenite Formula: Cu3BiS3 |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Silver var. Amalgam | 1.AA.05 | (Ag,Hg) |
| ⓘ | Native Copper | 1.AA.05 | Cu |
| ⓘ | Native Silver var. Kongsbergite | 1.AA.05 | (Ag,Hg) |
| ⓘ | 1.AA.05 | Ag | |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
| ⓘ | Djurleite | 2.BA.05 | Cu31S16 |
| ⓘ | Digenite | 2.BA.10 | Cu9S5 |
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Stromeyerite | 2.BA.40 | AgCuS |
| ⓘ | Gortdrumite (TL) | 2.BD.10 | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 |
| ⓘ | Covellite | 2.CA.05a | CuS |
| ⓘ | Metacinnabar | 2.CB.05a | HgS |
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | var. Mercury-bearing Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | (Zn,Hg)S |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Cinnabar | 2.CD.15a | HgS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Cobaltite | 2.EB.25 | CoAsS |
| ⓘ | Skutterudite | 2.EC.05 | CoAs3 |
| ⓘ | Wittichenite | 2.GA.20 | Cu3BiS3 |
| ⓘ | 'Tennantite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
| ⓘ | 'var. Mercury-bearing Tennantite' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6[Cu4(Zn,Fe,Hg)2]As4S13 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Goethite | 4.00. | Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Hematite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2O3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Brannerite | 4.DH.05 | UTi2O6 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | var. Iron-bearing Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ | Azurite | 5.BA.05 | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Erythrite | 8.CE.40 | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| ⓘ | Smolyaninovite | 8.CH.55 | Co3Fe3+2(AsO4)4 · 11H2O |
| ⓘ | Lavendulan ? | 8.DG.05 | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| ⓘ | Tyrolite | 8.DM.10 | Ca2Cu9(AsO4)4(CO3)(OH)8 · 11H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Muscovite var. Fuchsite | 9.EC.15 | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 | |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Leucoxene' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Apatite' | - | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Tyrolite | Ca2Cu9(AsO4)4(CO3)(OH)8 · 11H2O |
| H | ⓘ Smolyaninovite | Co3Fe23+(AsO4)4 · 11H2O |
| H | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Tyrolite | Ca2Cu9(AsO4)4(CO3)(OH)8 · 11H2O |
| C | ⓘ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Brannerite | UTi2O6 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| O | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Tyrolite | Ca2Cu9(AsO4)4(CO3)(OH)8 · 11H2O |
| O | ⓘ Smolyaninovite | Co3Fe23+(AsO4)4 · 11H2O |
| O | ⓘ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | ⓘ Cinnabar | HgS |
| S | ⓘ Cobaltite | CoAsS |
| S | ⓘ Covellite | CuS |
| S | ⓘ Digenite | Cu9S5 |
| S | ⓘ Djurleite | Cu31S16 |
| S | ⓘ Gortdrumite | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 |
| S | ⓘ Metacinnabar | HgS |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | ⓘ Stromeyerite | AgCuS |
| S | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S |
| S | ⓘ Wittichenite | Cu3BiS3 |
| S | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup var. Mercury-bearing Tennantite | Cu6[Cu4(Zn,Fe,Hg)2]As4S13 |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite var. Mercury-bearing Sphalerite | (Zn,Hg)S |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| Cl | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Tyrolite | Ca2Cu9(AsO4)4(CO3)(OH)8 · 11H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Brannerite | UTi2O6 |
| Cr | Chromium | |
| Cr | ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite | K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Gortdrumite | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 |
| Fe | ⓘ Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Smolyaninovite | Co3Fe23+(AsO4)4 · 11H2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite | Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup var. Mercury-bearing Tennantite | Cu6[Cu4(Zn,Fe,Hg)2]As4S13 |
| Co | Cobalt | |
| Co | ⓘ Cobaltite | CoAsS |
| Co | ⓘ Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| Co | ⓘ Skutterudite | CoAs3 |
| Co | ⓘ Smolyaninovite | Co3Fe23+(AsO4)4 · 11H2O |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Cu | ⓘ Covellite | CuS |
| Cu | ⓘ Native Copper | Cu |
| Cu | ⓘ Digenite | Cu9S5 |
| Cu | ⓘ Djurleite | Cu31S16 |
| Cu | ⓘ Gortdrumite | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 |
| Cu | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Stromeyerite | AgCuS |
| Cu | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S |
| Cu | ⓘ Tyrolite | Ca2Cu9(AsO4)4(CO3)(OH)8 · 11H2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Wittichenite | Cu3BiS3 |
| Cu | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup var. Mercury-bearing Tennantite | Cu6[Cu4(Zn,Fe,Hg)2]As4S13 |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Zn | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup var. Mercury-bearing Tennantite | Cu6[Cu4(Zn,Fe,Hg)2]As4S13 |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite var. Mercury-bearing Sphalerite | (Zn,Hg)S |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Cobaltite | CoAsS |
| As | ⓘ Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| As | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| As | ⓘ Skutterudite | CoAs3 |
| As | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S |
| As | ⓘ Tyrolite | Ca2Cu9(AsO4)4(CO3)(OH)8 · 11H2O |
| As | ⓘ Smolyaninovite | Co3Fe23+(AsO4)4 · 11H2O |
| As | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup var. Mercury-bearing Tennantite | Cu6[Cu4(Zn,Fe,Hg)2]As4S13 |
| Ag | Silver | |
| Ag | ⓘ Native Silver var. Amalgam | (Ag,Hg) |
| Ag | ⓘ Native Silver var. Kongsbergite | (Ag,Hg) |
| Ag | ⓘ Native Silver | Ag |
| Ag | ⓘ Stromeyerite | AgCuS |
| Ba | Barium | |
| Ba | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| Hg | Mercury | |
| Hg | ⓘ Native Silver var. Amalgam | (Ag,Hg) |
| Hg | ⓘ Cinnabar | HgS |
| Hg | ⓘ Gortdrumite | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 |
| Hg | ⓘ Native Silver var. Kongsbergite | (Ag,Hg) |
| Hg | ⓘ Metacinnabar | HgS |
| Hg | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup var. Mercury-bearing Tennantite | Cu6[Cu4(Zn,Fe,Hg)2]As4S13 |
| Hg | ⓘ Sphalerite var. Mercury-bearing Sphalerite | (Zn,Hg)S |
| Bi | Bismuth | |
| Bi | ⓘ Wittichenite | Cu3BiS3 |
| U | Uranium | |
| U | ⓘ Brannerite | UTi2O6 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
British and Irish IslesGroup of Islands
Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate
- AvaloniaVolcanic Arc
EuropeContinent
Ireland (island)Island
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References
Steed, G. M. (1983) Gortdrumite, a new sulphide mineral containing copper and mercury, from Ireland. Mineralogical Magazine, 47 (342) 35-36 doi:10.1180/minmag.1983.047.342.05
Gortdrum Mine, Monard, Tipperary County, Munster, Ireland