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Wheal Exmouth, Christow, Teignbridge, Devon, England, UKi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Wheal Exmouth | Mine (Abandoned) |
| Christow | Civil Parish |
| Teignbridge | District |
| Devon | County |
| England | Constituent Country |
| UK | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
50° 38' 4'' North , 3° 38' 30'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
UK National Grid Reference:
SX839830
Type:
Mine (Abandoned) - last checked 2020
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Christow | 820 (2018) | 2.1km |
| Chudleigh | 4,011 (2018) | 4.4km |
| Bovey Tracey | 4,729 (2018) | 5.2km |
| Chudleigh Knighton | 1,125 (2018) | 5.5km |
| Lustleigh | 285 (2018) | 5.7km |
Ancient lead mine.
Ref.: PG Embrey, RF Symes: "Minerals of Cornwall and Devon", BMNH publications (1987)
The works of this mine sit along a north-south lode like those at Frankmills nearby.
The tips in the present day run from the engine house, which has now been restored as a house with the unusual octagonal chimney and a second with an ornate corbel, down a shallow valley and across the main road to the river bank (300 to 400m in total length). These tips are composed of crushed local slate in places stained with iron or yellow lead oxide. A public footpath (public swamp may be a better description) runs from top to bottom of the works.
The tip between the road and the river yields galena and barite in reasonable quantity and small soft samples of pyromorphite. There is also a very localised pocket of linarite in which it is very abundant but the area is amybe only 2m x 3m in a small gulley. The rest of the tips are almost barren except the big tip at the top end of the works which contains galena, arsenopyrite and sphalerite.
A study on arsenic accumulation in wood mice was carried out at this site and found that the mice had 3 times the normal level of arsenic in their systems, in direct proportion to the elevated levels in the tips. However, in comparison to some other sites in Devon and Cornwall the occurance of arsenopyrite at Wh Exmouth is a rarity. Feb 2008.
The engine was the largest on the mines in the Teign Valley but the mine was worked out by 1875. It produced both lead (and silver) but also 1560 tones of zinc ore. In 1977 a proposal to rework the tips for metals was rejected.
Stafford Clark - Mining & Quarrying in the Teign Valley, Orchard Publications, Chudleigh 1995.
The mine expoited 2 lodes 15 fathoms apart but closer at depth. A section of the mine from 1872 shows 'Barytes Lode' below 42 fathoms. The tips include cherty quartz with galena, sphalerite and copper sulphides.
Dines H.G. 1956
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.
Detailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Anglesite Formula: PbSO4 References: |
| ⓘ Arsenopyrite Formula: FeAsS References: |
| ⓘ Baryte Formula: BaSO4 Habit: Tabular Colour: Creamy white, pinky References: |
| ⓘ Bindheimite Formula: Pb2Sb2O6O Description: Forms resinous to powdery pale yellow replacements of Tetrahedrite. References: |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 References: |
| ⓘ Cerussite Formula: PbCO3 References: |
| ⓘ Chalcocite Formula: Cu2S Description: dissolving in nitric acid and neutralising with ammonia produces a bright royal blue solution with no evidence of a brown iron precipitate References: Virginia Maine collectionIdentified by Virginia Maine: Visual Identification, Wet Chemical |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 References: |
| ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS Habit: Cubic Description: Associated with baryte, quartz and country rock.
Rare at the site but when found it may be in up to fist size pieces. References: |
| ⓘ Galena var. Silver-bearing Galena Formula: PbS with Ag References: |
| ⓘ Goethite Formula: Fe3+O(OH) References: |
| ⓘ Leadhillite ? Formula: Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 Description: Forms tiny colourless to white micro-crystals <0.2mm associated with Anglesite and Cerussite in corroded Galena and Quartz. The crystals have not been analysed so could be Susannite. References: |
| ⓘ Linarite Formula: PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 Habit: tabular sprays and uncrystaline coatings Colour: Blue Description: Only found in one very restricted area (1m x 5m gulley), but there it is extremely common. References: |
| ⓘ 'Manganese Oxides' References: |
| ⓘ Mimetite Formula: Pb5(AsO4)3Cl References: |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 Habit: poor Description: Small rough grains associated with rock forming minerals in the lead bearing lode stuff. References: |
| ⓘ Pyromorphite Formula: Pb5(PO4)3Cl References: |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 Habit: Typical 6 sided and rock crystal Colour: Glassy clear References: |
| ⓘ Schulenbergite ? Formula: (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O Description: Minutely crystalline light blue crusts on corroded Sphalerite, covering ares to a few mm. References: |
| ⓘ Siderite Formula: FeCO3 References: |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS |
| ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S Description: Rare as grey metallic masses to a few cms in quartz References: |
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| 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 |
| ⓘ | var. Silver-bearing Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS with Ag |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
| ⓘ | 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Goethite | 4.00. | Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Bindheimite | 4.DH.20 | Pb2Sb2O6O |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Siderite | 5.AB.05 | FeCO3 |
| ⓘ | Cerussite | 5.AB.15 | PbCO3 |
| ⓘ | Leadhillite ? | 5.BF.40 | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Anglesite | 7.AD.35 | PbSO4 |
| ⓘ | Baryte | 7.AD.35 | BaSO4 |
| ⓘ | Linarite | 7.BC.65 | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Schulenbergite ? | 7.DD.80 | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Mimetite | 8.BN.05 | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| ⓘ | Pyromorphite | 8.BN.05 | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Manganese Oxides' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Schulenbergite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| O | ⓘ Bindheimite | Pb2Sb2O6O |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| O | ⓘ Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Schulenbergite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| O | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| S | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| S | ⓘ Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Schulenbergite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| S | ⓘ Galena var. Silver-bearing Galena | PbS with Ag |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| Cl | ⓘ Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Cu | ⓘ Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Schulenbergite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Schulenbergite | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10 · 3H2O |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| As | ⓘ Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| Ag | Silver | |
| Ag | ⓘ Galena var. Silver-bearing Galena | PbS with Ag |
| Sb | Antimony | |
| Sb | ⓘ Bindheimite | Pb2Sb2O6O |
| Sb | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Ba | Barium | |
| Ba | ⓘ Baryte | BaSO4 |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Anglesite | PbSO4 |
| Pb | ⓘ Bindheimite | Pb2Sb2O6O |
| Pb | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| Pb | ⓘ Leadhillite | Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 |
| Pb | ⓘ Linarite | PbCu(SO4)(OH)2 |
| Pb | ⓘ Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
| Pb | ⓘ Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena var. Silver-bearing Galena | PbS with Ag |
Mindat Articles
Wheal Exmouth, Teign Valley, Devon. by Virginia MaineOther 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
- Dartmouth and Teign Valley Mining DistrictMining District
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Wheal Exmouth, Christow, Teignbridge, Devon, England, UK