New Mine, Great Orme, Llandudno, Conwy, Wales, UKi

Regional Level Types
New Mine	Mine
Great Orme	Headland
Llandudno	Community
Conwy	County Borough
Wales	Country
UK	Country

Although the earliest record of mining here is a lease in 1692 to the Mostyn family, subsequent mining appears to have been sporadic and it was not until 1807 that New Mine was first recorded by this name. It adjoined the larger and richer Old Mine, and like Old Mine, the principal period of working was in the mid 1800s. New Mine closed in 1864.

New Mine worked similar ores to Old Mine, copper carbonates in the shallow workings and copper sulphides at depth. Working was initially mainly via Pyllau shaft (SH7702 8301) on the land of Pyllau farm, and then by Penmorfa Adit (SH7709 8223), opened in 1842 and whose portal lies on the West Shore. Although driven primarily to dewater the flooded New Mine (and therefore mainly financed by the New Mine), the adit was jointly owned, and accesses extensive workings on both the Old and the New Mines.

Although only the main ore minerals are listed here, given the proximity of the two mines, it is likely that a similar suite of minerals listed for Old Mine also occurs here (indeed, many collectors are unaware that there are two mines here and have erroneously called the whole area "Gt Orme Mine"). In recent years there has also been considerable movement at surface, which further adds to the location problem. Unless a specimen comes from underground (or from the considerable material cleared from Old Mine in recent years), it is difficult to precisely ascribe a specimen to a particular mine.

The Great Orme Exploration Society website http://www.goes.org.uk has much information about, and photographs of, the three Gt Orme mines.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References