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Wheal Buller, Wheal Buller and Beauchamp, Redruth, Cornwall, England, UKi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Wheal Buller | Mine (Abandoned) |
| Wheal Buller and Beauchamp | Mine |
| Redruth | Civil Parish |
| Cornwall | County |
| England | Constituent Country |
| UK | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
50° 12' 51'' North , 5° 13' 22'' West
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
UK National Grid Reference:
SW701400
Type:
Mine (Abandoned) - last checked 2024
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Four Lanes | 1,416 (2017) | 1.9km |
| Redruth | 42,690 (2017) | 2.1km |
| St. Day | 700 (2011) | 3.8km |
| North Country | 773 (2017) | 4.1km |
| Stithians | 1,463 (2017) | 4.3km |
Wheal Buller was formed out of the neighbouring workings of Trewirgie Downs and Wheal Beauchamp, enabling underground access to one mile of some of the richest copper lodes in Cornwall. The mine commenced work in 1819 when it produced 11 tons of ore and by 1825 had achieved its maximum ore production level of 6,230 tons. By 1836 production had fallen so low that further work was abandoned and the mine closed.
In 1848 the mine reopened with new workings to the north and west and by 1853 its monthly profits had risen to £5,170. Up until this time the ore had been raised by horse whim, but during 1851 a steam-powered winding engine was installed with two more engines the following year, one being purchased from Harvey's of Hayle.
By 1856 Wheal Buller was able to pay the highest dividend to its shareholders of any mine in the county. This was however short-lived since the dramatic rise in production levels of 1853 was matched by an equally dramatic decline in 1868. Between 1862 and 1868 an attempt was made to avert this decline with the sinking of two new shafts, concentrating on the production of tin ore from 1859 to 1875. Failure to locate sufficiently rich new reserves forced the sale of the mine's equipment and it ceased operation in 1875. A subsequent reworking of Hocking's Shaft between 1928 and 1930, during which it was deepened by a further one thousand feet, proved unsuccessful and Wheal Buller was once again abandoned.
Between 1819 and 1875 Wheal Buller produced 141,707 tons of copper ore and between 1859 and 1875, 1,373 tons of black tin.
The site was surveyed by Cornwall Archaeological Unit in 1997-98 in advance of a shaft capping scheme by Kerrier District Council. Extant features included remains of a probable engine house wall at Davey's Shaft, an arched tunnel which possibly carried water from here to processing areas downslope, and walling at Whitford's Shaft associated with flat-rods coming from Davey's Shaft, forming part of the flat-rod angle-bob pit.
In 1848 the mine reopened with new workings to the north and west and by 1853 its monthly profits had risen to £5,170. Up until this time the ore had been raised by horse whim, but during 1851 a steam-powered winding engine was installed with two more engines the following year, one being purchased from Harvey's of Hayle.
By 1856 Wheal Buller was able to pay the highest dividend to its shareholders of any mine in the county. This was however short-lived since the dramatic rise in production levels of 1853 was matched by an equally dramatic decline in 1868. Between 1862 and 1868 an attempt was made to avert this decline with the sinking of two new shafts, concentrating on the production of tin ore from 1859 to 1875. Failure to locate sufficiently rich new reserves forced the sale of the mine's equipment and it ceased operation in 1875. A subsequent reworking of Hocking's Shaft between 1928 and 1930, during which it was deepened by a further one thousand feet, proved unsuccessful and Wheal Buller was once again abandoned.
Between 1819 and 1875 Wheal Buller produced 141,707 tons of copper ore and between 1859 and 1875, 1,373 tons of black tin.
The site was surveyed by Cornwall Archaeological Unit in 1997-98 in advance of a shaft capping scheme by Kerrier District Council. Extant features included remains of a probable engine house wall at Davey's Shaft, an arched tunnel which possibly carried water from here to processing areas downslope, and walling at Whitford's Shaft associated with flat-rods coming from Davey's Shaft, forming part of the flat-rod angle-bob pit.
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
22 valid minerals.
Detailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Autunite Formula: Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| ⓘ Azurite Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 References: |
| ⓘ Bornite Formula: Cu5FeS4 References: |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 References: |
| ⓘ Cassiterite Formula: SnO2 |
| ⓘ Chalcocite Formula: Cu2S References: |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 References: |
| ⓘ 'Chlorite Group' |
| ⓘ Cuprite Formula: Cu2O References: |
| ⓘ Fluorite Formula: CaF2 References: |
| ⓘ Goethite Formula: Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ 'Limonite' |
| ⓘ Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 References: |
| ⓘ Native Copper Formula: Cu References: |
| ⓘ Olivenite Formula: Cu2(AsO4)(OH) References: |
| ⓘ Opal Formula: SiO2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Quartz var. Amethyst Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Quartz var. Citrine Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Quartz var. Rock Crystal Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Siderite Formula: FeCO3 |
| ⓘ Tenorite Formula: CuO References: |
| ⓘ Torbernite Formula: Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O References: |
| ⓘ Tristramite Formula: (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| ⓘ Uraninite Formula: UO2 |
| ⓘ Uraninite var. Pitchblende Formula: UO2 |
| ⓘ Zippeite Formula: K3(UO2)4(SO4)2O3(OH) · 3H2O |
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Copper | 1.AA.05 | Cu |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
| ⓘ | Bornite | 2.BA.15 | Cu5FeS4 |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| ⓘ | Fluorite | 3.AB.25 | CaF2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Goethite | 4.00. | Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Cuprite | 4.AA.10 | Cu2O |
| ⓘ | Tenorite | 4.AB.10 | CuO |
| ⓘ | Quartz var. Amethyst | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | var. Citrine | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 | |
| ⓘ | var. Smoky Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | var. Rock Crystal | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Opal | 4.DA.10 | SiO2 · nH2O |
| ⓘ | Cassiterite | 4.DB.05 | SnO2 |
| ⓘ | Uraninite var. Pitchblende | 4.DL.05 | UO2 |
| ⓘ | 4.DL.05 | UO2 | |
| 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 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Zippeite | 7.EC.05 | K3(UO2)4(SO4)2O3(OH) · 3H2O |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Olivenite | 8.BB.30 | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| ⓘ | Tristramite | 8.CJ.45 | (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | Autunite | 8.EB.05 | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| ⓘ | Torbernite | 8.EB.05 | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| H | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| H | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| H | ⓘ Tristramite | (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Zippeite | K3(UO2)4(SO4)2O3(OH) · 3H2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Quartz var. Amethyst | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| O | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz var. Citrine | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Cuprite | Cu2O |
| O | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| O | ⓘ Uraninite var. Pitchblende | UO2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Tenorite | CuO |
| O | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| O | ⓘ Tristramite | (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
| O | ⓘ Zippeite | K3(UO2)4(SO4)2O3(OH) · 3H2O |
| O | ⓘ Quartz var. Rock Crystal | SiO2 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz var. Amethyst | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz var. Citrine | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz var. Smoky Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz var. Rock Crystal | SiO2 |
| P | Phosphorus | |
| P | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| P | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| P | ⓘ Tristramite | (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Tristramite | (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| S | ⓘ Zippeite | K3(UO2)4(SO4)2O3(OH) · 3H2O |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Zippeite | K3(UO2)4(SO4)2O3(OH) · 3H2O |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Tristramite | (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Siderite | FeCO3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Tristramite | (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Bornite | Cu5FeS4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Cu | ⓘ Cuprite | Cu2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Native Copper | Cu |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| Cu | ⓘ Tenorite | CuO |
| Cu | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| Sn | Tin | |
| Sn | ⓘ Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| U | Uranium | |
| U | ⓘ Autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2O |
| U | ⓘ Uraninite var. Pitchblende | UO2 |
| U | ⓘ Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
| U | ⓘ Tristramite | (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| U | ⓘ Uraninite | UO2 |
| U | ⓘ Zippeite | K3(UO2)4(SO4)2O3(OH) · 3H2O |
Geochronology
| Geologic Time | Rocks, Minerals and Events | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phanerozoic | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paleozoic | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Permian | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guadalupian |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| Cisuralian |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Other 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
- Cornwall
- Camborne-Redruth and St Day Mining DistrictMining District
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Wheal Buller, Wheal Buller and Beauchamp, Redruth, Cornwall, England, UK