Cambokeels Mine (Cammock Isle Mine; Cumnock Isle Mine; Cammock Eals Mine), Westgate, Weardale, North Pennines, Co. Durham, England, UK

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The Cambokeels Mine (sometimes called Cammock Eals) was developed on a section of the Slitt Vein roughly half way between the villages of Eastgate and Westgate. The main adit is located on the north banks of the River Wear, and the abandoned workings can still be seen from the road (A689). The Slitt Vein in this area was first worked by the Beaumont Company between 1847-1871 for lead. Although the vein was large, lead values were poor and the mine was soon abandoned. The mine was reopened for fluorspar in 1905 and was worked in an on-again, off-again fashion by a succession of owners through much of the 20th century.

The most recent production cycle at Cambokeels began in the early 1970's and for the next decade and a half the mine was one of the most productive sources of fluorite in Weardale. Malcolm Brown & Madison acquired the mine in 1973 and put in a new incline below the old Horse Level, discovering high grade fluorite ore from the 40 meter level down. The mine was sold in short order to Swiss Aluminium UK (SAMUK) who established working levels at 200 meters (in the Tynebottom Limestone) and at 240 meters (in the Whin Sill and Jew Limestone). The mine was sold again in 1982 to Minworth Ltd., who established levels at 280 and 320 meters, and had reached the 340 level by the time the mine closed in 1989. Currently, the decline is flooded and the Beaumont Horse Level has collapsed just inside the entrance.

Mineral List

Analcime Apophyllite-(KF) Bismuthinite Calcite

'Chabazite' Chalcopyrite 'Chlorite Group' Dolomite

Fluorite Galena Pectolite Pyrite

Pyrrhotite Quartz Sphalerite

15 entries listed. 13 valid minerals.