Large site littered with spoil heaps, shafts and tailings ponds. The mineralogical aspect site is at risk of being destroyed by ''rehabilitation'' for the small village who live below it with their water supplies (streams) flowing within metres of concentrated pools containing dissolved lead and arsenic (tailings ponds).
The site has brilliant access with many roads (car drivable) and well trodden paths to help getting around the site safely.
There are many historical sites on surface (engine houses, furnaces) which are being preserved and have plaques in front of them explaining what they were.
Nowadays, finding quality specimens is difficult and hard going, but none the less possible.
Carbonate-hosted stratabound and vein Pb-Zn deposits.
References:- Econ Geol (1987) 82, 371-394.
- Moreton, S. (1999): "The Silvermines District, County Tipperary, Ireland." Mineralogical Record, 30(2), 99-106.
- Balassone, G., Rossi, M., Boni, M., Stanley, G., and McDermott, P. (2008): Mineralogical and geochemical characterization of nonsulfide Zn–Pb mineralization at Silvermines and Galmoy (Irish Midlands). Ore Geology Reviews 33, 168-186.
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http://www.gl.rhbnc.ac.uk/geode/basins/Silvermines.html
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http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/CB313D60-1C0E-41C1-9AFD-F16CFC8D7EBC/0/Rehabilitationatsilvermines.pdf
[very in-depth information, including 100's of site photos, detailed maps and an inventory of every building...etc]
149 entries listed. 54 valid minerals.
