UK Grid Reference: SH315263
Latitude: 52°48'27"N
Longitude: 4°30'0"W
Penrhyn Du Lead Mine, the most easterly of eight mines that worked a lead-copper lode (Main Lode) running east-west across the St Tudwall Peninsula between the headland of Penrhyn Du and the village of Llanengan, all within the parish of Llanengan.
Penrhyn Du, located on top of the cliffs to the south of Abersoch, began operations in the 17th century. Like all of the Llanengan mines, the main period of working was in the latter part of the 19th century, with all of the mines having closed by 1900.
A Cornish Engine House in a private garden (SH323263) is from the latter period and the nearby row of cottages named Cornish Row indicates that not only the engine but also the miners came from Cornwall. South of the engine house is an area of spoil heaps with two open shafts. The arched portal of the New Day Level, driven on Main Lode, can be seen from the foreshore.
Minerals occur within weathered galena-rich veinstone from a vein exposed below the High Water mark.
The extensive area of mine tailings to the north are the remains of Tan-y-Bwlch Mine (probably the richest of the mines with a recorded output of 8722 tons of lead ore, 450 tons of zinc ore and 4652 tons of copper ore between 1873-86). Bwlch Tocyn Mine with a collapsed adit lies towards Abersoch. Further to the south around the headland are a series of shallow workings and scratchings.
Ref.:
Hubbard, N. & Green, D.I. (2005): Cotunnite from Penrhyn Du Mine, Gwynedd, Wales. Journal of the Russell Society, 8(2), 106-107.
Mineral List
6 entries listed. 6 valid minerals.
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