The main engine shaft of the Boltsburn mine is located on the west end of the village of Rookhope, south side of the burn and near the intersection of the Boltsburn and Red veins. The workings of the Boltsburn mine proper follow the Boltsburn vein to the northeast. The mine was originally developed in the early 19th century for lead and though the vein was rich in fluorspar it was relatively poor in galena.
In 1892 incredibly mineralized flats were discovered adjacent to the vein which produced much galena and many spectacular specimens of fluorite. The fluorite was of such a quality that much was sold to German microscope manufacturers such as Leitz and Zeiss for use in high quality optics. Though ore reserved still remained, the mine closed in 1931 due to labor problems and the cost of transporting ore from the working face, now about 3.5 km north of the main shaft.
Ref.:
King, R. J. 1982. The Boltsburn mine, Weardale, County Durham, England. Mineralogical Record 13:5-18.
Rocks & Min.: 15:57; 17:129;
Dunham, K. C., 1990, Geology of the Northern Pennine orefield, v. I, 2nd Ed. British Geological Survey, London, 299 p.
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UK OS Grid Reference: NY937438
Map Reference: 54°47'20"N , 2°5'52"W
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