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Silvermines District, Co. Tipperary, Ireland

StandardDetailedBy ChemistryMineral Photos (32)Site Photos (23)MapsSearch GoogleMineral Report for Region

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.

- http://www.gl.rhbnc.ac.uk/geode/basins/Silvermines.html
- 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]





 Map Reference: 52°47'39"N , 8°14'19"W

This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.


Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities


Mineral List:
  		•  Acanthite
    Ag
     
    2
    		S
    Description: The acanthite occured about a two metre section of the 4611 Room, in an unusual buff crystalline opaque barite vein about 30cms wide and near vertical trending SSW cutting massive pyrite of the B Zone.
    Reference: [Moreton, S. (1999) Mineralogical Record, 30, 99-106. Colin Andrew (Personal Communication)]
  		•  Anglesite
    PbSO
     
    4
    Reference: [Balassone, G., Rossi, M., Boni, M., Stanley, G., and McDermott, P. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 168-186.; Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
  		•  Ankerite
    Ca(Fe
    2+
     
    		 ,Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Argentotennantite
    (Ag,Cu)
     
    10
    		(Zn,Fe)
     
    2
    		(As,Sb)
     
    4
    		S
     
    13
    Description: Argentotennantite came from about a two metre section of the 4611 Room in an unusual buff crystalline opaque barite vein about 30cms wide and near vertical trending SSW cutting massive pyrite of the B Zone.
    Reference: [Moreton, S. (1999) Mineralogical Record, 30, 99-106. Colin Andrew (Personal Communication)]
  		•  Argyrodite
    Ag
     
    8
    		GeS
     
    6
    Reference: [Econ Geol (1984) 79:529-548]
  		•  Arsenopyrite
    FeAsS - (Fe
     
    0.90
    		Co
     
    0.10
    		)AsS
    Reference: [Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
  		•  Azurite
    Cu
     
    3
    		[OH|CO
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    Reference: [MinRecord 30:102]
  		•  Baryte
    BaSO
     
    4
    Habit: Tabular/Platey
    Colour: Translucent, White
    Description: Found in associated with goethite. Small translucent tabular crystals which appear very similar to hemimorphite.
    Reference: [Barry Flannery Collection; Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
    Site Photo
    Silvermines District, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
    © Peter Haas
  		•  Boulangerite
    Pb
     
    5
    		Sb
     
    4
    		S
     
    11
    Reference: [Moreton, S. (1999) Mineralogical Record, 30, 99-106.]
  		•  Bournonite
    PbCuSbS
     
    3
    Habit: Tabular or Prismatic
    Colour: Dull black (suffering from slight dissolution).
    Description: Very infrequently found but some samples showed large (up to 2cm) well formed euhedral crystals. More often the crystal faces have been partially dissolved leaving them dull and pitted.
    Reference: [Moreton, S. (1999) Mineralogical Record, 30, 99-106.]
    Site Photo
    Mogul Mine (Garryard), Silvermines District, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
    © J.Ralph 2009
  		•  Calcite
    CaCO
     
    3
    Reference: [Balassone, G., Rossi, M., Boni, M., Stanley, G., and McDermott, P. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 168-186.]
  		•  Cerussite
    PbCO
     
    3
    Habit: Jackstraw
    Colour: White
    Description: Found as well formed ''jackstraw'' crystals. Also, secondary prismatic crystals can be found in dolomite vugs, from the limestone boulders strewn around the site. The crystals appear to have formed from the oxidation of sphalerite.
    Reference: [Anders Errson Collection; Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
  		•  'Chalcedony'
    Reference: [Econ Geol (1987) 82:371-394]
  		•  Chalcocite
    Cu
     
    2
    		S
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Chalcopyrite
    CuFeS
     
    2
    Reference: [No reference listed]
  		•  'Chlorite Group'
    Reference: [MinRecord 30:102]
  		•  Coronadite ?
    Pb(Mn,Mn)
     
    8
    		O
     
    16
    Reference: [No reference listed]
  		•  Covellite
    CuS
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Dolomite
    CaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    Habit: Rhombs
    Colour: White,iron stained, grey
    Description: Commonly found lining vugs in limestone boulders. Generally quite oxidised.
    Reference: [Balassone, G., Rossi, M., Boni, M., Stanley, G., and McDermott, P. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 168-186.; Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
  		•  Dundasite
    PbAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    		 · H
     
    2
    		O
    Habit: Fibrous sprays
    Colour: White
    Description: Rare white fibrous sprays found in/on gossan.
    Reference: [Anders Errson Collection]
  		•  Erythrite
    Co
     
    3
    		(AsO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		·8H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Freibergite
    (Ag
     
    4+2x
    		Cu
     
    2-2x
    		)[(Cu, Ag)
     
    4
    		(Fe, Zn)
     
    2
    		]Sb
     
    4
    		S
     
    12
    		S
     
    1-x
    		 (0 < x < 1)
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Galena
    PbS
    Reference: [Barry Flannery Collection; Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
    Site Photo
    Silvermines District, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  Geocronite
    Pb
     
    14
    		(Sb,As)
     
    6
    		S
     
    23
    Reference: [Econ Geol (1984) 79:529-548]
  		•  Gersdorffite
    NiAsS
    Reference: [Econ Geol (1984) 79:529-548]
  		•  Goethite
    α-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
    Habit: Botryoidal, Mammilated, Stalactitic
    Colour: Black
    Description: Goethite albeit oxidised is the source of all the limonite and fresh mammilations are visible on breaking limonite rocks. The hemimorphite appears to form on the goethite indicating it was first in the paragenesis. It usually forms mammilations when associated with hemimorphite or else stalatitic botryoids when it is by itself.
    Reference: [Barry Flannery Collection; Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
  		•  Gudmundite
    FeSbS
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Hematite
    Fe
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    Reference: [Balassone, G., Rossi, M., Boni, M., Stanley, G., and McDermott, P. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 168-186.]
  		•  Hemimorphite
    Zn
     
    4
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    7
    		] · H
     
    2
    		O
    Habit: Prismatic
    Colour: White, transparent
    Description: Well formed albeit small crystals can occasionally be found associated with goethite.
    Reference: [Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
    Site Photo
    Ballygown South Mine, Silvermines District, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
    © Barry Flannery
  		•  Hydrohetaerolite
    ZnMn
     
    2
    		O
     
    4
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Hydrozincite
    Zn
     
    5
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    Reference: [Balassone, G., Rossi, M., Boni, M., Stanley, G., and McDermott, P. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 168-186.]
  		•  Illite
    K
     
    0.65
    		A
     
    2.0
    		 [][Al
     
    0.65
    		Si,
     
    3.35
    		O
     
    10
    		](OH)
     
    2
    Reference: [Balassone, G., Rossi, M., Boni, M., Stanley, G., and McDermott, P. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 168-186.]
  		•  Jordanite
    Pb
     
    14
    		(As,Sb)
     
    6
    		S
     
    23
    Reference: [Moreton, S. (1999) Mineralogical Record, 30, 99-106.]
  		•  Lepidocrocite
    γ-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
    Reference: [Balassone, G., Rossi, M., Boni, M., Stanley, G., and McDermott, P. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 168-186.]
  		•  Limonite
    FeO(OH)·nH
     
    2
    		O
    Habit: Massive/Coatings
    Colour: Rust coloured / orange
    Description: In abundance in the spoil heap and is host to all the minerals. It appears that the limonite was cause by the oxidisation of goethite.
    Reference: [Barry Flannery Collection]
  		•  Linarite
    PbCu[(OH)
     
    2
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Löllingite
    FeAs
     
    2
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Malachite
    Cu
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|CO
     
    3
    		]
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Marcasite
    FeS
     
    2
    Reference: [Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
  		•  Miargyrite
    AgSbS
     
    2
    Reference: [Econ Geol (1984) 79:529-548]
  		•  Muscovite
    KAl
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    3
    		O
     
    10
    		]
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Proustite
    Ag
     
    3
    		AsS
     
    3
    Reference: [Econ Geol (1984) 79:529-548]
  		•  Pyrargyrite
    Ag
     
    3
    		SbS
     
    3
    Reference: [Econ Geol (1984) 79:529-548]
  		•  Pyrite
    FeS
     
    2
    Habit: Pyritohedrons
    Colour: Golden Metallic
    Description: Found in dolomite vugs, which are in turn found in limestone boulders. Well formed pyritohedrons seem to have been largely unaffected by weathering and oxidisation.
    Reference: [Barry Flannery Collection; Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
    Site Photo
    Mogul Mine (Garryard), Silvermines District, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
    © 2001 John H. Betts
  		•  Pyrolusite
    MnO
     
    2
    Reference: [Balassone, G., Rossi, M., Boni, M., Stanley, G., and McDermott, P. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 168-186.]
  		•  Pyromorphite
    Pb
     
    5
    		[Cl|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Pyrrhotite
    Fe
     
    7
    		S
     
    8
    		, (-4M), also given as Fe
     
    1-x
    		S (x = 0 - 0.2)
    Reference: [Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
  		•  Quartz
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [Balassone, G., Rossi, M., Boni, M., Stanley, G., and McDermott, P. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 168-186.]
    Site Photo
    Mogul Mine (Garryard), Silvermines District, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
     
  		•  Sauconite
    Na
     
    0.3
    		Zn
     
    3
    		(Si,Al)
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Balassone, G., Rossi, M., Boni, M., Stanley, G., and McDermott, P. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 168-186.]
  		•  'Sericite'
    Reference: [Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
  		•  Siderite
    FeCO
     
    3
    Reference: [Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
  		•  Silver
    Ag
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Smithite
    AgAsS
     
    2
    Reference: [Econ Geol (1984) 79:529-548]
  		•  Smithsonite
    ZnCO
     
    3
    Reference: [Balassone, G., Rossi, M., Boni, M., Stanley, G., and McDermott, P. (2008): Ore Geology Reviews 33, 168-186.; Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
  		•  Sphalerite
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    		)S
    Habit: Tetrahedral / Complex crystals
    Colour: Various shades of honey
    Description: Found in dolomite vugs which are in turn found in limestone boulders strewn about the site. Unoxidised crystals are rare but some have been found and they appeared to be well formed honey blende crystals.
    Reference: [Barry Flannery Collection; Mineralogical Magazine 1959 32 : 128-139.]
    Site Photo
    Mogul Mine (Garryard), Silvermines District, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
     
  		•  Tennantite
    (Cu,Ag,Fe,Zn)
     
    12
    		As
     
    4
    		S
     
    13
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Tetrahedrite
    (Cu,Fe,Ag,Zn)
     
    12
    		Sb
     
    4
    		S
     
    13
    Reference: [Cornwall]
  		•  Xanthoconite
    Ag
     
    3
    		AsS
     
    3
    Reference: [Econ Geol (1984) 79:529-548]


    58 entries listed. 54 valid minerals.

    Localities in this Region:
    Ireland
     
    • Co. Tipperary
      • Silvermines District

    The above list contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database!
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