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Field CollectingWales Localities

22nd Jun 2014 20:58 UTCJean-Claude Costes

Hi,

In july we have planned an excursion to Wales, UK. We have some localities that we can visit but we were wondering if there are some we must absolutely visit. We are going to visit the region around Abersytwyth and we intend to visit the local mine dumps.

Any hints or clues will be appreciated.

Thanks

Tom & Jean-Claude Costes

23rd Jun 2014 00:54 UTCJean-Claude Costes

-- moved topic --

23rd Jun 2014 18:04 UTCMark Redmond

See if you can get a copy of " A mineralogy of Wales" for a background to the different areas.

Have a look at the link

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mineralogy-Wales-Geological-R-E-Bevins/dp/0720004039/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403542807&sr=8-1&keywords=mineralogy+of+wales.

I think there are lead mines in that area but galena tends to weather on the dumps. Further north in Snowdonia there are quite a few gold mines and copper mines.. I think the specimens in museums are from the mining days. I don't often see good specimens from the welsh mines on the internet.

Regards

Mark Redmond

25th Jun 2014 07:32 UTCJohn Mason Expert

The second edition of A Mineralogy of Wales was developed as a website so that it can be periodically updated:

http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/mineralogy/database/

Generally, the Central Wales mining district produces few macro specimens, but if you are into micros there is potential at a number of sites especially where post-mining weathering has occurred within the tips.

Northwards are the Dolgellau gold belt and the Snowdon Caldera copper mining district. The primary mineralisation is massive and crystals are few and far between but adit walls can carry patches of post-mining supergene minerals. But in the same areas any "barren" quartz veins are worth a look as the whole area is known for Alpine fissure-type veins with a wide range of interesting accessory species, especially in the slate-belt between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog. If you can get permission to visit the working slate quarries (by no means certain) they are worth spending time in looking for this material. Again it's mostly micro stuff but a few good larger specimens turn up from time to time. Happy hunting!

25th Jun 2014 13:28 UTCSusan Robinson

The type locality for brookite is near Porthmadog, but I think collecting there is now closed. The locality is above a small highway, directly over where the cars drive, and collecting there is very risky.

9th Jul 2014 16:31 UTCJean-Claude Costes

Hi

We would like to thank everybody that answered on our topic.

We are leaving friday so if you still have some recomendations, please feel free.

Thanks

Tom & Jean-Claude Costes

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