On the Morphology of Barite Crystals from
Silverwood Colliery, South Yorkshire

Brian A. Prowse

This article concerns the morphology of one of the barite crystals found at British Coal's Silverwood Colliery, Uttley, S. (1987).

Minerals from the Basalt Breccia
Exposed in the Redpa Quarry,
North-Western Tasmania, Australia

H. D. C. Heron

Some eighteen mineral species, several aesthetically crystallised, have been reported from a small quarry near Redpa in Tasmania. Although well known amongst Tasmanian collectors, specimens from this deposit are little known elsewhere. Apart from the work of Sutherland, Corbett and, more recently, Polden, very little appears to have been written on this quarry's mineralogy. Brief descriptions are presented for all the species reported to date.

The Camborne School of Mines
Geological Museum

Dr. R. Lesley Atkinson

Twelve years ago I read that it takes ten years to set up the average museum. I could not believe it. How could putting together a collection of rocks and minerals take so long? Now that I am still only halfway through such a project at the Camborne School of Mines I consider it a very conservative estimate.

Exchanging Minerals

Eric Otty

Self-collected mineral form the basis of many collections and may bring pride and joy to the owner, but to build up a representative collection further variety has to be introduced. Specimens can be acquired from dealers who accept commissions or from their tables at shows. This may prove expensive though, as good quality specimens do not come cheap. A more satisfying way of obtaining specimens is by exchanges with other collectors, which can lead to personal friendships and perhaps, a new approach to the hobby. This is also a way of reducing the amount of surplus material acquired during field trips.

Zeolites

Alan Dyer
Onita Wilson

Zeolites are hydrated aluminosilicate minerals. They were recognised first in 1756 as a new group of minerals by the Swedish geologist Cronstedt, who noted the intumescence of stilbite - i.e. the way in which the crystals visibly lost water when heated in a blowpipe. This observation led him to name the group 'zeolites' from the Greek, meaning 'boiling stones'.

Mining of the Basal Permian Sands
West Yorkshire

J. & P. Hodgkins

The area between Garforth and Pontefract, Yorkshire is well known for its extensive coal industry. However, there have been other extractive industries there in the past; for limestone, marl and sand. Vast tonnages of Basal Permian Sand were mined over the centuries - this article is a brief history of that forgotten industry.

Lead & Zinc Mining in the Ewden Valley
South Yorkshire

B. Moore

This report is a compilation from diverse written sources, recollections collected at the beginning of the century and physical evidence of lead and zinc mining in the Ewden Valley, Stocksbridge.

Pandora's Crystal Box

David Melville

Being a miner in the Cornish tin mines a couple of decades ago was all about survival of the fittest. You had to be super strong both physically and mentally in order to survive. Any weaknesses and you would be "dead-legged" out of the mine.

The Minerals of Rhuba a'Mhill, Islay, Scotland

David I. Green

This locality, situated in a relatively remote part of Scotland is notable for the copper chloride mineral paratacamite, and also for crystalline quartz, calcite, dolomite associations.

Wheal Gorland
A Personal Recollection of Visits Made
During 1976 and 1977

Arnold Fisher

It seems appropriate that one of the first colour articles for "Rockbottom" should be devoted to Wheal Gorland, as it is the tenth anniversary of the removal of the dumps from the famous crossroads at St. Day. Despite the excellent articles written by Steve Rust in 1981 and more recently by Stefan Weiss there is much to be said and many minerals to be photographed from this mine. Peter Embrey and Bob Symes' long awaited book displays clearly in its photographs why there is still so much interest in its minerals. I have no intention of competing with any of these authors on the description of the lodes and complete descriptions of all the minerals obtained historically or in rephotographing the finest specimens on display in the British or Truro museums. This is a personal account of my association with Wheal Gorland, together with photographs of some of the most characteristic specimens of the mine.

Mineralisation at the Goldthorpe/Hickleton Complex, South Yorkshire

Steve Uttley

Following the discovery of a barite/dolomite/pyrite mineral assemblage at Silverwood Colliery; S. Uttley (1987), a keen interest was taken in any further mineralisation at other collieries. The mine geologist for the Goldthorpe/Hickleton complex, John Wilson, discovered dolomite mineralisation in November 1987, within a faulted zone. He examined it and visually identified a very similar assemblage to Silverwood, the predominant mineral again being dolomite with lesser pyrite and barite. I was myself invited to investigate the site later the same week. This article relates to this investigation and the samples collected by myself and John Wilson.

Minerals of The Dome Rock and Mutooroo Copper Mines, South Australia

Andy Paterson

The Dome Rock and Mutooroo copper mines are situated in the Eastern zone of the Olary mineral province in the State of South Australia. Both were relatively small deposits of fairly rich ores. Chalcocite and chalcopyrite were the chief ores mined.