Carrock Mine was the only example of an English Tungsten mine outside of Cornwall!
Over the 150 years it mined Lead, Arsenic and Tungsten ores.
The most important minerals extracted at Carrock Mine in the Lake District, were Wolframite and Sheelite, which both produce tungsten.
Tungsten becomes very useful during times of war due to its extraordinary properties. When a small amount is added to steel, it more than doubles the hardness, thus the efficiency of steel armour, artillery shells, barrels and tools which made them. If you sprinkle just a bit into molten iron and stir it up, you get tungsten carbide.
“It was so valuable that when they found some gold in this mine, they didn’t even bother with it.”
There are 5 important mineral veins at Carrock Mine, called:
- Wilson
- Smith
- Harding
- Waterfall
- Emerson
The Emerson vein was the first to be worked and was opened in 1852 by F. W. Emerson, but that was in the pursuit of lead. In the 20th Century the Harding Vein became the most important.
When the Allies realised the importance of tungsten in the war effort, a second tungsten mine was opened at Castle-an-Dinas in Cornwall.
During the course of WW1, 14,000 tons of ore were mined at Carrock, producing about 200 tonnes of tungsten.
By 1918, the UK was producing about 20,000 tonnes of hardened steel which required 3,000 tonnes of metallic tungsten.
Mining ceased at Carrock Mine in 1981
After a number of changes of ownership, the mine reopened in April 1977 and produced around 16,000 tonnes per annum, until closure in October 1981.
Until recently, Carrock Mine was the only tungsten mine outside of Cornwall; now a days we have an effort in Devon, called Drakelands, due to rising prices.
The site is now a designated SSSI and licenses are required for mineral hunters. The removal of anything from the site is strictly prohibited, since so much of the archaeological evidence has already been removed.
Most of the buildings were removed shortly after 1988, but now the only remains left on the site are those on the south side of Grainsgill Beck, which are the concrete bases of hoppers constructed in 1913 by the Carrock Mining Syndicate.
Check out some excellent underground images – HERE!
The site is undeniably remote and a scenic drive can only bring you so close. You will have to walk up the easy path to see the site, but might as well bring a map and a flask and walk all day – there are views to be had all round! Maybe take the walk to Skiddaw House!
Carrock Fell, Grainsgill Beck, Mosedale, Cumbria
Carrock Mine was the only example of an English Tungsten mine outside of Cornwall!
Over the 150 years it mined Lead, Arsenic and Tungsten ores.
The most important minerals extracted at Carrock Mine in the Lake District, were Wolframite and Sheelite, which both produce tungsten.
Tungsten becomes very useful during times of war due to its extraordinary properties. When a small amount is added to steel, it more than doubles the hardness, thus the efficiency of steel armour, artillery shells, barrels and tools which made them. If you sprinkle just a bit into molten iron and stir it up, you get tungsten carbide.
“It was so valuable that when they found some gold in this mine, they didn’t even bother with it.”
There are 5 important mineral veins at Carrock Mine, called:
- Wilson
- Smith
- Harding
- Waterfall
- Emerson
The Emerson vein was the first to be worked and was opened in 1852 by F. W. Emerson, but that was in the pursuit of lead. In the 20th Century the Harding Vein became the most important.
When the Allies realised the importance of tungsten in the war effort, a second tungsten mine was opened at Castle-an-Dinas in Cornwall.
During the course of WW1, 14,000 tons of ore were mined at Carrock, producing about 200 tonnes of tungsten.
By 1918, the UK was producing about 20,000 tonnes of hardened steel which required 3,000 tonnes of metallic tungsten.
Mining ceased at Carrock Mine in 1981
After a number of changes of ownership, the mine reopened in April 1977 and produced around 16,000 tonnes per annum, until closure in October 1981.
Until recently, Carrock Mine was the only tungsten mine outside of Cornwall; now a days we have an effort in Devon, called Drakelands, due to rising prices.
The site is now a designated SSSI and licenses are required for mineral hunters. The removal of anything from the site is strictly prohibited, since so much of the archaeological evidence has already been removed.
Most of the buildings were removed shortly after 1988, but now the only remains left on the site are those on the south side of Grainsgill Beck, which are the concrete bases of hoppers constructed in 1913 by the Carrock Mining Syndicate.
Check out some excellent underground images – HERE!
The site is undeniably remote and a scenic drive can only bring you so close. You will have to walk up the easy path to see the site, but might as well bring a map and a flask and walk all day – there are views to be had all round! Maybe take the walk to Skiddaw House!
Carrock Fell, Grainsgill Beck, Mosedale, Cumbria
Been in Carrock many times, a few lads I knew worked there in the late seventies until it closed. Took my Grandson in there a few years ago he was keen to learn about what it was like to work underground in the OLD days. How things have changed, now nothing is allowed to break the silence.