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Leon Hupperichs · Joined: 23 Oct 2013 Posts: 15 Location: Netherlands

One from Egremont.

Leon Hupperichs · Joined: 23 Oct 2013 Posts: 15 Location: Netherlands

From the Alston Moor District.

Philip Mostmans · Joined: 08 Nov 2011 Posts: 43 Location: Mechelen

Two specimens from the Willy Israel Collection. Both are from the Florence mine area in Cumbria.

Both specimens were recovered in the late 70s and purchased directly from the miners by Willy.

One of these specimens was recovered in the "Lonely Hearths" section of the mine. Which was apparently near the point where both the Beckermet and Florence mine were connected. The spot was so far from any access point to any of the mines that working there was somewhat lonely, hence the name. Don't know if this story is true, but a fun fact nonetheless. :-)

Jesse Fisher · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 639 Location: San Francisco

Philip - you got the wrong county! This is Durham.

Philip Mostmans · Joined: 08 Nov 2011 Posts: 43 Location: Mechelen

My mistake! Was sure I clicked on the correct thread though. Must have had two browser tabs open. Is there any of the admins who can move it to the correct thread please?

I apologise for the inconvenience!

Jordi Fabre

Philip Mostmans · Joined: 08 Nov 2011 Posts: 43 Location: Mechelen

colin robinson · Joined: 29 May 2013 Posts: 82 Location: Cumbria

Philip, the 'Lonely Hearts' section was where the Florence and Ullcoats mines were connected, not Beckermet. I think the story of the name is quite romantic but the distance between the two mines is quite short so it doesn't really make much sense.

Philip Mostmans · Joined: 08 Nov 2011 Posts: 43 Location: Mechelen

I made the wrong assumption then. Both specimens were labeled as coming from Beckermet mine. But as far as I know Beckermet didn't produce any of the Blue Fluorites.

When I heard the story I assumed Lonely Hearths to be between Florence and Beckermet, so the miner probably accessed the Florence workings through the Beckermet connection.

Ah well, it was a good story. Too bad it isn't true :-). Any idea's why the section was named Loneley Hearths?

Tobi

colin robinson · Joined: 29 May 2013 Posts: 82 Location: Cumbria

Tobi, I've been down Florence mine quite a few times and know the Lonely Hearts area. It is not far from either the Florence shaft or the Ullcoats workings so the idea of it being long and lonely work makes no sense at all when you consider that all hard rock mining is long and lonely work for the small gang of men pushing forward a heading. A more likely explanation is that it's a little joke among the miners. Cumbrians are good at that sort of thing!

The drift driven from surface is what we up here call a dib or dip shaft and is either an incline or decline..depending.

Beckermet didn't produce much of note apart from the Banana Slide calcites but I have found small blue fluorites on the dump from no. 1 shaft.

The pumps, headframe and winding gear at Florence are still fully functional and the mine could easily be re-opened if we could find someone to pay the pumping costs. Any takers out there?

Tobi

Philip Mostmans · Joined: 08 Nov 2011 Posts: 43 Location: Mechelen

Hi Colin,

Good to hear from you again, it's been a while.

Thank you for the background information.

As much as I would like to help out reopening the Florence mine, I'm afraid my current account balance the pumps would not last more than several days. Perhaps if we all tried our luck in the lottery? :-)

Tobi

Two more classics from Cumbrian mines:

James Catmur

Thank you Tobi - nice specimens for the region. Let's have some more folks!

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