County Geological Sites

Site reference no. SX75SW1 Name: Loddiswell Mine

District: Parish: Loddiswell

National grid ref: 72125156 OS sheets: 1:50k 202 1:25k OL 20 1:10k SX75SW GS 1:50k 249 GridRef x y Lat Long SX721515 272100 51500 50.349485 -3.7990603

Locality description (address): Newbarn, 3km due north of Loddiswell and 0.5km north-west of Wigford Farm.

Nature of site: Mine (D). Collapsed mine shafts and associated dumps in woodland.

Geological / geomorphological features: Lode in grey, glossy, well-cleaved slate of the Lower Devonian Meadfoot Group. Slate with a southerly dipping cleavage is exposed in the exit tunnel of the wheel pit beside the derelict buildings at New Barn. Two collapsed shafts aligned approximately north south are associated with dumps which are largely overgrown. The northern shaft (Grid ref. as above) exposes slate but recent superficial collapse has concealed the exposure of the lode that was previously visible. The dumps consist predominantly of slate and quartz with fragments of the quartz-siderite lode material occur associated with brecciated slate. The sulphide mineralisation recorded is complex and is believed to be associated with a NW-SE trending fault. Minerals include pyrite, arsenopyrite, gersdorfite, gold/electrum, tetrahedrite, bismuth, bournonite, jamesonite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, acanthite, yarrowite, covelline, goethite, bindheimite, malachite, cerrusite and anglesite. Hummocky ground and a spring in the pasture field to the north of the wood may indicate the continuation of the fault and site of other workings. Historical interest lies in the remains of a water-wheel pit and reservoir. Derelict farm buildings at New Barn may be developments of former mine buildings.

Reasons for registration as a Regionally Important Geological / Geomorphological Site: The value of the site lies essentially in its research interest in relation to the occurrence of gold in the South Hams and the complex sulphide and secondary mineralisation. There is historical interest related to the development of mining in the South Hams and the remains of mine works and buildings.

Site sensitivity: None at present. Woodland clearance or replanting could threaten the value of the site if the workings are disturbed.

Safety: Generally safe.

Interest groups: Schools. Years 5-11: Years 12-16: Years 17-18. University. Undergraduate - Research Professional geologists - Amateur geological groups - General public.

Access and Parking: Access difficult. Walk north across fields from Wigford or south across fields from road NW from Blackdown Cross, gate near Blackdown Goat Centre. Parking on verge for cars.

Date of assessment (V = visited) : V 3rd January 1995 R T Taylor

Site owner :

Other comments: Woodland is a County Wildlife Site, it is also used for game shooting.

References: Dines, H.G. 1966. The metalliferous mining region of south-west . Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. 2 vols., 795 pp. London, HMSO. (Reprinted with addenda and corrigenda 1988) Hamilton Jenkin, A.K. 1974. Mines of Devon. Volume1. The Southern area. 154 pp. David and Charles. . Leak, R.C., Cameron, D.G., Bland, D.J., Styles, M.T. and Rollin, K.E. 1988. Exploration for gold between the lower valleys of the Erme and Avon in the South Hams district of Devon. Mineral Reconnaissance Report, British Geological Survey, No. 98. Stanley, C.J., Halls, C., Camm, G.S., and James, J. 1990. Gold-antimony mineralisation at Loddiswell, Devon, UK. Terra Nova. Vol. 2, No.3, pp.226-233. Leak, R.C., Cameron, D.G., Bland, D.J., Styles, M.T. and Rollin, K.E. 1992. Exploration for gold in the South Hams district of Devon. British Geological Survey Technical Report. WF/92/2. (BGS Mineral Reconnaissance Programme Report, No.121).