UKC

http://www.cornwalllive.com/cornwall-could-be-on-the-verge-of-a-mining-revo...

Cornwall is one of the poorest countries in England, and relies on tourism for 25% of it's income. Could the reemergence of mining, (South Crofty mine is also set to reopen, ) be a revival of the county's fortunes, or may the re-industialisation bring it's own problems?

The chance to reopen a quarry on the Lizard Peninsula, to supply rocks to the proposed Swansea tidal barrier, has met with massive local opposition. Are the days of industry in what was the most prosperous mining area in SW England now over?

Any thoughts? Will it affect Cornwall as a climbing venue even?

(Admittedly I have a self-interest here, I'm moving back to Cornwall in Feb 2018.)

In reply to Big Ger:


I would have my doubts of it hitting the main areas since I believe it is going to be deep underground for the lithium. For more general stone quarrying again would doubt it. Might actually create some further down the line.

Be interesting to see what happens with the lithium. Its the current favourite for batteries and demand is only going to go up until something better is found.
I would have my doubts though about how much work would come from it. I would guess it would be highly specialised and not needing massive numbers of people.

In reply to Big Ger:

It might come onstream in time to end the great depression.

In reply to KevinD:

Some interesting thoughts there mate.

The amount of heavy transport, lorries and so forth on the A30, which is already pretty dire, may be one thing which influences the tourist trade.

The mining method doesn't seem to hold out much prospects of jobs, not in the old mining industry sense.





http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/revealed-the-huge-area-of-cornwall-which-co...

In reply to DerwentDiluted:

The great depression ended in 1939.

In reply to Big Ger:

I'm assuming that they won't attempt to extract it with high pressure water fracking.

In reply to Big Ger:

I'm just waiting for you to come home and we can gorge ourselves on pasties.
You can have the sweet end.

In reply to Lusk:

Icky!! When I was back in Cornwall in 2015 Warren's were selling these.

https://warrensbakery.co.uk/2016/10/10/a-festive-first-introducing-the-minc...

In reply to Big Ger:


I was idly musing on its psychiatric use and wether demand for anti depressants is likely to increase in the next four years at all.

In reply to Big Ger:

Cornwall is one of the poorest countries in England

Nicely done

In reply to DerwentDiluted:


Ah, I see.

About 30% of the young people I see are prescribed lithium carbonate, but as a mood stabiliser, it's not commonly used as an anti-depressant.

In reply to FactorXXX:

Keeping both sides of the debate happy, wouldn't want the Stannary parliament banging on my door, let alone An Gof.

In reply to Big Ger:


Would there be a lot of heavy transport? Not sure how dodgy lithium is when unprocessed. I know when its turned into batteries it can be rather dangerous.

In reply to KevinD:

Don't know mate, pure speculation on my part.

In reply to Big Ger:

Before you kerknow it they'll be thinking they can go it alone on the back of mineral resources.

In reply to Big Ger:
Compared with the past it's all tiny tiny stuff. S Crofty has been test mining for years. Fair play to them they have found a way of raising funds to employ people to produce nothing. Good on them. That area more than most needs the jobs.

Most of the rock from Dean Quarry would head straight out to sea as it used to. Ok there are genuine concerns about marine conservation, but the quarry was working at full bore only 20 years ago and the marine life has recovered completely it seems (I'm no expert, but based on its supposed value now it's recovery must be pretty good).

This lithium stuff doesn't sound like a material that will be shifted in huge bulk, ie thousands of lorry movements per week. So there will still be far more Ginsters lorries heading east than tippers or tankers!

Cornwall needs the jobs. Unless they just admit defeat and just declare the whole county a second home holiday park...or a retirement village for the economically fortunate!

In reply to Big Ger:



The single lane stretch at Temple coming off the moor is well on its way to completion and I think dualling of the last stretch between Chiverton Cross and Carland Cross has been mooted again recently - so A30 issues will likely be resolved for the time being at least.

As another poster said, it's likely Dean Quarry stuff will go straight out to sea. There's a bit of gabbro at Porthustock, is that what they'll quarry at Dean? Won't impact the climbing around there anyway, the closest is The Grove and Black Head either side of Coverack.

In reply to Big Ger:

Will English folk want to go down holes in the ground and mine lithium? I reckon they'll prefer to let east Europeans do it.

In reply to Rigid Raider:


"At the bottom of every hole in the world you'll find a Cornishman"

I can think of a number of my friends who would.

In reply to Wainers44:


Agreed, though recently a Canadian firm has bought out the mine, and may be bringing tin mining back on stream.

Strongbow Exploration Inc. is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement whereby Strongbow has the right to acquire, from administration, a 100% interest in the South Crofty Tin Project and associated mineral rights in Cornwall, UK.



Again totally agree, but the NIMBY's may stop it yet;

http://www.cads2015.com/
Initial concerns were raised by a group of residents, followed by the Shire Oak Energy presentation on 10th January 2015 (during which further concerns were raised and inadequately addressed) and the Parish council meeting of 14th January 2015. Subsequently, approximately 100 concerned residents met at the Roskilly Croust House, St Keverne. During this meeting it was decided to oppose the re-opening of the quarry as a Super Quarry. A group of volunteers formed a committee to co-ordinate the opposition.


LOL!! Which is more toxic, Lithium or Ginsters "pasties"?


That is the big debate now. Unfortunately not only are there many NIMBY groups as above, but also some "Cornish Nationalist" groups whose interventions may drag this whole thing out until it dies of ennui.

I'm lucky, my house is way way away from the tin/lithium/quarry wars!

In reply to Tom Last:

Yes Gabbro. Back in the day I used to buy the stuff for various construction sites down there. They were never that fussed though, easier to send it out by boat than lorry. It was a while ago, but I think it was also very dense, so you got less M3 for your buck per tonne!

Maybe already too many holiday homes nearby to allow it to open quickly?

In reply to Big Ger:




arh, so you be near the arsenic mines then...

In reply to Wainers44:

Yep, not far from Geevor actually!

In reply to Rigid Raider:


There are a number of well known and respected Polish families in Cornwall, who came over when Crofty and other mines were operating.