February Cornish Mining Sundowner and news of a new book on Cornish tin mining

Despite the atrocious weather around 15 Cornish mining folk made it to the sundowner last night, the first of the year at Falmouth's Chain Locker.

All but one of the attendees were 'locals' from West Cornwall, so it was good to see East Cornwall's representative Alex Newns, Minerals Technology Manager at Imerys Minerals Ltd. Imerys specialises in the production and processing of industrial minerals and operates the china clay mines in the St. Austell area of East Cornwall. Last year Imerys acquired an 80% stake in British Lithium, based in the same area, the transaction bringing together Imerys's lithium mineral resources, found in the micas in the china clay residues, and British Lithium’s technology and state-of-the-art lithium pilot plant, which is now producing battery-grade lithium carbonate.

The resources give sufficient confidence to target a life of mine exceeding 30 years at a production rate of 20,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent per year, potentially enough to equip 500,000 electrical vehicles per year by the end of the decade, meeting roughly two-thirds of Britain’s estimated battery demand by 2030 when all UK car manufacturers convert to electric vehicles. It was good to talk to Alex about the latest developments, and to hear that he was at CSM in my class within the MSc course in mineral processing in my final year in 1996.

Alex Newns (4th left) with me, Dean Eastbury, KP van der Wielen, Pat Foster and Nick Clarke

There was no major mining news from West Cornwall this month, but a new book might be of interest- Tin mining in Cornwall 1900 to 1950 - decline, fall and resurrection. 

In histories of the Cornish Tin Industry, the period after the death of Queen Victoria often receives scant attention and is treated as a mere tailpiece. This omission is now significantly remedied by Roger Burt's history of the first half of the twentieth century. The book provides a new analysis of this era which examines its successes and failures both generally and through major players. East Pool, Geevor and South Crofty. There are also portraits of several key individuals. This is an important original work from an author who has made an extensive study of metal mining with particular reference to Cornwall, and a major addition to the story of Cornish Tin. It also provides interesting perspectives on the problems facing any revival of Cornish mining now or in the future.

The next Cornish Mining Sundowner will be on Thursday 21st March from 5.30pm at the Chain Locker, Falmouth.