Introduction

Content goes here about Cambokeels Mine locality...

Introduction

The Cambokeels Mine (sometimes called Cammock Eals) was developed on a section of the Slitt Vein roughly half way between the villages of Eastgate and Westgate. The main adit is located on the north banks of the River Wear, and the abandoned workings can still be seen from the road (A689). The Slitt Vein in this area was first worked by the Beaumont Company between 1847-1871 for lead. Although the vein was large, lead values were poor and the mine was abandoned. The mine was reopened for fluorspar in 1905 and was worked in an on-again, off-again fashion by a succession of owners through much of the 20th century.

Mr J Coulthard reopened the horse level in 1906 for Fluorspar, this operation was taken over in 1909 by W. Hind and Co., to be worked in conjunction with there operations on Slitt vein higher up in the Park Burn level. The operations at this point were confined to the first 300 meter of the vein. This period of working ended in 1927.

Mr A Dalton reopened the horse level in 1935 and worked a stope to the west past Fleming shaft, the mine again closed in 1939. RA Fairburn advises the total output of ore for the period 1909 to 1939 was 28,086 tons of Fluorspar. The output at this point was sold to the Concert Iron Co.

The next phase of working started in the late 1940’s when the Anglo-Austral Mining Co., Ltd. a subsidiary of the Imperial Smelting Corporation Ltd., Again the horse level was reopened work was confined to the ground above this level and on the Western area of the vein, being between the Park Burn and the Fleming shaft. It was found at this stage that the Slitt vein occurred as two distinct fractures being separated by between 7.6 and 21.3 meters this continued until 1960 with 26,128 tons of Fluorspar, 1,203 tones of lead and 51 tons of Zinc concentrate where produced in this time. The production at this time was taken to Nenthead and processed in a new floatation plant that had been built in the old Krupp mill at the Rampgill washing floors.

The most recent production cycle at Cambokeels began in the early 1973 and for the next decade and a half the mine was one of the most productive sources of fluorite in Weardale. Malcolm Brown & Madison acquired the mine in 1973 and put in a new incline below the old Horse Level, discovering high grade fluorite ore from the 40 meter level down. This incline is NOT the one driven from the mine yard rather it was driven from the horse level. 732m in bye. The incline that has been driven from the mine yard was started by Malcom Brown and Madison with financial assistance from SAMUK.

The mine was sold in short order to Swiss Aluminium UK (SAMUK). Working levels were established at 200m, 240m and In the 280m level. The 200m level commanded the Tyne bottom limestone but proved to not be very productive. The 240m level was in the Whim Sill where good ore bodies where discovered. In the 280m level further good ore bodies where discovered and worked over a significant distance.

In 1982 the mine along with the floatation plant in the Broadwood quarry were sold to Minworth Ltd. The mine was further developed by the extension of the 280m level. Along with a new sub decline opening up further ground on the 320m level, 325m Zinc flat which had to be abandoned due to the drills constantly hitting cavities that made development work difficult. and 340m level. This was the deepest part of the mine and along with being the deepest mine in Weardale. Here the vein was still going strong with increased zinc values. These low levels where below the Whim Sill. The mine finally closed in 1989. In the period Minworth owned the mine the mine was producing around 1,100-1,700 tons per week.

Collector's Guide

Cambokeels like most of the other mines in Weardale has produced a relatively small range of minerals, mainly Fluorite, Calcite and Quartz. But also stands out for producing some of the best Pyrrhotite crystals found in the UK. Unlike the other mines in Weardale the Fluorite here is often of a pale more pastel colour unlike the strong purples and greens seen in other mines in the area. These Fluorites produce some very attractive and well formed groups but can be a little blander when compared to the contrast in colours seen in other mines.

Where Cambokeels really stands out in the area is the range of Calcites that it has produced, these have been found throughout the mine in what seems to be a different habit in every cavity.

Notable Finds

Below the horse level the mine seems to have produced a significant amount specimens, a lot of these have not been located to a specific area of the mine. Two finds within the mine seem to stand out as noteworthy, firstly the Zinc flat found on the 325 level produced some brilliant clear twinned Fluorites often associated with Calcite and Quartz.

Secondly on the 340 level there was a find of pink twinned Fluorites on white Quartz. The colour combination here is rather striking and totally different to other Weardale Fluorites. Whilst being attractive specimens finding one in an undamaged condition is difficult.

Collecting History

Most of the specimens that are available on the market today are from the mining operations in the 1970s and 1980s, prior to this time the workings where all above the horse level and it was not until the mine was deepened below the horse level that the true specimen potential came to light.