COPPER MINING
Copper ore would have been relatively easy for the bronze age people to recognise because it turns a luminous green when exposed to air. It is also recognisable in water because the colour of the water reflects this luminosity. In Glandore harbour the water has that "Blue Lagoon " appearance!
Given the number of copper mines in Ireland, it is surprising that the Labbacalle lines go through the two mines that are specified as bronze age sites: Ross Island and Mt Gabriel (Ballydehob)
Given the number of copper mines in Ireland, it is surprising that the Labbacalle lines go through the two mines that are specified as bronze age sites: Ross Island and Mt Gabriel (Ballydehob)
ROSS ISLAND
Copper mining on Ross Island on Loch Lein which is close to Killarney in Co. Kerry was carried out between 2400 BC and 2000 BC according to O Brien (1996). Apparently,
these workings are the oldest known in northwest Europe.
http://www.nuigalway.ie/Ross Island, on the eastern side of Lough Leane, saw the mining of copper and other metals at different times over the past four thousand years. Copper mining began here at the dawn of the Bronze Age (c.2400-1800 BC) when metal was first used in Ireland. The discovery of Beaker pottery links this
mine to the very beginnings of Irish metallurgy in the final Neolithic period.
Discovering the Bronze Age for the Discovery Programme in Blackrock Centre
The workings at Ross Island consisted of large cave like openings in the limestone. Many stone hammers were found there. The shoulder blades of cattle were also discovered. These were probably used as scoops to move broken rocks around the site. A work camp was discovered near these workings. A work camp was discovered near these workings, with traces of post built huts which may been used to shelter the workers.
Copper mining on Ross Island on Loch Lein which is close to Killarney in Co. Kerry was carried out between 2400 BC and 2000 BC according to O Brien (1996). Apparently,
these workings are the oldest known in northwest Europe.
http://www.nuigalway.ie/Ross Island, on the eastern side of Lough Leane, saw the mining of copper and other metals at different times over the past four thousand years. Copper mining began here at the dawn of the Bronze Age (c.2400-1800 BC) when metal was first used in Ireland. The discovery of Beaker pottery links this
mine to the very beginnings of Irish metallurgy in the final Neolithic period.
Discovering the Bronze Age for the Discovery Programme in Blackrock Centre
The workings at Ross Island consisted of large cave like openings in the limestone. Many stone hammers were found there. The shoulder blades of cattle were also discovered. These were probably used as scoops to move broken rocks around the site. A work camp was discovered near these workings. A work camp was discovered near these workings, with traces of post built huts which may been used to shelter the workers.
MOUNT GABRIEL
Discovering the Bronze Age for the Discovery Programme in Blackrock Centre
Over thirty mines have been discovered on the hillside at Mt Gabriel, a site which came into use about 700 years after the Ross Island mines. Evidence of wooden picks and shovels were discovered, along with pine chips which were used to light the dark, wetmines.
http://www.ballydehob.ie/
Some of the earliest evidence of mining comes from the Bronze Age (1,300 BC) copper mines at Mount Gabriel in Co. Cork. Around twenty six mines were in use on Mt Gabriel during the Bronze Age, the total amount of ore mined being in the region of 623 tonnes.
This natural ore would then have to be smelted, a process which could have reduced the total by almost half, leaving approximately 312 tonnes of pure copper. These figures are all approximations, however they do show how much metal must have been available in prehistoric days.
http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/
At Mount Gabriel, county Cork, lies one of the few Bronze Age mines known anywhere in Europe, other than Austria. Dating from between 1500BC and 1200BC, it consists of 25 shallow mine shafts extending about 5 to 10 metres into the slope. Evidence from inside the mines indicates that the copper ore was probably extracted by lighting fires inside the mine and then, when the mine walls had become hot, water was splashed onto them, thus shattering the ore which could then be removed. Counties Cork and Kerry, on the south-west tip of the island, produced the bulk of Ireland's copper and it has been estimated [3 p114] that together the counties produced 370 tonnes of copper during this era.
OTHER COPPER MINES IN IRELAND
I wonder did these bronze age folk come across these copper sources? They're on the lines or close by !!
KENMARE ARDTULLY MINE
minedat.org refer to this mine in the following way:
Victorian era copper mine worked sporadically in the mid-19th century. A well preserved chimney stack and 2 shafts are still visible amongst the trees on site. Massive tennantite and bornite can be found
readily in the spoil near the shafts.
GLANDORE
Worked first for copper from 1811-1819 by burning copper rich peat in Maulagow bog below the mine. Mining began for manganese and iron in 1840 and continued sporadically until 1882 with a brief resurgence in 1909-1910 corresponding to a surge in metal prices.
AND WHATABOUT THE MINES MENTIONED BY MINAT.ORG?
Discovering the Bronze Age for the Discovery Programme in Blackrock Centre
Over thirty mines have been discovered on the hillside at Mt Gabriel, a site which came into use about 700 years after the Ross Island mines. Evidence of wooden picks and shovels were discovered, along with pine chips which were used to light the dark, wetmines.
http://www.ballydehob.ie/
Some of the earliest evidence of mining comes from the Bronze Age (1,300 BC) copper mines at Mount Gabriel in Co. Cork. Around twenty six mines were in use on Mt Gabriel during the Bronze Age, the total amount of ore mined being in the region of 623 tonnes.
This natural ore would then have to be smelted, a process which could have reduced the total by almost half, leaving approximately 312 tonnes of pure copper. These figures are all approximations, however they do show how much metal must have been available in prehistoric days.
http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/
At Mount Gabriel, county Cork, lies one of the few Bronze Age mines known anywhere in Europe, other than Austria. Dating from between 1500BC and 1200BC, it consists of 25 shallow mine shafts extending about 5 to 10 metres into the slope. Evidence from inside the mines indicates that the copper ore was probably extracted by lighting fires inside the mine and then, when the mine walls had become hot, water was splashed onto them, thus shattering the ore which could then be removed. Counties Cork and Kerry, on the south-west tip of the island, produced the bulk of Ireland's copper and it has been estimated [3 p114] that together the counties produced 370 tonnes of copper during this era.
OTHER COPPER MINES IN IRELAND
I wonder did these bronze age folk come across these copper sources? They're on the lines or close by !!
KENMARE ARDTULLY MINE
minedat.org refer to this mine in the following way:
Victorian era copper mine worked sporadically in the mid-19th century. A well preserved chimney stack and 2 shafts are still visible amongst the trees on site. Massive tennantite and bornite can be found
readily in the spoil near the shafts.
GLANDORE
Worked first for copper from 1811-1819 by burning copper rich peat in Maulagow bog below the mine. Mining began for manganese and iron in 1840 and continued sporadically until 1882 with a brief resurgence in 1909-1910 corresponding to a surge in metal prices.
AND WHATABOUT THE MINES MENTIONED BY MINAT.ORG?
http://www.mindat.org/
Co. Cork:
Beara Peninsula, Castletown-Bearhaven Copper Mines, Allihies Dooneen Mine
S. Moreton, unpublished observation.
Glandore Glandore Mine (Aghatubrid Mine; Glendore Mine)
Natural History Museum specimens
Co. Galway
Killimor Tynagh Mine
S. Moreton collection
Co. Kerry Kenmare Kenmare Mines Ardtully Mine (Cloontoo Mine)
Henwood, W.J. (1871): Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall 8(1), 540-626
Killarney Lough Leane Ross Island
Ixer, R.A. 2004. Catalogue of Petrographic Descriptions for Rock and Ore Samples, Ross Island Mine. In: O'Brien, W. ed. Ross Island - Mining, Metal and Society in Early Ireland. Bronze Age Studies 6, Department of Archaeology, National University of Ireland, Galway, 768pp.
Co. Tipperary
Monard Gortdrum Mine
Steed, G.M. "The geology and genesis of the Gortdrum Cu-Ag-Hg orebody. In Andrew, C.J., Crowe, R.W.A., Finlay, S., Pennell, W.M. and Pyne, J.F. (1986) "Geology and Genesis of Mineral Deposits in Ireland". Irish Association for Economic Geology. p. 481-499.
Co. Waterford
Bonmahon (Bunmahon) Knockmahon Knockmahon Mine
F. Rutley: "Elements of Mineralogy", 12th Ed. (1900) Stage mine
Braithwaite, R.S.W. & Wilson, J.I. (2001) J. Russell Soc., 7(2), p.96.
Co. Wicklow
AvocaBallymurtagh Mine
Henwood, W.J. (1871): Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall 8(1), 540-626; F. Rutley: "Elements of Mineralogy", 12th Ed. (1900)
Connary mine (Connorree mine)
Henwood, W.J. (1871): Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall 8(1), 540-626
Cronebane Mine F. Rutley: "Elements of Mineralogy", 12th Ed. (1900)
Tigroney Mine (East Avoca Open Pit; St. Patrick's Mine) Dr Stephen Moreton, unpublished observation
Co. Cork:
Beara Peninsula, Castletown-Bearhaven Copper Mines, Allihies Dooneen Mine
S. Moreton, unpublished observation.
Glandore Glandore Mine (Aghatubrid Mine; Glendore Mine)
Natural History Museum specimens
Co. Galway
Killimor Tynagh Mine
S. Moreton collection
Co. Kerry Kenmare Kenmare Mines Ardtully Mine (Cloontoo Mine)
Henwood, W.J. (1871): Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall 8(1), 540-626
Killarney Lough Leane Ross Island
Ixer, R.A. 2004. Catalogue of Petrographic Descriptions for Rock and Ore Samples, Ross Island Mine. In: O'Brien, W. ed. Ross Island - Mining, Metal and Society in Early Ireland. Bronze Age Studies 6, Department of Archaeology, National University of Ireland, Galway, 768pp.
Co. Tipperary
Monard Gortdrum Mine
Steed, G.M. "The geology and genesis of the Gortdrum Cu-Ag-Hg orebody. In Andrew, C.J., Crowe, R.W.A., Finlay, S., Pennell, W.M. and Pyne, J.F. (1986) "Geology and Genesis of Mineral Deposits in Ireland". Irish Association for Economic Geology. p. 481-499.
Co. Waterford
Bonmahon (Bunmahon) Knockmahon Knockmahon Mine
F. Rutley: "Elements of Mineralogy", 12th Ed. (1900) Stage mine
Braithwaite, R.S.W. & Wilson, J.I. (2001) J. Russell Soc., 7(2), p.96.
Co. Wicklow
AvocaBallymurtagh Mine
Henwood, W.J. (1871): Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall 8(1), 540-626; F. Rutley: "Elements of Mineralogy", 12th Ed. (1900)
Connary mine (Connorree mine)
Henwood, W.J. (1871): Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall 8(1), 540-626
Cronebane Mine F. Rutley: "Elements of Mineralogy", 12th Ed. (1900)
Tigroney Mine (East Avoca Open Pit; St. Patrick's Mine) Dr Stephen Moreton, unpublished observation