Mines and minerals in Derbyshire (UK): Gregory Mine

On the 5th of May, 2017 I visited Gregory Mine near Ashover which is set in dense woodland and over looked by a large rock buttress known locally as Cocking Tor.

The mine site can be approached from three different directions, along the woodland path that runs from Gin Lane in the Ashover direction, from the opposite end of the path on Holestone moor via the track alongside Red House Farm, or from the bottom of the valley directly below the mine site which is also accessed from Gin Lane.

I parked on the grass verge just up the track at the side of Red House Farm and walked from there, with Gregory mine about a 12 minute walk away through attractive countryside with good views over Ashover Hay to Ogston reservoir. Note this track is not fit for motor vehicles!

Background

Gregory mine is an old Lead mine which appears to have been worked from the early 1700s and certainly continuously from 1734 to 1803. In it's time it was one of the most productive Lead mines in Derbyshire. Little currently remains of the original mine with the only structure still left standing being a chimney.

In its hay day the mine was said to have produced over 500 tonnes of ore a year and was very profitable. However, towards the end of the 18th century the main vein was exhausted and despite the discovery of a new vein it's extraction was deemed not financially viable and the mine closed in 1803.

The whole area is now fairly overgrown and seems to support a good variety of wildlife and plants.

Mineralogy

The main ore mined was Galena and as far as I'm aware was the only ore of economic value during its working life. Zinc Blende, Pyrite and Chalcopyrite are reported to be present in small quantities along with Fluorspar, Calcite and Quartz. Enargite, Wurzite and Pyrobitumen have also been cited as being found at this mine.

This is a description of the mine taken from "A General View of the Agriculture and Minerals of Derbyshire Volume 1" by Farey, originally published in 1811:

Gregory (mine) at Overton, in Ashover, in 1st Grit, Shale and Lime, much Lead, Antimoniated Lead Ore? Ore in Shale, two ribs of Ore of different kinds, transparent Flour (spar) with Silvery Pyrites, large Crystals of Calc. Spar, Slickensides, Bitumen in 1st Lime, a Shaft 300yards deep!, a large hillock. Ref link

Minerals found

The site is littered with small areas of exposed spoil with much of it showing signs of mineralisation. Galena is evident along with some Zinc Blende and I did find a single example of a very silvery looking pyrite. There are signs of quartz and ample evidence of fluorspars of various colours ranging from clear to amber to rose pink and deep purple.

The fluorspar in parts is attractive enough to warrant a revisit to see if I can find some better examples. Most of the crystalline examples I found were very small.