Mines and minerals in Derbyshire (UK): June 2017

Located in the attractive Via Gellia valley near Cromford and just south of the village of Slaley lies the now disused Slaley Quarry, also known as Parrish Quarry. It's a sizeable quarry and accessed via a small gated entrance off the A5012 about 900 meters from the Bonsall turnoff as you head up Via Gellia out of Cromford.

I visited the quarry on the 23rd May 2017 and parked in the disused entrance which meets the main road at right angles and is easily missed. Be aware that the first 10 foot or so of the entrance contains deep loose soil but becomes firmer as you progress. The main road contains fast moving traffic including lorries and that, combined with the surface condition, means due care needs to be taken if parking here!

The entrance is gated and locked and access is only possible via a collapsed fence on the higher ground to the left of the entrance. Like all quarries, they are inherently dangerous and care should be taken when exploring them. The quarry itself is becoming overgrown but moving around it is still fairly easy.

These disused quarries become perfect wildlife sanctuaries and the upper cliffs were full of nesting Crows at the time of my visit. These were being actively buzzed by a Peregrine Falcon, when I first arrived, with the cries of the Peregrine and crows echoing off the cliff faces.

Background

Again, I have been unable to find any real information on this quarry. I assume its main commercial purpose was the supply of Limestone.

Mineralogy

I could find no information regarding the mineralogy.

Minerals Found

The quarry has exposed in places veins of Calcite present in the Limestone. I was unable to find evidence of anything other than Calcite. The calcite appears in massive and crystalline form.

Whilst exploring some bolder areas at the base of the cliffs I found a couple of decent calcite crystals formed on small pedestals on the rock.

PATH INTO THE QUARRY FROM THE ROAD ENTRANCE

VIEW FROM THE WEST END OF THE QUARRY

PEREGRINE ACTIVELY BUZZING THE CROWS NEST SITES

DEW LADEN FRONDS ON THE QUARRY FLOOR

QUARRY FACE

VIEW DOWN VIA GELLIA FROM THE TOP OF THE QUARRY

CALCITE FILLED CAVITY IN CLIFF FACE

CALCITE VEIN IN THE LIMESTONE

CALCITE CRYSTAL 1

CALCITE SCALENOHEDRON TWIN

I visited Moor Farm Quarry, Bonsall Moor on the 18th May 2017. It's best approached via Bonsall Moor Lane from the Winster direction. I was able to park on the grass along side the entrance track to the Quarry and walk the rest of the way. It's not possible to drive much further as there is a padlocked gate across the track a little further on.

Background

I have been unable to find any real information on this quarry and its history. It is currently quite a dangerous site being overgrown and with very unstable rock faces. Care should be taken when exploring it! I have a strong suspicion that the quarry was originally much deeper and has probably been backfilled at some point.

There are also a considerable number of old lead mine workings on the high ground just east of the quarry.

Mineralogy

The quarry contains Limestone with many small mineral veins running through it. Calcite, Flourspar, Baryte and Galena are evident.

Minerals found

The site contains a lot of Calcite and I managed to find and extract some rather nice scalenohedron twin crystals formed on a bed of dog tooth crystals.

Galena was present in small quantities mainly amongst the baryte which also appeared in cockscombe form.

There was also a small presence of Fluorspar.

The nearby mine spoil heaps above the quarry revealed plenty of Iceland Spar (the clear rhomboid form of Calcite) along with Galena, Baryte and some Iron Pyrites.