Mines and minerals in Derbyshire (UK): Tearsall Farm Quarry

I visited Tearsall Farm Quarry on the 28th October, 2017. The quarry has been recently worked as an open cast operation for the extraction of Fluorspar. As on my previous visit to Blakemere Pit, I parked in upper Winster and cycled the 3 miles or so to the quarry. Bonsall lane is a narrow lane with not much opportunity for safe parking. There is space to park at the opening of Blakelow lane but, as I mentioned in my Blakemere Pit entry, the lane is frequently used by off road motorbikes so your car could be vulnerable to being hit my stones from the un-surfaced road.

I revisited the site the following winter but did not enter the quarry itself, just settling for some photographs from the circular footpath around the quarry.

Background

As far as I have been able to ascertain Tearsall Farm Quarry has been working on and off since the 1970s. I believe it has only been used for the extraction of Fluorspar although other minerals such as galena also occur.

Originally operated by Slinter Mining Co Ltd of Cromford the quarry rapidly expanded through the 1980s and 1990s resulting in campaigns to halt quarrying activity by local groups concerned about the damage to the environment and the number of lorries on the local roads.

Extensions were refused by the Peak District National Park Authority in 1998 and again in 2004. Slinter forced a public enquiry but this resulted in another refusal despite the national interest in supplying Fluorspar. The site is partially restored during 2006 and 2007.

2008 sees Glebe Mines apply to extend and extract 600,000 tonnes of Fluorspar to the west of the previous site over a period of six years and this eventually is given permission in 2009, on the basis that Glebe Mines agree not to mine along the Longstone Edge and increase the amount of Fluorspar being extracted from their existing mine near Great Hucklow.

Legal issues delay the resumption of quarrying and Glebe Mines becomes British Fluorspar and extraction begins again in 2013.

All extracted Fluorspar was transported by lorry to Cavendish Mill near Stoney Middleton for processing

At the time of my visits extraction had ceased but the site had not yet been restored. The permission only allowed for the extraction of Fluorspar with the limestone being retained on site for use in the restoration.

From what I can see now the site has been fully restored with just remnants of the old quarry walls still visible in places.

Mineralogy

A number of minerals have been reported as being found including Fluorspar, Calcite, Baryte, Galena, Marcasite, Pyrite, Cerussite, Quartz.and minerals from the Chlorite group.

Minerals found

Galena, Malachite, Flourspar, Barytes

Some useful references

British Fluorspar site

Friends of the peak campaign (A good description of the history of the quarry and objections to it)

Peak District National Park decision on Tearsall from 2009

Matlock Mercury article on quarry issues