Pike Lane Opencut

I visited Pike Lane Opencut on the 10th October, 2018.  Situated to the South West of Winster, on the left hand side of Pike Lane, it's hard to spot as it's literally cut into the surrounding land as the name suggests.

Parking is available in the small car park at the top of Winster on East Bank road.  It's a short walk across the B5056 and onto Pike Lane, with access to the Opencut via a gated track about a quarter of a mile on the left.





Background

I have been unable to find any background information on this site but I think it's a fair assumption that it was worked primarily for Lead and/or Fluorspar in the past.

VIEW FROM PIKE LANE WITH OLD MINE WORKING IN FOREGROUND AND OPENCUT BEHIND

VIEW INTO THE OPENCUT

INTERNAL VIEW

SMALL COPPER BASKING IN THE SUNSHINE

VIEW FROM THE FAR END BACK INTO THE OPENCUT

NICE RURAL VIEW AS THE SUN SETS

Mineralogy

The following have been reported from this site: Galena, Fluorspar, Calcite, Baryte, Anglesite, Cerussite, Pyromorphite, Hemimorphite and Wolfenite


Minerals found

Galena, Fluorspar, Baryte, Quartz, Hemimorphite, Smithsonite and Phosgenite

BARYTE

PART OF A LARGE NODULE I FOUND CONTAINING GALENA ENCASED IN BARYTE

CAVITY FILLED WITH QUARTZ CRYSTALS

LARGER QUARTZ CRYSTAL

COCKSCOMB BARYTES ON QUARTZ CRYSTAL MATRIX

AN ATTRACTIVE YELLOW FLUORSPAR

CLOSE UP TAKEN WITH MY DIGITAL MICROSCOPE

DARK PURPLE FLUORSPAR ON A SMALLER MATRIX OF YELLOW FLUORSPAR

A BEAUTIFUL PURPLE FRINGED FLUORSPAR WITH BARTYE

CLOSE UP VIEW

YELLOW AND WHITE HEMIMORPHITE

HEMIMORPHITE MICRO CRYSTALS

MICROSCOPE VIEW 1

MICROSCOPE VIEW 2

GREEN SMITHSONITE ON GALENA

MICROSCOPE VIEW

ANOTHER EXAMPLE

PHOSGENITE CRYSTALS ON GALENA WITH IRON STAINED BARYTE

ANOTHER VIEW - CLICK TO ENLARGE

Some useful references

Pike Lane Opencut entry on Mindat