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Bellsgrove Mine (Opencast Workings)

Strontian, Ruighe Raonuill, Argyllshire.

Quarry & former mine shafts (Lead, Barytes).

Open-cut lead mine, east of Ruighe Raonuill, west of Bellsgrove Loch. The Bellsgrove opencast workings were filled in with spoil produced during working of the neighbouring quarries to the W during the 1980s. Prior to this the open cut extended >300 yards and varied in depth from 20 to 110 feet, and up to 651 feet wide [Landless, 1975]. Mine plan APR287.1 shows that three shafts (Conner's, Cameron's & White's Shafts) had been sunk into the main vein between the two large igneous dykes which intruded this locality. This largely corresponds with the area of the Open Cut workings, hence the shafts have probably been destroyed & buried.

See 'Bellsgrove Mine (Engine Shaft)' [site #11247] for background info.

"In visiting the local Bellsgrove quarry near Strontian, Dieter Mylius was pleased to discover that whilst he had expected to obtain micro specimens from dump areas there were a number of larger specimens, notably of calcite, to be found. He was also able to find some epidote, microcline and prehnite." [MSNSW]

Alternative Names: None recorded.

Notes: Working on the Strontian Main vein for barite in the 1980s obliterated the workings of the Middleshop mines. Officially described as the Strontian Barytes Mine. Now reopened as an aggregate quarry with the current name (Bellsgrove Quarry). NOT to be confused with the nearby, but different, Bellsgrove Mine and (now filled-in) Bellsgrove Open Cut. A former quarry located E of the Bellsgrove Open Cut is shown as 'Bellsgrove Quarry' on some mine plans, & to add to the confusion Fee Donald Mine to the east is also marked on some maps as Bellsgrove Mine.

Coordinates in wrong order on modern OS. OS 1" first edition also has different order.

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None