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Fee Donald Mine

Strontian Mines, Allt Feith Dhomnuill, E of Druim Glas, Argyllshire.

Mine. One of several of the Strontian mines in this area.

Fee Donald Mine is located away from more recent mining operations at Strontian, roughly 2 km E of barite mine (Clashgorm Section) & ca. 5 km NE of village of Strontian, near Strontian River (Allt Feith Dhomhnuill). OS depicts mine, shafts & dump areas, but 'erroneously' ascribes them to Bellsgrove Mine (farther W & closest of mines in sphere of recent extraction activities). The Allt Feith Dhomnuill is one of major feeders of Strontian River.

"The mine was worked partly by open-cast, but mainly by four levels driven westward into the hill. The top level was driven a distance of 110 fms, and cuts through a transverse basalt dyke about 15 fms from the end. The low level has been driven from a point about 50 yds. west of the burn. It is a cross-cut for 10 fms, and then continues along the vein for a distance of 211 fms. These two levels are about 40 fms apart, and the two others occur at approximately equal distances between them. Most of the stoping has been done between the surface and the third level, and all the payable ground above the lowest level has been worked. Except one small stope, about 40 ft. deep, nothing has been taken out of the sole of the low level." [BGS Earthwise]

The mine at the given coordinates is the primary Fee Donald Mine in the Smiddy (or Smithy) Vein. Additional but smaller-scale levels, shafts & opencast works are present in additional veins (broadly NW-SE trending) which cross the Allt Feith Dhomnuill further NE. Collectively these are generally termed the 'Fee Donald Mines'.

Alternative Names: Allt Feith Dhomnuill Lead Mine, Bellsgrove Mine, Feedonald Mine

Notes: See also Bellsgrove Lead Mines, Whitesmith Lead mines, Middleshope Lead mines & other mine shafts and galleries nearby.

The monument comprises the underground workings and associated surface remains of an abandoned lead mine. The underground workings consist of abandoned shafts and levels and open-cast grooves. The associated surface remains include (a) masonry buildings, and (b) a large processing area, including water-wheel pit, ore crushing and dressing floors, spoil-heaps and washing floors. The area scheduled is irregular in shape but is approximately 900m by 450m at its widest points. The monument is of national importance because it is one of only two well-preserved lead workings in this once extensive and important lead-mining area near Strontian. The Strontian mines achieved 'celebrity' status in 1791 with the identification of stronia (strontium monoxide) in the local mineral Strontianite.

The Fee Donald mine was among the first to be opened, in 1727. The lead-bearing deposits were worked intermittently thereafter until final closure in 1871. The excellent survival of the underground workings in their abandoned state and the existence of the large and complex area of surface workings (albeit largely from the last phase of mining activity) combine to make this a particularly important example for future study.

The Smiddy Vein trends about 3° N. of W., and its course can be traced by old workings for a distance of about a quarter of a mile west of the burn. It hades at 77° to the north, varies in width from 4 to 9 ft., and consists mainly of calcite, a good deal of decomposed basalt, together with galena, pyrites, barytes, strontianite, celestine, harmatome and quartz. The country-rock is mainly red, felspathic gneiss. [BGS Earthwise]

Original coordinates appear to be for shafts at Bellsgrove Loch. Amended coordinates are for site of Fee Donald Mine that is labelled as a shaft on OS maps but shown as an adit on Geological Survey map of 1875 (possibly depicting sites of the Ladder Way shaft & the mouth of the Old Level).

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None