RefNo | CLP/9i/14/1 |
Level | Item |
Title | Manuscript, 'An Account concerning the Tin mines in Devonshire' by Dr [Edward?] Cotton |
Date | [1664] |
Description | Account includes: Method of locating loads of tin by types of rock nearby and colour of the earth. Prevailing orientation of loads from east to west. Varying colours of the stone with reference to a three coloured load at Godolphin which produces black tin. Process of separating the tin once the stone is mined, starting at a stamping mill where the stone is pounded and washed through a gutter sieve then agitated with workers' feet or shovels. Sometimes a crazing mill is used or the metal further separated by striking vats of it with a staff, after this stage it is called 'black tin' and measured in 'dishes'. It is then melted with charcoal in a furnace at a 'blowing house' and the cinders from this process recycled to be stamped again. When tin residue builds up in the blowing houses they are burnt down and the tin reclaimed to build a new house. The final separation of 'white tin' is set in moulds and given an owners mark and tested by the 'Coynage' [coinage]. The best quality tin is given the King's mark, prices for different quality tins are laid out including normal markup when sold on to a merchant. Mentions that tin in gravel found near the surface can be processed by stream works.
Includes a figure on page 3, topographical map of the mines of Dartmoor (see CLP/9i/14/2)
Read to the Royal Society on 25 May 1664
Subject: Geology / Industry / Mining |
Language | English |
Extent | 3p |
Format | Manuscript |
PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
AccessStatus | Open |
RelatedRecord | CLP/9i/19 |
CLP/9i/14 |
CLP/9i/14/2 |
Fellows associated with this archive
Code | PersonName | Dates |
NA3346 | Cotton; Edward (c1616 - 1675); clergyman | c1616 - 1675 |