Mention of tin mining in Britain was made by many Classical writers. Tin is necessary to smelt bronze, an alloy that played a vital cultural role during the Bronze Age.

Mining in Cornwall and Devon, in the southwest of Britain, is thought to have begun in the early-middle Bronze Age with the exploitation of cassiterite. [1] Tin, and later copper, were the most commonly extracted metals. Some tin mining continued long after the mining of other metals had become unprofitable, but ended in the late 20th century.

Dec 6, 2024 · The whole site is a great place to get an overview of the Cornish mining story, bringing 18th-century Wheal Mexico (“wheal” means “mine”), Geevor’s 20th-century tin mining infrastructure, and history in the superb Hard Rock Museum together.

It has been claimed that tin was first mined in Europe around 2500 BC in the Erzgebirge, and knowledge of tin bronze and tin extraction techniques spread from there to Brittany and Cornwall around 2000 BC and from northwestern Europe to northwestern Spain …

Dec 24, 2014 · Britain comes into prominence as a tin-producing country, and Cornwall, together with the west of Devon, was for centuries the most important tin-mining region of the world.

Extensive tin and copper mining has occurred in Cornwall and Devon, as well as arsenic, silver, zinc and a few other metals. It wasn't until the 18th Century and the invention of machine driven pumps, that Cornish tin mining became a truly capitalist concern.

Mining holds a special place in the hearts of the Cornish. Its origins stretch back into the mists of antiquity. Bronze requires copper and tin so it is likely that tin, which outcrops onto the surface and can be streamed, was produced in Cornwall in the second millennium BCE.

Sep 16, 2003 · Journey deep underground and back in time to discover why the tradition of hard rock mining is so firmly etched in Cornish history. From prehistoric times Cornwall's rich supply of tin and...

May 30, 2024 · Cornwall is home to a wonderful array of historic tin mines which are the perfect day trip activity. Discover our top favourite tin mines in Cornwall here.

Jun 14, 2024 · Royal Cornwall Museum has revealed exciting discoveries within a new collection showing evidence that Bronze Age mining took place in Cornwall. The pieces are set to be …