Whitesmith Mine

Strontian, Fort William and Ardnamurchan, Highland, Scotland, UK

An open cut barite-lead-zinc mine worked as early as the 18th century, which may have been one of the type localities for strontium.

Whitesmith Mine was named after John Whitesmith, an English miner who worked in Strontian in the 18th century.

This site may also be known as “Whitesmith Lead Mines”.

The eastern end of the site was encroached upon and partially subsumed by the later Middleshope Mine/Bellsgrove Quarry.

Mindat lists 18 minerals from the site, including some uncommon species – ancylite-Ce and Kainosite-Y especially stand out.

 

Further reading

 

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