Close House Mine

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 54.5990, -2.2370

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
NY847226 Favourable 3.39 2021-11-15

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Geological Fault

Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous

Description

Description Close House Mine is an extensive opencast working mine situated within the Lunedale Fault System, a major geological structure which defines the southern limit of the Alston Block. The fault is intruded by a dyke off the whin Sill which has been partly replaced by the mineral barite, barium (Ba) sulphate. The large barite ore body exposed at the mine excellently displays the structural complexity of this zone and the relationship of the mineralisation to the stratigraphy and structure. Recently the rare secondary copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) mineral rosasite has been identified in proximity to green pyromorphite a lead (Pb) chlorophosphate from an area of the mine dumps and in situ.