Mine - copper

The National Monuments Service's description

This primitive mine, exploiting a mineralised copper-bed occurrence, is located on the SW slopes of Coad mountain. The working consists of a shallow opening driven 60 degrees into a W facing rock scarp. The working measures 3.7m wide at the front, 1.5m deep and 1m high. A .6m thick deposit of peat covers its floor. The partially exposed rear wall displays noticeable carbonate smear mineralisation, mainly azurite. The smooth profile of this working suggests the possible use of fire-setting. A possible spoil-dump, overlain by peat, is located on a relatively level area below the working.
Peat cover in the immediate vicinity prevents identification of other possible mine openings on the rock scarp. Two drill-holes, located in the rear wall of the exposed mine, probably date to nineteenth-century explorations in this area (O’Brien 1987, 272-93).

The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 260. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 28 July 2013