New lead-copper minerals from the Mendip Hills (Somerset)

Although mining operations have been carried on in the Mendip Hills for a period of about 2000 years—probably since pre-Roman times, very little is known respecting the minerals that occur in the district. The reason for this is that most of the mines were exhausted previous to the development of mineralogy as an exact science; and furthermore only few specimens have been preserved in collections. During the nineteenth century operations were mainly confined to re-working the vast accumulations of refuse left by the earlier miners. This work was continued at the St. Cuthbert's Lead Works (1 mile ESE. of Priddy) up to the year 1908, since when all work has ceased on the Hill. The latest mining was for iron and manganese ores at Higher Pitts farm (1 mile SSE. of Priddy); here work ceased in 1893.