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(RUST) Steven A. Rust ~ Minerals Of The Frongoch Mine: First Edition, Signed By Author

Author ~ Steven A. Rust

Title ~ Minerals Of The Frongoch Mine

Edition ~ First Edition

Signed By ~ Author 

ISBN ~ 9781916264106

Publisher ~ Steven A. Rust

Published ~ 2019

Language ~ English

Pages ~ 180

Format ~ Hardback 

Condition ~ Used, Very Good

First edition, Signed and numbered with separate dedication by the author. Self published by the author and limited to only 200 copies. colour throughout. Bump on top spine.

Categories ~ #Geology, #Mines, #MineralCollectors, #Gemmologists, #SocialHistory, #NaturalHistory, #NonFiction, #FirstEdition, #Signed, #StevenARust, #ISBN9781916264106

There can be few collectors of British minerals who are not aware of the remarkable suite of rare supergene minerals from Frongoch Mine near Aberystwyth in Ceredigion. The mine was one of the richest in central Wales producing more than 60,000 tons of lead ore and 50,000 tons of zinc ore. It passed through the hands of numerous different companies in 146 years of virtually uninterrupted production. Frongoch began to become popular with mineral

collectors in the 1970s. Numerous interesting discoveries were made at the rather derelict site as the dumps were moved around and fresh material was exposed. The mine was known in the mid-nineteenth century for well crystallised brown pyromorphite, but Frongoch’s mineralogical importance rests on the suite of unusual lead, copper and zinc minerals formed by post-mining oxidation. These include the basic lead copper thiosulphate steverustite, for which Frongoch is the type locality.  Minerals of the Frongoch Mine is divided into four chapters. A brief introduction sets the site in context and includes three maps which show its location The following pages provide

a brief history, beginning with the earliest record, A twenty-one year lease provided by Lord Lisburne at the end of the 1750s, and taking the reader through successive owners until the underground operations closed following a nine-month strike under the Belgian-financed Socie´te´ Anonyme des Mines de Frongoch in 1903. Some reprocessing of dump material was attempted between the wars and the spoil heaps were used as a convenient local supply of aggregate until the 1980s. The historical description is supported by numerous figures including a three-dimensional repre-sentation of the workings, contemporary and recent surface photos, and a striking underground image of the pump-rods in the Engine Shaft by Roy Fellows. The geological setting and mineral paragenesis are summarised in chapter three with some input from John Mason. The longest section of the book (pages 22 to 179), provides an illustrated description of the minerals from Frongoch Mine. It is the result of more than thirty years of dedicated fieldwork. A total of 52 species plus three uncharacterised phases are described. Most of the valid species and the three uncharacterised phases are figured, many more than once. The listing is alphabetic, and typically includes a short description, the identification

technique and images of (mostly) micro-specimens. If a large number of illustrations accompany a particular species (there are, for example, 18 for anglesite) they are preceded by a tabular summary. The photos are all in colour and typically have a single-line caption which includes the field of view. Minerals of the Frongoch Mine is a short-run publication (200 copies). Is it for your library? I am pleased to have a copy and have no hesitation in recommending it. Steve Rust is a remarkable collector and the book provides an illustrated record of the definitive collection of post-mining supergene minerals from the site. This is particularly important as recent developments have effectively sterilised the productive areas. Despite their cultural and scientific importance, attempts to preserve the mining remains and material of mineralogical value have not been successful. With the current lack of resources in the museum sector there is no guarantee that specimens (or collections) will survive indefinitely. Therefore published records are particu-larly valuable. Stacking photography has considerable potential to

document micro-mineral assemblages. The images push the technique to, and sometimes a little beyond, its limit in a desire to record the nuances of tiny crystals. But where else would you find 16 images of bechererite from the same locality? The colour reproduction is of sufficiently quality to provide an impression of what the specimens look like. Minerals of the Frongoch Mine is a worthwhile acquisition for any collector who is interested in Welsh minerals, or the suite of rare basic copper, lead and zinc sulphates that form by post-mining oxidation at sites across the British Isles (and might encourage others to attempt similar projects).

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