Originally called Trinity Mine in 1797 when Philip Rashleigh obtained fine specimens of crystallised goethite for his collection.

Subsequently renamed Restormel Royal Iron Mine after a visit from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in September 1846. The mine captain described how Prince Albert "took the pick, and he thawed it like a man! and he got a bit of ore." On the departure of the Royal party, 120 miners "were ready to cheer 'em as they drove off, all red like Injians from the red of the main [lode] and we did cheer to be sure, as never was before". After the royal visit, Queen Victoria commanded 50 gold sovereigns to be distributed among the miners.

Two lodes trending northwards from near Lostwithiel through Lanhydrock. Mostly worked from extensive levels. Produced 128,000 tons iron ore 1855-83.

Restormel Royal Iron Mine closed in 1883.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

ⓘ Iron

ⓘ Manganese

Mineral List

15 valid minerals. 1 erroneous literature entry.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ 'Agalmatolite'

Formula: K, Al, Si, O, H

References:

Hall, Townshend M. (1868) The Mineralogist's Directory: or, a guide to the Principal Mineral Localities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Edward Stanford, London.

Collins, J. H. (1871) A Handbook to the Mineralogy of Cornwall and Devon. Heard and Sons, Truro.

ⓘ Baryte

Formula: BaSO₄

References:

Hall, Townshend M. (1868) The Mineralogist's Directory: or, a guide to the Principal Mineral Localities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Edward Stanford, London.

ⓘ Bismuth

Formula: Bi

References:

Hall, Townshend M. (1868) The Mineralogist's Directory: or, a guide to the Principal Mineral Localities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Edward Stanford, London.

ⓘ Bismutite

Formula: (BiO)₂CO₃

References:

Clark, A. M., Couper, A. G., Embrey, P. G., Fejer, E. E. (1986) Waylandite: new data, from an occurrence in Cornwall, with a note on ‘Agnesite’. Mineralogical Magazine, 50 (358) 731-733 doi:10.1180/minmag.1986.050.358.23

ⓘ Cryptomelane

Formula: K(Mn⁴⁺₇Mn³⁺)O₁₆

References:

Cotterel, T.F. (2010) An unusual manganese-bearing assemblage from Restormel, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. Journal of the Russell Society 13, 53-56.

ⓘ ~~Eulytine~~

Formula: Bi₄(SiO₄)₃

Description: A specimen from J.H. Collins has been shown by Clark et al. (1986) to contain no eulytine at all, but turned out to be waylandite.

References:

Braithwaite, R.S.W. and Knight, J.R. (1990) Rare Minerals, Including Several New to Britain, in Supergene Alteration of U-Cu-As-Bi-Co Mineralisation Near Dalbeattie, South Scotland. Mineralogical Magazine, vol. 54, n° 374: 129-131. (referring to Clark, et al.)

ⓘ Goethite

Formula: α-Fe³⁺O(OH)

References:

Dana 6: 710

Dana 7:I:683

Rocks & Min.: 16:130

Paul De Bondt collection

Henwood, William Jory (1843) On the Metalliferous Deposits of Cornwall and Devon. Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, 5. 1-386

Hall, Townshend M. (1868) The Mineralogist's Directory: or, a guide to the Principal Mineral Localities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Edward Stanford, London.

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

Henwood, William Jory (1843) On the Metalliferous Deposits of Cornwall and Devon. Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, 5. 1-386

Hall, Townshend M. (1868) The Mineralogist's Directory: or, a guide to the Principal Mineral Localities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Edward Stanford, London.

ⓘ Hematite var. Kidney Ore

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

Peter Trebilcock Collection.

ⓘ Hematite var. Specularite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

Henwood, William Jory (1843) On the Metalliferous Deposits of Cornwall and Devon. Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, 5. 1-386

ⓘ Jacobsite

Formula: Mn²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄

References:

Cotterel, T.F. (2010) An unusual manganese-bearing assemblage from Restormel, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. Journal of the Russell Society 13, 53-56.

ⓘ 'Jasper'

References:

Henwood, William Jory (1843) On the Metalliferous Deposits of Cornwall and Devon. Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, 5. 1-386

ⓘ 'Limonite'

References:

Henwood, William Jory (1843) On the Metalliferous Deposits of Cornwall and Devon. Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, 5. 1-386

Hall, Townshend M. (1868) The Mineralogist's Directory: or, a guide to the Principal Mineral Localities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Edward Stanford, London.

ⓘ Magnetite

Formula: Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄

References:

Cotterel, T.F. (2010) An unusual manganese-bearing assemblage from Restormel, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. Journal of the Russell Society 13, 53-56.

ⓘ Manganite

Formula: Mn³⁺O(OH)

References:

Hall, Townshend M. (1868) The Mineralogist's Directory: or, a guide to the Principal Mineral Localities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Edward Stanford, London.

ⓘ Opal

Formula: SiO₂ · nH₂O

References:

Henwood, William Jory (1843) On the Metalliferous Deposits of Cornwall and Devon. Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, 5. 1-386

ⓘ 'Psilomelane'

References:

Hall, Townshend M. (1868) The Mineralogist's Directory: or, a guide to the Principal Mineral Localities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Edward Stanford, London.

Cotterel, T.F. (2010) An unusual manganese-bearing assemblage from Restormel, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. Journal of the Russell Society 13, 53-56.

ⓘ Pyrolusite

Formula: Mn⁴⁺O₂

References:

Hall, Townshend M. (1868) The Mineralogist's Directory: or, a guide to the Principal Mineral Localities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Edward Stanford, London.

Cotterel, T.F. (2010) An unusual manganese-bearing assemblage from Restormel, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. Journal of the Russell Society 13, 53-56.

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

Rocks & Min.: 16:130

Henwood, William Jory (1843) On the Metalliferous Deposits of Cornwall and Devon. Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, 5. 1-386

Hall, Townshend M. (1868) The Mineralogist's Directory: or, a guide to the Principal Mineral Localities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Edward Stanford, London.

ⓘ Quartz var. Amethyst

Formula: SiO₂

References:

Hall, Townshend M. (1868) The Mineralogist's Directory: or, a guide to the Principal Mineral Localities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Edward Stanford, London.

ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony

Formula: SiO₂

References:

Henwood, William Jory (1843) On the Metalliferous Deposits of Cornwall and Devon. Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, 5. 1-386

ⓘ Quartz var. Citrine

Formula: SiO₂

References:

Golley, Peter, Williams, Richard (1995) Cornish Mineral Reference Manual. Endsleigh Book Co., Truro. 71pp.

ⓘ Siderite

Formula: FeCO₃

References:

Edgar John Peter Sutton

ⓘ Spessartine

Formula: Mn²⁺₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

References:

Cotterel, T.F. (2010) An unusual manganese-bearing assemblage from Restormel, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. Journal of the Russell Society 13, 53-56.

ⓘ Waylandite

Formula: BiAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆

Description: Originally thought to be eulytine, however Clark et al., 1986 proved it to be Waylandite.

References:

Gallery:

α-Fe³⁺O(OH)ⓘ Goethite

ⓘ 'Psilomelane'

Mn⁴⁺O₂ⓘ Pyrolusite

SiO₂ⓘ Quartz

SiO₂ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Bismuth	1.CA.05	Bi
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Goethite	4.00.	α-Fe³⁺O(OH)
ⓘ	Magnetite	4.BB.05	Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Jacobsite	4.BB.05	Mn²⁺Fe³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Hematite var. Kidney Ore	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ	var. Specularite	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ		4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ	Quartz var. Citrine	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	var. Chalcedony	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	var. Amethyst	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ		4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	Opal	4.DA.10	SiO₂ · nH₂O
ⓘ	Pyrolusite	4.DB.05	Mn⁴⁺O₂
ⓘ	Cryptomelane	4.DK.05a	K(Mn⁴⁺₇Mn³⁺)O₁₆
ⓘ	Manganite	4.FD.15	Mn³⁺O(OH)
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Siderite	5.AB.05	FeCO₃
ⓘ	Bismutite	5.BE.25	(BiO)₂CO₃
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘ	Baryte	7.AD.35	BaSO₄
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘ	Waylandite	8.BL.13	BiAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Spessartine	9.AD.25	Mn²⁺₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
ⓘ	Eulytine ?	9.AD.40	Bi₄(SiO₄)₃
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Agalmatolite'	-	K, Al, Si, O, H
ⓘ	'Psilomelane'	-
ⓘ	'Limonite'	-
ⓘ	'Jasper'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Agalmatolite	K, Al, Si, O, H
H	ⓘ Goethite	α-Fe³⁺O(OH)
H	ⓘ Manganite	Mn³⁺O(OH)
H	ⓘ Opal	SiO₂ · nH₂O
H	ⓘ Waylandite	BiAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Bismutite	(BiO)₂CO₃
C	ⓘ Siderite	FeCO₃
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Agalmatolite	K, Al, Si, O, H
O	ⓘ Quartz var. Amethyst	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
O	ⓘ Bismutite	(BiO)₂CO₃
O	ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Quartz var. Citrine	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Cryptomelane	K(Mn₇⁴⁺Mn³⁺)O₁₆
O	ⓘ Eulytine	Bi₄(SiO₄)₃
O	ⓘ Goethite	α-Fe³⁺O(OH)
O	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Jacobsite	Mn²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Manganite	Mn³⁺O(OH)
O	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Opal	SiO₂ · nH₂O
O	ⓘ Pyrolusite	Mn⁴⁺O₂
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Siderite	FeCO₃
O	ⓘ Spessartine	Mn₃²⁺Al₂(SiO₄)₃
O	ⓘ Waylandite	BiAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆
O	ⓘ Hematite var. Specularite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Hematite var. Kidney Ore	Fe₂O₃
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Agalmatolite	K, Al, Si, O, H
Al	ⓘ Spessartine	Mn₃²⁺Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Al	ⓘ Waylandite	BiAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Agalmatolite	K, Al, Si, O, H
Si	ⓘ Quartz var. Amethyst	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Quartz var. Citrine	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Eulytine	Bi₄(SiO₄)₃
Si	ⓘ Opal	SiO₂ · nH₂O
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Spessartine	Mn₃²⁺Al₂(SiO₄)₃
P	Phosphorus
P	ⓘ Waylandite	BiAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Agalmatolite	K, Al, Si, O, H
K	ⓘ Cryptomelane	K(Mn₇⁴⁺Mn³⁺)O₁₆
Mn	Manganese
Mn	ⓘ Cryptomelane	K(Mn₇⁴⁺Mn³⁺)O₁₆
Mn	ⓘ Jacobsite	Mn²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
Mn	ⓘ Manganite	Mn³⁺O(OH)
Mn	ⓘ Pyrolusite	Mn⁴⁺O₂
Mn	ⓘ Spessartine	Mn₃²⁺Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Goethite	α-Fe³⁺O(OH)
Fe	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
Fe	ⓘ Jacobsite	Mn²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
Fe	ⓘ Magnetite	Fe²⁺Fe₂³⁺O₄
Fe	ⓘ Siderite	FeCO₃
Fe	ⓘ Hematite var. Specularite	Fe₂O₃
Fe	ⓘ Hematite var. Kidney Ore	Fe₂O₃
Ba	Barium
Ba	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
Bi	Bismuth
Bi	ⓘ Bismuth	Bi
Bi	ⓘ Bismutite	(BiO)₂CO₃
Bi	ⓘ Eulytine	Bi₄(SiO₄)₃
Bi	ⓘ Waylandite	BiAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆

Geochronology

Geologic Time

Rocks, Minerals and Events

ⓘ Major polymetallic mineralization

~270 Ma

Cornwall, England, UK

Cisuralian

ⓘ Porphyry dikes intruded (latest age)	~275 Ma	Cornwall, England, UK
ⓘ Greisenization (latest age)	~280 Ma	Cornwall, England, UK
ⓘ Porphyry dikes intruded (earliest age)	~280 Ma	Cornwall, England, UK
ⓘ Formation of metallized pegmatites	~285 Ma	Cornwall, England, UK
ⓘ Greisenization (earliest age)	~285 Ma	Cornwall, England, UK
ⓘ Emplacement of major plutons	~295 Ma	Cornwall, England, UK

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

British and Irish IslesGroup of Islands

Eurasian PlateTectonic Plate

EuropeContinent

England
- Cornwall
  - St Austell Mining DistrictMining District
- Devon and Cornwall metalliferous mining districtMining District

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzmZxWJYGiM

Cotterel, T.F. (2010) An unusual manganese-bearing assemblage from Restormel, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. Journal of the Russell Society 13, 53-56.

Quick NavTop Commodities Mineral List Geochronology Other Regions References

Go to top of page