1. The History
After @Webbs0710 and his definitive history, I’m just going to give a potted history of this Derbyshire Spa Mill.
Fluorspar, also known as fluorite, is a non-metallic mineral. Made up of calcium and fluorine in a 51.1% to 48.9% ratio, it represents the main industrial source of fluorine. It is found with limestone deposited within the fissured rock during volcanic activity many thousands of years ago. It always occurs along with other minerals including barytes and galena (lead ore).
Slightly harder than calcite, it can form well-defined cubic crystals in a variety of colours and a low melting point and can be distinguished from calcite due to its lack of reaction with dilute hydrochloric acid. Fluorspar is used in the production of aluminum, steel, refrigerants, insulating foams, uranium fuel and the manufacturing of hydrofluoric acid
The mining of Fluorspar in the Peak District goes right back to the 19th century. At the back end of the 1800s, fluorspar production was modest and used locally as a flux for smelting iron, lead and copper. The dawn of the 20th century saw an upscaling of extraction with the development of the open-hearth steel furnace and the increasing importance of aluminum smelting.
Fluorspar was extracted via both pit and mining methods and in recent times was principally mined from Milldam Mine near Stoney Middleton along the vein system under Great Hucklow and Eyam as well as from two quarries at Longstone Edge and Tearsall. Previously Sallet Hole produced fluorspar through the 1970s and 80s, although it was exhausted by 1988 and in 1986 Mildam mine was opened to replace it.
Nearby Cavendish Mill which is owned by British Fluorspar Limited (BFL) has been producing this fluorspar for many years, both acid-grade Fluorspar and metallurgical-grade Fluorspar. This process includes crushing the ore, washing it, separating it then heating it to produce acid grade fluorspar. Before its closure, the mill employed over 40 people locally.
The mill was originally owned by Glebe Mines. The company was active between 1864-1884 operating a Lead Mine. Glebe then reopened their original Mine in 1937 and also gained control of several other mines including Ladywash and Black Hole, both of which reopened in 1939. After World War II, Fluorspar demand soared due to its essential role in manufacturing Hydrofluoric Acid. At this point, they expanded operations and became one of the key suppliers of Fluorspar in the UK. They were acquired by Laporte Minerals in 1959 with Cavendish Mill replacing the original Glebe Plant six years later in 1965.
However, they ceased operations at the end of 2010, resulting in a loss of 65 jobs. Glebe Mines were previously fined almost £40,000 in 2007 after quarry waste poured through Stoney Middleton on 22nd January 2007 when a lagoon burst its banks. The clean-up operation cost about £2m. In 2012, Glebe Mines’ assets were acquired by British Fluorspar Ltd as part of a broader strategy by the UK government to maintain domestic production of this critical mineral. In 2018, British Fluorspar was acquired by the large Italian-based multinational Fluorspar producer, Fluorsid. One of the last fluorspar mines in Europe, Milldam Mine ceased operations in 2023 due to mineral extraction operating at a loss. Unsurprisingly, Cavendish Mill followed suit just after in October 2023, with the majority of staff being made redundant.
2. The Explore
Glad I got this done when I did as the mill is now in the throes of demolition. The first and epic report to surface on here was by @Webbs0710 . While he understandably posted this in non-public, I’m posting this is the public forums given it has been out there for some time now and is being demo'ed.
Explored with my non-forum mate J, getting into the mill was easy enough and the ensuing explore a relaxed affair. It really was a fascinating look at a now vanished Derbyshire extraction industry. Sadly, with on-site secca present, we didn’t manage to do the rather fantastic lab buildings. For a look at these, see @Bikin Glynn and his excellent report HERE
3. The Pictures
Looking across the nearby quarries:
One of the first things you come across is this pipe system:
Remains of the mostly demolished crusher:
Round the back, and we’re in!
And the first of the machinery:
The BA filter:
This was a bit random:
The electrics:
Along the conveyor belts to the other side of the road:
No way down so back we go:
After @Webbs0710 and his definitive history, I’m just going to give a potted history of this Derbyshire Spa Mill.
Fluorspar, also known as fluorite, is a non-metallic mineral. Made up of calcium and fluorine in a 51.1% to 48.9% ratio, it represents the main industrial source of fluorine. It is found with limestone deposited within the fissured rock during volcanic activity many thousands of years ago. It always occurs along with other minerals including barytes and galena (lead ore).
Slightly harder than calcite, it can form well-defined cubic crystals in a variety of colours and a low melting point and can be distinguished from calcite due to its lack of reaction with dilute hydrochloric acid. Fluorspar is used in the production of aluminum, steel, refrigerants, insulating foams, uranium fuel and the manufacturing of hydrofluoric acid
The mining of Fluorspar in the Peak District goes right back to the 19th century. At the back end of the 1800s, fluorspar production was modest and used locally as a flux for smelting iron, lead and copper. The dawn of the 20th century saw an upscaling of extraction with the development of the open-hearth steel furnace and the increasing importance of aluminum smelting.
Fluorspar was extracted via both pit and mining methods and in recent times was principally mined from Milldam Mine near Stoney Middleton along the vein system under Great Hucklow and Eyam as well as from two quarries at Longstone Edge and Tearsall. Previously Sallet Hole produced fluorspar through the 1970s and 80s, although it was exhausted by 1988 and in 1986 Mildam mine was opened to replace it.
Nearby Cavendish Mill which is owned by British Fluorspar Limited (BFL) has been producing this fluorspar for many years, both acid-grade Fluorspar and metallurgical-grade Fluorspar. This process includes crushing the ore, washing it, separating it then heating it to produce acid grade fluorspar. Before its closure, the mill employed over 40 people locally.
The mill was originally owned by Glebe Mines. The company was active between 1864-1884 operating a Lead Mine. Glebe then reopened their original Mine in 1937 and also gained control of several other mines including Ladywash and Black Hole, both of which reopened in 1939. After World War II, Fluorspar demand soared due to its essential role in manufacturing Hydrofluoric Acid. At this point, they expanded operations and became one of the key suppliers of Fluorspar in the UK. They were acquired by Laporte Minerals in 1959 with Cavendish Mill replacing the original Glebe Plant six years later in 1965.
However, they ceased operations at the end of 2010, resulting in a loss of 65 jobs. Glebe Mines were previously fined almost £40,000 in 2007 after quarry waste poured through Stoney Middleton on 22nd January 2007 when a lagoon burst its banks. The clean-up operation cost about £2m. In 2012, Glebe Mines’ assets were acquired by British Fluorspar Ltd as part of a broader strategy by the UK government to maintain domestic production of this critical mineral. In 2018, British Fluorspar was acquired by the large Italian-based multinational Fluorspar producer, Fluorsid. One of the last fluorspar mines in Europe, Milldam Mine ceased operations in 2023 due to mineral extraction operating at a loss. Unsurprisingly, Cavendish Mill followed suit just after in October 2023, with the majority of staff being made redundant.
2. The Explore
Glad I got this done when I did as the mill is now in the throes of demolition. The first and epic report to surface on here was by @Webbs0710 . While he understandably posted this in non-public, I’m posting this is the public forums given it has been out there for some time now and is being demo'ed.
Explored with my non-forum mate J, getting into the mill was easy enough and the ensuing explore a relaxed affair. It really was a fascinating look at a now vanished Derbyshire extraction industry. Sadly, with on-site secca present, we didn’t manage to do the rather fantastic lab buildings. For a look at these, see @Bikin Glynn and his excellent report HERE
3. The Pictures
Looking across the nearby quarries:
One of the first things you come across is this pipe system:
Remains of the mostly demolished crusher:
Round the back, and we’re in!
And the first of the machinery:
The BA filter:
This was a bit random:
The electrics:
Along the conveyor belts to the other side of the road:
No way down so back we go:
Last edited:
