Map showing the distribution of mines.

See also Mines in Kelly's Directory, 1873 and the general gazetteer.

Mining was one of the principle industries and sources of employment in West Cornwall and its roots can be traced back to the Bronze Age. Records are notoriously scarce, especially details of the humble below ground worker. Even details of what mines existed and when can often be contradictory. I have compiled this list of mines from a number of references including [Hamilton-Jenkin 1961], [Noall 1973, 1982 & 1997] and [Burt et. al. 1987]. Some very useful information was also obtained from "Fluffy" Heather Coleman's mine data site (no longer online). A further source is the 1896 report of Joseph S. Martin, H. M. Inspector of Mines for the South Western District, as published online by the [Off Site]Peak District Mines Historical Society Ltd. The 5 mines listed in bold in the last column seem to have been the only ones operating at that time.

Ag=Silver, As=Arsenic, Bi=Bismuth, Cu=Copper, Fe=Iron, Pb=Lead, Sn=Tin, U=Uranium, Zn=Zinc.

Mine Map Ref. Parish Minerals, dates of operation & related mines
Wheal Adelaide Lelant 1905
Wheal Alice Lelant 1873–77
St. Ives Wheal Allen 499399 Ives 1859, Cu 1868, Sn 1862–68
Argus 417296 Sancreed 1872, Sn 1873–75
Augusta 380302 Just Sn 1852–54
Avarack 443289 Madron
Wheal Ayr 513405 Ives 1847–50
Higher Bal 369342 Just
Wheal Bal 381337 Just 1851, Sn 1852–62
Baldhu Syndicate Ludgvan 1907 Tincroft
Balleswidden 387312 Just Sn 1852–75
Balleswidden United 436298 Sancreed/Just Sn 1854
East Balleswidden 393304 Just Sn 1853, Sn 1873–74
New Balleswidden 393304 Just Sn 1889–95
North Balleswidden 389309 Just Sn 1905–06
Balnoon (Consols) 508381 Ives/Lelant <1758, 1845–50, Sn 1852–56, 1858, 1905–09 Worvas Downs
North Battery 519411 Ives 1821
Bellan 359311 Just Sn 1895–96, Sn 1910–13, 1894–1902 St. Just United
Bennyon Lelant 1584
Billia Consols Towednack Sn 1865–67, 1864–70
Boldstamps Lelant <1870
Bollowal/Ballowal 356312 Just Sn, 1859–65 Bosorne
West Wheal Bolton Ludgvan James Francis, purser in dispute with merchants of Hayle, 1854–56
Boscaswell Downs 383344 Just Cu 1852–71, Sn 1855–77, 1879
East Boscaswell 390340 Just 1872, Sn 1873–77
North Boscaswell (United) 380350 Just 1906–10, Sn 1911–12, 1913
Boscean 364321 Just Sn 1852–71, 1872–73 Cunning United
Bosigran Consols 421365 Morvah/Zennor Sn 1907
Bosorne 359308 Just Sn 1852–54, 1859–64 & Ballowal, 1865 East St. Just United
East Bosorne 363309 Just Sn 1854
Bostraze 389313 Just Sn 1888–90, 1891
Boswarthen/Bosworthan (Penzance Consols) 412290 Sancreed Sn, 1860–66
Boswedden 355322 Just 1853–72 Castle, Sn 1869–74, 1872–76 Cunning United
Botallack 364331 Just Cu 1845–95, Sn 1853–1913, As 1875–95, 1872–75 Carnyorth
East Botallack 396312 Just 1880, Sn 1881–85
Botrea 397312 Sancreed/Just Sn, 1907–08
Brea/Bray Consols 482404 Towednack 1822, 1838–48, 1858, Sn 1862–63, 1906
Wheal Brothers 509378 Ives
The Bunny 364333 Just
Bussow/Bossow/Buzza 494385 Towednack Sn, 1852, formerly Tyringham Consols, Sn 1880–81
Caer Bran 404292 Sancreed
Cape Cornwall 350318 Just Sn 1866–68, 1867 St. Just Consols, 1864–75
Carbisse Ives 1584
Carn Galver 421364 Zennor/Morvah 1851–59, Sn 1871–77, 1882, 1907 Bosigran Consols
Carnaquidden 467352 Gulval Sn, 1909–12
Wheal Carne 383339 Just Sn 1852–57
Carnelloe/Cornello (Consols) 442388 Zennor Cu, 1853–56, 1862–66, Sn 1872–73, 1871–74
Carn Leskis 356306 Just
Carnyorth 372334 Just Sn 1853–75, 1872–75 Botallack, As 1875
Carrick Du/Carrack Dews 507413 Ives 1810–38, 1853, Cu 1856–59, Sn 1859–60, 1861–62
Wheal Castle 355326 Just 1853–72 Boswedden, Sn 1853–74, 1872–76 Cunning United, Sn/Fe 1885
Wheal Chance & Good Fortune 505350 Lelant (Zennor?) 1809, 1874
Wheal Clarence
Wheal Cleveland 475402 Zennor 1845–58
Cliff Down
Collurian 524357 Lelant
Wheal Comfort Ives/Lelant 1873 Providence Mines
Wheal Conquer (Consols) Towednack 1857, 1859–61
Cot Valley 362305 Just
Wheal Crack Ives <1832
Croft An Vor 394296 Just
East/Wheal Cunning (United) 362317 Just Sn 1873–76, 1874 Boscean, Boswedden & Castle
Wheal Cupid 530377 Lelant
Darlington 507318 Ludgvan/Marazion Cu 1845–47
Ding Dong 437346 Gulval Sn 1855–78
South Ding Dong Gulval Sn, 1860–62
West Ding Dong 415301 Sancreed/Gulval Sn 1853–55
Do Em Just Sn 1862, 1864
Wheal Dollar Zennor 1823–25, 1834–41. Dispute between Revd. William Hockin and John Rosewarne, Gent. & Thomas Pearce, Mine Agent regarding non-working, 1838–40
Dolquoth 452281 Madron
Wheal Dorothy 511388 Ives
Durlo 498370 Towednack 1831. Sn 1859–64
Wheal Edward 360328 Just Sn, 1878–81 Wheal Owles
Wheal Elizabeth 452281 Madron
Wheal Fanny Adela 535388 Lelant Cu 1868–69, 1869 Hawkes Point, 1871
West Wheal Fanny Zennor 1852–53
West Wheal Fortune 528326 Ludgvan
Garden 416356 Morvah 1853, Sn 1864–71, 1860–<73
Geevor 375345 Just Cu 1895, Sn 1892–1913, Sn 1896, North Levant
Wheal George Ives 1832–39
Georgia Consols 487363 Towednack 1847–48, Sn 1852–55, 1871–73, 1911–12 Giew
Giew (Consolidated) 498370 Towednack/Lelant 1869–71, >1871, 1877 South Providence, 1908–10, Sn 1911–13 Georgia Consols, 1917–22
Wheal Gift 503379 Towednack/Ives 1860
Wheal Gilbert (Consols) 689431?? Towednack/Ludgvan Sn 1875
Good Fortune Ives/Lelant 1873 Providence Mines
Goole Pellas 498397 Towednack/Ives 1876–77 Rosewall Hill & Ransome, Sn 1876–81
Wheal Grace Lelant 1756–58
North Wheal Grylls Zennor 1864
Gunard's/Gurnett's Head 438382 Zennor 1843–44
Hallywoone Lelant 1584
Hawk's Point 535388 Lelant 1849, Cu 1851–53, 1867–69 Fanny Adela, Cu 1884, Sn 1883–84, 1901 East Providence
Wheal Hearle 390340 Just Cu 1862, Sn 1861–64
Wheal Henry 470279 Madron West Tolvadden
Wheal Hermon 357307 Just Sn 1874–81, 1913 Letcha Vean Olds
Wheal Hope Zennor 1845–48
Wheal Hope Lelant 1844–45
Island Consols Ives 1853
Kelynack 368303 Just 1900, Sn 1901, 1906–10, Sn 1910–11
Wheal Kitty 510362 Lelant Sn 1852–74, 1873 Polpeor, 1875–81 Wheal Sisters
South Wheal Kitty 524357 Lelant 1863 Wheal Rock, Sn, 1860–74
Wheal Kitty and Mary United Lelant 1858–61
Wheal Lady Down & Conquer Towednack 1836
Wheal Laity Ives/Lelant 1873 Providence Mines
Lelant Consols 504359 Lelant 1829–40, 1844–52, Sn 1853–60, 1861–67, 1905–09
Lelant Syndicate Lelant 1911
Lelant Towant/Towans Lelant 1710, 1820
Leswidden 393304 Just Sn 1913
Letcha Cliff 356306 Just
Levant 368346 Just Cu 1845–1913, Sn 1852–1913, As 1881–1913, Sn Cu As 1896
North Levant 376341 Just Cu 1875–79, Sn 1854–1913, Cu 1886, Cu 1895, As 1885, 1892–1913 Geevor
Wheal Locke Lelant/Ludgvan Sn 1892–94
West Wheal Lucy 546380 Lelant 1871–76
Ludgvan Lease Ives 1853–57
Wheal Margaret 505362 Towednack/Lelant 1790, 1798, 1840, Sn 1855–77, 1877 Wheal Sisters
East Wheal Margaret 525388 Ives/Lelant Sn 1852–65, Sn 1902–03, 1902 Praed
Ludgvan/South Wheal Margaret 531353 Ludgvan/Lelant 1854–57, 1872–82
West Wheal Margaret 397275 Buryan
West Wheal Margaret Towednack/Lelant Sn 1869–72
Margaret Ann Just Sn 1874
Wheal Margery 525394 Ives/Lelant 1760, Pb/Ag 1861–66, 1853, Cu 1855–70, Sn 1854–68, 1863–65 Trelyon
Wheal Mary 506366 Lelant 1838, Sn 1855–77, 1877 Trencrom, Wheal Sisters
East Wheal Mary Lelant 1871–73
Wheal Merth 527357 Lelant
West Metal 396312 Just Sn, 1860–65
Metal Work
Wheal Montague 487381 Towednack 1851–56
Morvah & Zennor United 416357 Morvah/Zennor 1836–41
Morvah Consols 407359 Morvah 1851–54, 1871–90, Sn 1874
Morvah Hill 417357 Morvah Sn, 1907 Bosigran Consols, 1908 Resemergy
Mount Tiack Lelant 1852–56
Wheal Music 483388 Towednack 1839, 1844
Nance Valley Lelant 1860–62
Nancherrow Valley 357323 Just
Nancothan 443289 Madron
Nanjizal Bay 358237 Levan
Wheal Nantz Lelant 1849
Wheal North Lelant 1904
Wheal Owles 366325 Just Cu 1878–88, Sn 1853–95, As 1879–80, Bi 1877–79, U 1877–79 see also Wheal Owles Mine Disaster, 1893 and The Flooding of Wheal Owles
Oxman's Stamps 390355 Just
Pedn Olva/Penolva 519404 Ives 1822
Wheal Pencrom Lelant Sn, 1869–70
Pendeen Consols 381359 Just Cu 1858–71, Sn 1862–70
Penzance Consols (Boswarthen) 412290 Sancreed Sn 1853–54, 1866
Polpeor 510362 Lelant 1873–74 Wheal Kitty, Sn 1874–75, 1875 Wheal Sisters
Porth Ledden 353319 Just Sn 1908–13
Praed Consols 518360 Lelant/Towednack Sn, 1850–54, 1860–63
Providence Mines 523384 Ives/Lelant 1821, 1832, Cu 1845–78, Sn 1853–1910, 1915 Wheal Providence, Wheal Comfort, Wheal Laity, Wheal Speed, Good Fortune
East Providence 528387 Lelant 1852–<57, Sn 1863–71, 1872, 1901 Hawk's Point
North Wheal Providence Ives Cu/Sn, 1859–73, 1862–82
South Providence 523381 Ives/Lelant/Towednack Sn 1855–57, 1869–72, 1870–89, 1877 Giew, Sn 1875–82, 1889, 1906–09 Worvas Downs
West Providence 494385 Towednack/Ives Cu, Sn 1881–83 Buzza, 1891
Wheal Racer 489393 Ives/Towednack Sn 1906–09
Randsom/Ransom United 499395 Ives/Towednack 1857, Sn 1863–77, As 1869, 1860–75 Rosewall Hill, 1876 Goole Pellas
Wheal Reeth (Consols) Lelant/Towednack 1757, 1785–<1812, 1812–42, 1836, Sn 1853–67
East Wheal Reeth 514375 Lelant 1850–55, 1857–60, 1868–71
Wheal Rose 396354 Morvah/Zennor 1893
Wheal Rose Towednack 1854–55
Rosemergy 420363 Morvah 1758, Sn, 1907 Bosigran, 1908 Morvah Hill, 1908–15
Rosevale 458379 Zennor 1906, Sn 1908–13, 1912–18
Rosewall Hill/Stamps 497392 Towednack 1584, 1680, 1808–15, 1838–42, 1845–50, Sn 1863–77, Ransom, 1876 Goole Pellas
Whael Ruby Ludgvan Sn, 1872–73
St. Ives Consols 506397 Ives 1818–82, Cu 1856–75, Sn 1853–1913, 1925?
St. Ives Mines Ives 1687, 1917–22
South St. Ives Ives 1864–65
West St. Ives 482404 Towednack/Ives Sn, 1866–72, 1868–83
St. Just Amalgamated 352316 Just Sn 1869–77
St. Just Consols 358298 Just Sn 1864–67, 1867 Cape Cornwall
St. Just United 352316 Just Sn 1862–1909, Sn 1896
East St. Just United 359308 Just 1865 Bosorne, Sn 1867
Wheal Sandwich 477380 Towednack/Zennor 1836
Wheal Sarah Ives or Gulval? 1838
Wheal Sisters 509363 Lelant Cu 1845–48, 1875 Wheals Mary, Margaret & Kitty, 1875 Polpeor, 1877 Trencrom, Sn 1875–1911, Sn 1896
Spearn Consols 371338 Just Sn 1853–74, 1874–77 Spearn Moor
Spearn Moor 368339 Just Cu 1862–74, Sn 1854–79, 1874 Spearn Consols, As 1875
South Wheal Speed 523381 Ives/Lelant Cu 1851, Sn 1852–55, 1873 Providence Mines
Wheal Sperris (Consols) 477380 Towednack/Zennor 1836, 1853, Sn 1855, 1862, Zn 1872
Stennack Stamps Ives <1876
Sterran
Wheal Strawberry 524357 Lelant
Old/New Tincroft (Consols/United) 500361 Towednack/Ludgvan 1836–41, 1855–59, Sn 1875–79, 1886, 1907 Baldhu
West Tolvadden 470279 Madron/Paul Cu 1862–64 Wheal Henry
Towan Lelant 1855
Tredinney Consols Buryan Sn, 1862–68
Treen Downs 436383 Zennor <1821 Sn 1906–07
Tregender 519342 Ludgvan
Tregerthen Zennor 1872
St. Aubyn Tregenna 518392 Ives 1847
Treloweth 541355 Lelant Cu 1854–66
Trelyon Bounds Lelant 1836–58
Trelyon Consols/Downs 518388 Ives 1849, Cu 1851, Sn 1853–74, Wheal Venture
Trembethow Lelant 1825
Trencrom/Tremcrob-ben 515368 Lelant 1857, Cu 1862, Sn 1861–67, Sn 1871–75, Sn 1913, 1877–81 Wheal Mary, Wheal Sisters
Wheal Trenwith (Stamps) Ives 1792, 1825, Cu 1845–63, Sn 1856–57, 1863, 1905, Sn 1912–13, Pb, U 1911–13, 1917–20
Trevarrack (United) 524372 Lelant Sn, 1869–73, 1873–76, 1911
Treveal Zennor/Towednack 1836
Trevega/Trevalga Bal/Trevigia 482405 Towednack 1841–42, 1864–73, Sn 1907–13, 1915
Great Trevegean 366289 Just Sn 1873–76
Trevethoe 528357 Lelant Sn 1903–05
Trewartha Lelant 1845–52
Trewellard Just Sn, 1859
Trewey Downs/Consolidated 461368 Zennor/Towednack Sn 1906–10
Trowan Consols Towednack 1846–54. Richard Kerwick, purser dispute with shareholders 1849–50.
Truthall St. Just Sn, 1856
Tundra Zennor Sn, 1913
Tyringham Consols 494385 Towednack/Ives Sn, 1860–65
Ulla Lelant
Wheal Union Ives/Towednack 1836
North United Zennor 1843–48
Velenoweth Ives or Ludgvan? <1849
Wheal Venture 520390 Ives Sn, 1836–39, 1863–72 Trelyon Consols
Wheal Wellesley Ives 1836
Wheal West
Western Worke Ives 1585
Wherry
Wheal Widden Morvah 1849
Worvas Downs 511383 Ives 1810–17, Sn, 1860–72, 1905–13, Balnoon Consols
Yankee Boy 322325?? Zennor Sn 1896
Zennor Consols 443388 Zennor 1873–75