Gravel Hill Mine, previously known as Penhale Iron Mine and Cliff Iron Mine, exploited the western section of the Perran Iron Lode. The lode, comprising two branches separated by a killas horse, was worked from the cliff face, with cavernous stopes still visible today. Additionally, a small but deep opencast known as the Big Iron Pit lies about 170 yards southeast of the cliff workings. Development also occurred underground, with an adit at beach level following the north branch of the lode, and shafts near the cliff edge. The oxidized zone was found at adit level, below which the lode narrowed and mainly consisted of blue fluccan (clay) with sulphide fragments. A NS-trending lode crossing the main lode midway between the cliff and the Big Iron Pit may represent the southern extension of the Phoenix Mine’s lode. The mine has historical records dating before 1728, but detailed output figures are available only for later operations. Between 1874 and 1882, it produced 7,400 tons of brown iron ore grading at 47% Fe, 10,379 tons of mixed limonite and spathic ores, and 30 tons of 40% zinc ore. An additional 165 tons of brown iron ore recorded in 1866 under the name Perran Bay likely refer to the cliff workings. A reopening around 1916 did not yield any ores.

old 1874-1882

AMR170 + 1707