The Bowerdon adit, driven between 1918 and 1920, reportedly contained pitchblende, a mineral rich in uranium. Due to the very high levels of radon gas within the adit, it is extremely hazardous and should not be entered under any circumstances. The radiation levels in the vicinity of the adit entrance are significantly elevated compared to background levels, with counts exceeding 2000 per second within the chamber containing the pitchblende. Pitchblende deposits are visible in both the walls and roof of the adit, characterized by black areas with yellow secondary minerals on the surface. Additionally, small quantities of green copper secondary minerals and degraded pyrite are present. Although a crosscut was reportedly made at 27 fathoms from the adit portal, further exploration beyond that point is not recommended due to the dangerous conditions and high radiation levels.
External Links
Publications (4)
- BGS - Mine Plans (large, zoomable) - Kings Wood And Whitehall Easton; 1 pages
- BGS - Mine Plans (large, zoomable) - Kings Wood Mine Buckfastleigh Devon; 1 pages
- Dines, Henry George (1956); BGS - Regional Memoirs - Metalliferous Mining Region of South West England Vol2, The; 335 pages
- Richardson, P.G.; NMRS (1992); British Mining 44 - Mines of Dartmoor & the Tamar Valley after 1913; ISBN 0901450 38 3; p.134.
