Llanelltyd / Foel Ispri Gold Mine

Subject: Llanelltyd / Foel Ispri Gold Mine Fri 04 Jun 2010, 2:46 pm

Location
SH 692 199 (Main mine entrance perhaps ?)
SH 703 202 (At least 6 Adits)

Directions
For the probable main mine; From the Dolgellau to Barmouth road, take the steep turn up on the right to the “New Precipice Walk” and when you leave the main “B” road and begin driving up a track (to the start of the walk) there is a stream in a gully on your right – the adit is along there.

The adits are located further long the track at “New Precipice Walk”. You need to park at the car park there and begin the well arrowed path that circles Foel Ispri – you will pass a large spoil heap slipping on to the path as you walk round – scramble up there and that is the is the first adit – the others are all very close.

Access
The main mine? Is gated and locked

The Adits are all ungated and permission is unknown

Suggested Equipment
None

Length
Unknown

Flood Risk
The Adits cannot (in theory) flood and have only the usual knee depth water at their entrances. However, at least two of the levels have flooded levels below with planked holes in the passageways which are dangerous. The main mine entrance has not been entered and the flood risk is therefore unknown

Mine Attributes
Gold

Description
The main mine has not been entered.

Adit #1
Wellie depth water for a good way with a total mine length of, perhaps 400-500 metres. There is a fork at one point and also a planked hole which spans the entire adit covering a flooded level below. There are many nice formations in this mine with rich iron intrusions. The spoil outside yielded some of the most deceptive fool’s gold I have come across to date

Adit #2
Less than wellie depth water for a short distance only but this mine is shorter than the first and is only around 200-300 metres in length. It also benefits from excellent formations and also has a planked, flooded hole across the entire span of the adit floor (flooded level below).

Adit #3
An odd adit with a small amount of water at the entrance which can be negotiated with wlakng boots. It quickly opens to an area where the vein has been mined to surface but then continues for a short time (perhaps 100 metres max). Again, plenty of formations and very sulphurous at it’s terminus.

None of the other adits have yet been entered.

Unexplored Passages
The Main Mine
The other adits (at least three)

Digs
None Known

Links
http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/800/?mineral=76

http://www.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4174&gcr=2478