Wheal Gorland

Wheal Gorland lies just north-east of St Day village in Cornwall, England, UK, part of the renowned Camborne-Redruth-St Day mining district. This area, in south-west England, is known for its mineral wealth, with nearby notable localities including Polcrebo Downs Mine, Wheal Bramble Mine, and Nancegollan Mine (Mindat.org: Nearest Localities).

The mine boasts over 64 valid minerals, with a focus on secondary copper and lead minerals. It is the type locality for five rare minerals: chenevixite, clinoclase, cornwallite, kernowite, and liroconite, meaning they were first identified here (Mindat.org: Wheal Gorland). The geological setting is granite with associated mineral veins, formed by hydrothermal processes, and weathering has created a diverse array of secondary minerals.

Mining at Wheal Gorland began in 1792, with peak production in 1827, producing significant copper, tin, and arsenic. It was one of Cornwall's most important mines in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but production was inconsistent due to sporadic ore bodies. The mine was taken over by St. Day United in 1852, became idle by 1864, and was briefly reopened in 1906 for tin and tungsten before closing in 1909. Since 1988, it has been designated an SSSI for its mineralogical value (Wikipedia: Wheal Gorland).

St Day, near Wheal Gorland, is steeped in mining history, featuring granite cottages built for miners and part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site. The village's community remains strong, reflecting its past as a mining hub, with architecture and local identity tied to this heritage (Cornwall Guide: St Day).

Cornwall's temperate maritime climate, with mild temperatures (summer around 18°C, winter around 12°C) and significant rainfall, likely contributed to the weathering processes that formed the secondary minerals at Wheal Gorland (Intrepid Travel US: Weather in Cornwall).