Cornish village could become richest square mile on Earth after discovery of huge copper reserves

by

‘Huge copper reserve’ may be buried 330 feet beneath tiny Cornish village that was known in the 18th Century as ‘the richest square mile in the world’

  • Gwennap in Cornwall could be the richest square mile on Earth thanks to copper 
  • High-grade copper buried 330ft below ground recently discovered by miners
  • Experts have described the ‘mineral province’ as ‘truly unique’ to the UK 

By Jack Wright For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A huge copper reserve may be buried up to 330ft beneath a tiny Cornish village once known as ‘the richest square mile in the world’.

A company has conducted drilling tests in the village of Gwennap, just one square mile big. Early signs indicate it could be home to a huge copper reserve. 

Gwennap could reclaim its 18th century title as ‘the richest square mile’ in the world if further tests confirm the presence of high-grade copper. 

Strongbow Exploration claims to have discovered the reserve near St Day parish.

It is seeking funding to drill in Gwennap and tap into what chief executive Richard Williams described as Cornwall’s ‘huge potential’.  

‘There are some 2,000 documented mines in Cornwall but with the advance in new technologies we believe most remain under exploited,’ he said.

‘There is a huge potential to find some of the highest quantities of tin, copper and lithium and our exploration drilling holes have reaffirmed that belief.’ 

The high-grade copper-tin mineralisation has been discovered by Strongbow Exploration between the historic United and Consolidated Mines near St Day (pictured, Gwennap pit)

The village of Gwennap covers just a square mile but drilling tests have revealed it is home to fresh reserves of copper-tin mineralisation (pictured, sign pointing to pit)

The village of Gwennap covers just a square mile but drilling tests have revealed it is home to fresh reserves of copper-tin mineralisation (pictured, sign pointing to pit)

The latest drill holes, up to 330ft deep, showed copper mineralisation greater than 20 per cent, which further tests are expected to confirm.

Mr Williams said Cornwall’s potential was enormous because the new samples showed 7.5 per cent concentration – well above the 0.5 per cent average.   

‘This is a massively exciting opportunity and the people of Cornwall and local authorities have been really supportive,’ Mr Williams said.

Richard Williams, chief executive of Strongbow Exploration

Richard Williams, chief executive of Strongbow Exploration

Copper is widely used in electronics and many vital components of modern tech are made of the mineral. 

The high-grade copper drill tests were carried out by another mining company, Cornish Lithium, which is looking for lithium under Cornwall. 

The company believes the discovery of lithium, used in batteries and valuable to the telecoms businesses, could spark a new UK industrial revolution. 

Mr Williams added: ‘Cornwall has a massive role to play in the growth of the UK’s tech sector. In terms of security of supply, its mineral wealth is important, especially if the Government has desires to build its own high-tech industry.

‘From renewable energy to robotics, all these industries require metals like copper, tin or lithium – and Cornwall has plenty of it.’  

A spokesperson for Cornish Lithium said: ‘Cornish Lithium continues to enjoy a strong relationship with Strongbow Exploration and is excited about the opportunities that this discovery highlights for the mining industry in Cornwall.’ 

During the 18th and early 19th centuries the parish was called the 'richest square mile in the Old World'. It had the richest copper reserved on Earth at the time

During the 18th and early 19th centuries the parish was called the ‘richest square mile in the Old World’. It had the richest copper reserved on Earth at the time

Copper mining in Cornwall 

Mining in Cornwall began in the early Bronze Age, around 2150 BC, and ended (at least temporarily) with the closure of South Crofty tin mine in 1998. 

Tin and later copper were the most commonly extracted metals.

After the 1540s, Cornwall’s production increased rapidly. A second tin boom came around the 16th century when open cast mining was used.

There was a third boom in the 18th century when shafts were dug to extract the ore. In the 19th century Cornish mining reached its zenith.

The areas of Cornwall around Gwennap and St Day and on the coast around Porthtawon were among the richest mining areas in the world.

Mining in Gwennap is an industry stretching back to prehistoric times when tin streaming in the Carnon Valley is believed to have occurred.

By 1779 copper was ousting tin as the main mineral extracted. Gwennap’s mining heyday occurred between 1815 and 1840.

This era saw the rise of huge mining enterprises including the Consolidated, United, and Tresavean Mines. Consolidated yielded almost 300,000 tons of copper between 1819 and 1840 which sold for over £2million. 

Gwennap was then the richest known mineralised area in the world. 

In Gwennap no tin deposits were found beneath copper reserves, and when low prices caused the collapse of the copper market in the 1860s, many mines were forced to close or amalgamate. 

Consolidated and United were incorporated into Clifford Amalgamated mine.

Many of the mines that continued or went over to tin production could not survive the rising cost of coal and the fluctuations of mineral prices, causing a second wave of closures in the mid-1870s.