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Location of Lead Deposits
In County Durham there were rich deposits of lead lying within a circle of about
10 miles radius drawn around Wearhead, hence the lead-mining industry of Weardale and Teesdale.
Because of the way in which minerals are formed, lead is not found in horizontal seams but in vertical veins
that represent cracks in the rock. The same vein can therefore be found at the surface or deep underground.
Lead in Britain is never found in pure form, but usually in a compound with sulphur, lead sulphide commonly
being called galena. It is found with quartz, fluorspar (calcium fluoride), barites (barium sulphate),
and sometimes silver sulphide.
This photograph is of a lead vein left standing. This was an open-cast
mine. Quarrying has removed iron ores from on either side of the lead vein,
which is left standing in the centre of the quarry.
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