{"id":878,"date":"2018-09-13T19:01:44","date_gmt":"2018-09-13T19:01:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=878"},"modified":"2026-02-11T11:43:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T11:43:37","slug":"minerals-of-the-english-midlands","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=878","title":{"rendered":"Minerals of the English Midlands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=842\">CLICK HERE TO ORDER THIS BOOK<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"_df_thumb \" id=\"df_1724\"  _slug=\"minerals-of-the-english-midlands\" data-title=\"minerals-of-the-english-midlands\" wpoptions=\"true\" thumb=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Front-cover-image.jpg\" thumbtype=\"\" >Minerals of the English Midlands<\/div><script class=\"df-shortcode-script\" nowprocket type=\"application\/javascript\">window.option_df_1724 = {\"outline\":[],\"autoEnableOutline\":\"false\",\"autoEnableThumbnail\":\"false\",\"overwritePDFOutline\":\"false\",\"direction\":\"1\",\"pageSize\":\"0\",\"source\":\"https:\\\/\\\/britishmineralogy.com\\\/static\\\/MOTEM_Flipbook.pdf\",\"wpOptions\":\"true\"}; if(window.DFLIP && window.DFLIP.parseBooks){window.DFLIP.parseBooks();}<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE INSIDE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The English Midlands, as defined for the purposes of this book, extend from the Welsh border in the west, northwards to the boundary of Derbyshire&nbsp;and Yorkshire, across to the eastern margin of Northamptonshire&nbsp;and southwards, roughly to the line of the M4 motorway. Included, are the counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands&nbsp;and Worcestershire, a total area of some 30,000 square kilometres (11,600 square miles). It is an area of diverse geology, varied landscape and steeped in industrial history.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The bulk of the book is a descriptive account of the minerals to be found in the above counties.&nbsp;This is followed by a review of historical collectors and collections, together with the activities of mineral dealers. A concluding chapter briefly mentions the various decorative stones associated with the area \u2013 Blue John, Alabaster, Ashford Black Marble etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Click on the images to view a larger version<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Overview-map-revised.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"865\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Overview-map-revised-865x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-942\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Overview-map-revised-865x1024.jpg 865w, https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Overview-map-revised-254x300.jpg 254w, https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Overview-map-revised-768x909.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Overview map of the English Midlands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Mining and quarrying&nbsp;have been of pivotal importance to the economy of the English Midlands. As a consequence of this, the area has produced a wide range of interesting mineral specimens. Examples of these are to be found in local and regional museum collections, and especially at the Natural History Museum&nbsp;in London. However, such was the importance of Britain in the development of mineralogy as a science that specimens from the English Midlands are to be seen in collections all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69faaa1ea2526&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"69faaa1ea2526\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"727\" height=\"1024\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_7253-Baryte-on-calcite-Dirtlow-Rake-Castleton-Derbys.-727x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-907\" style=\"width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_7253-Baryte-on-calcite-Dirtlow-Rake-Castleton-Derbys.-727x1024.jpg 727w, https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_7253-Baryte-on-calcite-Dirtlow-Rake-Castleton-Derbys.-213x300.jpg 213w, https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_7253-Baryte-on-calcite-Dirtlow-Rake-Castleton-Derbys.-768x1081.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Baryte and calcite, Dirtlow Rake, Derbyshire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_0733-Copper-and-cuprite-Bardon-Hill-Qry-adj.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"251\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_0733-Copper-and-cuprite-Bardon-Hill-Qry-adj-251x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-900\" style=\"width:350px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_0733-Copper-and-cuprite-Bardon-Hill-Qry-adj-251x300.jpg 251w, https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_0733-Copper-and-cuprite-Bardon-Hill-Qry-adj-768x920.jpg 768w, https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_0733-Copper-and-cuprite-Bardon-Hill-Qry-adj-855x1024.jpg 855w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 251px) 100vw, 251px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Malachite on native copper and cuprite, Bardon Hill Quarry, Leicestershire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Derbyshire lead mining industry will, be well-known to many readers, and more recently, baryte and fluorite, minerals formerly considered as waste products, became economically important, in the production of drilling mud, and as a flux for steelmaking, respectively. Many small-scale opencast operations enjoyed a brief resurgence during the latter years of the twentieth century, but today only Milldam Mine, under Hucklow Edge remains in production. Elsewhere, the gypsum mines in Staffordshire and Leicestershire and Winsford Rock Salt Mine in Cheshire continue to keep the mining tradition alive in the Midlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many excellent publications which document the industrial heritage and mining history of the Midlands, but few of these include any significant mention of the wealth of fine mineral specimens which have resulted from centuries of extraction. We are fortunate indeed that thanks to the efforts of miners, mineral dealers and collectors over the past few hundred&nbsp;years, many interesting and beautiful specimens have been preserved for us to enjoy today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"664\" src=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_0951-Baryte-var.-Oakstone-Arbor-Low-RES-0236-089-130x60x15mm-adj-1024x664.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-899\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_0951-Baryte-var.-Oakstone-Arbor-Low-RES-0236-089-130x60x15mm-adj-1024x664.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_0951-Baryte-var.-Oakstone-Arbor-Low-RES-0236-089-130x60x15mm-adj-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_0951-Baryte-var.-Oakstone-Arbor-Low-RES-0236-089-130x60x15mm-adj-768x498.jpg 768w, https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_0951-Baryte-var.-Oakstone-Arbor-Low-RES-0236-089-130x60x15mm-adj-463x300.jpg 463w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Oakstone baryte from Arbor Low, Derbyshire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The author has been privileged to have obtained unprecedented access to both private and public collections, resulting in the inclusion of numerous previously unpublished photographs of mines, quarries, mineral specimens and artefacts made from them. The book will appeal to all those interested in the geology and industrial history of the area, visitors to the Peak District National Park, mineral collectors and museum curators.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_6693-Croft-Quarry-Leics-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-908\" srcset=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_6693-Croft-Quarry-Leics-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_6693-Croft-Quarry-Leics-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_6693-Croft-Quarry-Leics-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/DSC_6693-Croft-Quarry-Leics-453x300.jpg 453w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Croft Quarry, Leicestershire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The book is a high quality publication on 150 gsm silk paper. Running to 432 pages (276 x 218 mm) and with more than 900 images, almost all of which are in full colour, it is a substantial volume. An extensive list of 1000 references complements the text and a comprehensive index is provided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Price: Softback \u00a335 plus postage and packing. You can order a copy online and pay securely using PayPal on this website. Please click on the Book Orders &#8211; Minerals of the English Midlands tab. You will receive a personal acknowledgment and a confirmation email notifying you when your book has been despatched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you would like the book signed, or inscribed with some special greeting, I&#8217;ll be happy to oblige. Please just ensure that you include the instructions when you order it via PayPal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>INDEPENDENT REVIEWS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read a selection of independent reviews of the book here:-<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Geoscientist online &#8211;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.geolsoc.org.uk\/Geoscientist\/Books-Arts\/Geoscientist-book-reviews-online\/2019-Book-reviews-online\/Starkey-Midlands-Minerals\">https:\/\/www.geolsoc.org.uk\/Geoscientist\/Books-Arts\/Geoscientist-book-reviews-online\/2019-Book-reviews-online\/Starkey-Midlands-Minerals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mineralogical Magazine &#8211;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1180\/mgm.2018.168\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1180\/mgm.2018.168<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/mineralogical-magazine\/article\/re-starkey-minerals-of-the-english-midlands-british-mineralogy-publications-2018-432-pp-isbn13-9780993018237\/D5E453C4D789DE2BECE1CC19CF05EEB7\">https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/JRS21-MEM.pdf<\/a>&nbsp;Reproduced courtesy of The Russell Society<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Yorkshire-Geol-Soc-Circular-619-Review-p.18.pdf\">https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Yorkshire-Geol-Soc-Circular-619-Review-p.18.pdf<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Reproduced courtesy of the Yorkshire Geological Society<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Elements-14_6-Dec-2018.jpg\">https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Elements-14_6-Dec-2018.jpg<\/a>&nbsp;Reproduced from Elements 14_6 courtesy of the Mineralogical Society of America<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/PDMHS-Newsletter-January-2019-p10.jpg\">https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/PDMHS-Newsletter-January-2019-p10.jpg<\/a>&nbsp;Reproduced from Peak District Mines Historical Society Newsletter January 2019 courtesy of PDMHS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Click the link to download a promotional flyer for the book&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/pdfresizer.com-pdf-resize.pdf\">Minerals of the English Midlands low res flyer for web<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you for your interest in <em>Minerals of the English Midlands<\/em> &#8211; I hope that you will choose to purchase a copy and look forward to hearing from you soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CLICK HERE TO ORDER THIS BOOK CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE INSIDE The English Midlands, as defined for the purposes of this book, extend from the Welsh border in the west, northwards to the boundary of Derbyshire&nbsp;and Yorkshire, across to &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=878\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":881,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-878","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=878"}],"version-history":[{"count":76,"href":"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/878\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1823,"href":"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/878\/revisions\/1823"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/britishmineralogy.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}