Greenlaws

Introduction

Greenlaws mine was first worked for lead along the Greenlaws West and East Veins, later on when the mine was developing two major cross veins were also discovered; the Swinhope Cross Vein and the Westernhope Cross Vein. The mine is famous for having Boltsburn style mineralisation in huge flat workings within the Great Limestone.  Boltsburn itself is not far from Greenlaws and can be seen across the valley.

A major project to re-open the mine has taken 14 years so far.  Headed by Pete Ward, a team of mine explorers and collectors have cleared out a collapsed shaft leading over 200 feet down to the Great Limestone Flats. In 2012 they broke through to the first of the workings. 3 years later, after digging a connecting tunnel through partially collapsed workings, they broke into the main Limestone flats.

Now, for the first time since the closure of the Weardale mines, purple and yellow fluorite are being produced in exceptional specimens by the team.