Lisheen Mine
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Lisheen Mine
| image = Sphalerite from the Irish base metal ore field.jpg
| width =
| caption = Sphalerite (a crystal of zinc sulfide and iron) from Lisheen Mines
| pushpin_map = Ireland
| pushpin_mapsize =
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| pushpin_image =
| pushpin_label =
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| coordinates = {{coord|52|44|52|N|07|40|24|W|display=it|region:IE_type:city}}
| place = Templetuohy
| subdivision_type = County
| state/province = County Tipperary
| country = Ireland
| products = lead, zinc, silver
| amount =
| financial year =
| type = carbonate-hosted lead-zinc ore deposits
| greatest depth = {{Convert|200|m}}{{Cite web|url=https://miningdataonline.com/property/1091/Lisheen-Mine.aspx|title=Major Mines & Projects | Lisheen Mine|website=miningdataonline.com}}
| discovery year ={{Start date|1990 }}
| opening year ={{Start date|1999}}
| active years =
| closing year = {{Start date|2015}}
| owner = Vedanta Resources
| official website = {{URL|https://www.vedanta-zincinternational.com/our-operations/lisheen-mine}}
| acquisition year =
| module =
}}
Lisheen Mine is a former lead-zinc-silver mine located between the villages of Moyne and Templetuohy in County Tipperary, Ireland. In the Rathdowney Trend, Lisheen was an underground mine where the Lisheen deposit lies at an average depth of 170 metres (560 feet) below surface. The mine closed in 2015.{{cite web| url = https://www.vedanta-zincinternational.com/our-operations/lisheen-mine| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161221041241/http://www.vedanta-zincinternational.com/our-operations/lisheen-mine| archive-date = 2016-12-21| title = Lisheen Mine - Vedanta Zinc International}}
Accidents and incidents
The Lisheen Mine had two fatal accidents within two years. The first was an explosion in April 2011, and the second occurred on 4 April 2013 when a roof collapsed. In each case, a man died.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20227543.html|title=Second death in two years at Lisheen Mine|date=6 April 2013|website=Irish Examiner}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/fatal-mine-explosion-under-investigation-1.562712|title=Fatal mine explosion under investigation|first=Conor|last=Kane|newspaper=The Irish Times}}
History
The Lisheen Deposit was discovered in April 1990 by Murray Hitzman who at the time was working for Chevron. A full feasibility study was conducted by SRK, Kilborn, and Kelsey Engineering and development of the mine began in 1997. In September 1999 the first (production) ore was brought to the surface and in December the first shipment of Zinc concentrates departed from the Port of Cork. Lisheen was expected to produce approximately 4.83 million dry metric tonnes of zinc and lead concentrates over the estimated 14-year lifespan of the mine.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/lisheen-mine-operator-sees-zinc-profits-up-tenfold-81772.html|title= Lisheen mine operator sees zinc profits up tenfold|last=Boyle|first=Pat|date=2006-08-05|work=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News And Media|accessdate=2009-03-09}}
The mine was accessed via a 1.5 kilometre long decline, at –15%, 6.3 metres wide by 5 metres high. Underground drilling rigs bore holes in the ore face, which were charged with explosives and fired. The resultant broken ore was removed by large Load Haul Dump (LHD) machines and loaded into trucks which transported the ore to the crusher. The ore was first emptied onto 'grizzly' bars which prevent oversized material from entering the crushing chamber before being fed into the underground crusher. Approximately 6,300 tonnes of ore-grade material was transported daily via a conveyor system from the mine to the surface where it was stored in a covered stockpile of approximately 12,000 tonnes live capacity prior to processing in the Concentrator plant. Following various process the concentrate was then trucked south to Cork for onward shipment to various customers.{{fact|date=September 2021}}
Until its closure, the mine was owned and operated by Vedanta Resources Zinc International, being acquired from Anglo American in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.vedanta-zincinternational.com/operations/lisheen-mines/ |title=Lisheen Mine }}
In total, 22.4 million tonnes of ore were produced, at an average grade of 11.63% zinc, 1.96% lead and 26 ppm silver.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/farm-property/munster-farm-sales/winds-of-change-for-11m-in-tipp-38922229.html|title=Winds of change for €11m in Tipp|website=independent|date=7 February 2020 }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.infomine.com/minesite/minesite.asp?site=Lisheen Infomine.com profile of the site]
{{Vedanta Resources}}
Category:Zinc mines in the Republic of Ireland
Category:Silver mines in the Republic of Ireland
Category:Lead mines in the Republic of Ireland
Category:Underground mines in the Republic of Ireland
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