Tin

Symbol	Sn

This is a short overview. For the background — history, value over time and notable mines — see Tin →

Occurs in: Greisen and Pegmatite Deposits, Hydrothermal Deposits, Placer Deposits, Veins and Lodes →

A soft, corrosion-resistant metal, historically extracted from cassiterite ore by crushing, gravity dressing and smelting. Its main traditional use was alloying with copper to make bronze, and later for tinplate and solder.

Mines

Show these mines on the map

Mine	Region	Worked
Ale and Cakes Mine	Cornwall	by 1780–c. 1870
Bagtor Mine	Devon	1851–1866
Balleswidden Mine	Cornwall	1507 (earliest record)–1873 or 1875
Bedford United Mine	Devon	1841–1890
Belowda Mine	Cornwall	from Late 19th century
Boscean Mine	Cornwall	By 1584 (mentioned by Norden)–c. 1873
Boswedden Mine	Cornwall	1808–1876
Botallack Mine	Cornwall	1500s–1895
Brimpts Tin Mine	Devon	c.1500 (streamworking)–1855
Cape Cornwall Mine	Cornwall	1838–1883
Caradon Hill Medieval and Post-Medieval Mines	Cornwall	From 1515–1890
Carclaze Pit	Cornwall	From 1851–Around 2002
Carn Brea Mine	Cornwall	1832–1913-14
Carn Camborne Mine	Cornwall	By 1727 (as Heart's Ease Mine)–1897 (absorbed by Dolcoath)
Carn Galver Mine	Cornwall	Early 19th century–1875
Carnon Mine	Cornwall	1824–1830
Cligga Head	Cornwall	pre-1825–1945
Consolidated Mines	Cornwall	1782–1870
Cook's Kitchen Mine	Cornwall	By early 18th century–1913
Crenver & Wheal Abraham	Cornwall	1815–1870
Cuddra Mine	Cornwall	By 1814–By the 1880s
Cusvey Mine	Cornwall	1734 (tin dues)–1870
Devon Great Consols	Devon	1844–1903
Devon United Mine	Devon	From about 1820–1923
Ding Dong Mine	Cornwall	documented from early 17th century–1928
Dolcoath Mine	Cornwall	1720s–1920
Drakewalls Mine	Cornwall	Medieval–c. 1910
East Boscaswell Mine	Cornwall	from 1859
East Pool Mine	Cornwall	1698–1945
East Wheal Lovell	Cornwall	1790s–1891 (1881 by one account)
Excelsior Mine	Cornwall	early 1850s–1946 (mining)
Eylesbarrow Mine	Devon	1814-15–1856
Gaverigan Tin Streaming	Cornwall	from By 1873
Geevor Tin Mine	Cornwall	1911–1990
Golden Dagger Mine	Devon	worked from 1879–November 1930
Gonamena	Cornwall	1844–1886 (final re-trial)
Great Carnon Stream Works	Cornwall	By 1785–1812
Great County Adit	Cornwall	1748–Still active
Great Dowgas Mine	Cornwall	c. 1719–1913
Great Wheal Charlotte	Cornwall	By 1820–c. 1840 (reduced working to c. 1863)
Great Work Mine	Cornwall	By 1538–1939
Gunnislake Clitters Mine	Cornwall	c. 1820–1919
Halamanning Mine	Cornwall	By 1794–1858 (reworked 1912)
Hallenbeagle Mine	Cornwall	By 1835–c. 1867–1870
Hemerdon Mine	Devon	1867 (discovery)–1944 (early workings)
Hemsworthy Mine	Devon	1840s–c. 1856
Hexworthy Mine	Devon	At least 1240–1919
Higher Levant Mine	Cornwall	1877–1914
Hingston Down Quarry	Cornwall	From the 18th century–1908
Hobbs Hill Tin Mine	Cornwall	1844 (tinwork by 1516)–Early 20th century
Holmbush Mine	Cornwall	Probably early 1600s–1892
Hooten Wheals	Devon	1240–1896
Killifreth Mine	Cornwall	1826–1927
King Edward Mine (South Condurrow)	Cornwall	1844–1896
Kit Hill Mine	Cornwall	From 15th-16th centuries–1884 (main working ceased)
Levant Mine	Cornwall	1787–1930
Marke Valley Mine	Cornwall	1828–1890
Medlyn Moor Mine	Cornwall	1846 (earlier as stream ground)–1879
Mount Wellington Mine	Cornwall	1976–1978 (initial closure)
Nangiles Mine	Cornwall	by 1808–1915
New Consols Mine	Cornwall	From the 19th century–1953
North Downs Mine	Cornwall	By mid-18th century–After 1918
Okeltor Mine	Cornwall	Around 1845–1887
Parkenoweth Mine	Cornwall	—
Penberthy Croft Mine	Cornwall	1798–Late 1840s
Pendarves Mine	Cornwall	1967 (Simms Shaft sunk 1967-68)–1984
Pendeen Consols	Cornwall	1856–1870
Penhalls Mine	Cornwall	By 1834–1884 (independent working)
Phoenix United Mine	Cornwall	1836–1914
Polberro Mine	Cornwall	By the 1730s–1941
Polbreen Mine	Cornwall	By 1829–By 1891
Poldark Mine	Cornwall	c. 1720–c. 1780
Poldice Mine	Cornwall	By 1512–1930
Poldory Mine	Cornwall	By 1760–Around 1870
Polhigey Mine	Cornwall	By 1850–1930 (abandonment plans)
Prince of Wales Mine	Cornwall	1580–1977
Redmoor Mine	Cornwall	1700–1945
Rosevale Mine	Cornwall	From the 18th century–1914
South Crofty	Cornwall	1592–1998
South Polgooth Mine	Cornwall	1593–1916
South Wheal Frances	Cornwall	1820s–December 1919
St Just Amalgamated Mines	Cornwall	from At least 1907
Tincroft Mine	Cornwall	By the 1680s–1921 (South Tincroft)
Tregurtha Downs Mine	Cornwall	from 27 March 1883
Tresavean Mine	Cornwall	1737–1928
Treskerby Mine	Cornwall	By 1800–1922-27
Trevaunance Mine	Cornwall	1843–1887
Turnavore Mine	Cornwall	1837–1895
Tywarnhayle Mine	Cornwall	1750–1864
United Mines	Cornwall	c.1780–1857
Ventonwyn Mine	Cornwall	By 1889–c. 1907 (independently)
Vitifer Mine (Birch Tor and Vitifer)	Devon	documented from 1750 (Vitifer)–1925
Wheal Agar	Cornwall	from By 1883
Wheal Alfred	Cornwall	from by 1801
Wheal Baddon	Cornwall	1842–1872
Wheal Basset (Basset Mines)	Cornwall	From 1815–1918
Wheal Bellan	Cornwall	By 1717–1919
Wheal Buller	Cornwall	worked from 1819–1875
Wheal Busy	Cornwall	16th century (earliest working)–1924
Wheal Clifford	Cornwall	By 1835–1861
Wheal Coates	Cornwall	1802–1914
Wheal Cock	Cornwall	1778 (reopened)–1914
Wheal Crebor	Devon	About 1803–1902
Wheal Cunning	Cornwall	1830–1876
Wheal Drea	Cornwall	1790s–1884
Wheal Edward	Cornwall	From 1821–1893
Wheal Fortune	Cornwall	1855–1912
Wheal Frementor	Devon	c.1915–1929
Wheal Friendly	Cornwall	c. 1860–By 1930
Wheal Friendship	Devon	late 18th century–1950s
Wheal Gorland	Cornwall	1792–1864
Wheal Grambler	Cornwall	By 1792–1893
Wheal Grenville	Cornwall	1820s–1920
Wheal Grey Mine	Cornwall	By 1715–1873
Wheal Harmony	Cornwall	From 1760s–1879 (as Treleigh Wood Mine)
Wheal Hermon	Cornwall	1560–1915 (last production)
Wheal Jane	Cornwall	1861–1991
Wheal Jennings	Cornwall	At least the 19th century–20th century
Wheal Jewell	Devon	Late 18th century–Around 1924
Wheal Kine	Cornwall	1837–1895
Wheal Kitty	Cornwall	From 1758–1930
Wheal Lovell	Cornwall	By 1840–1875 (abandonment plan)
Wheal Maid	Cornwall	1782–1870s
Wheal Metal	Cornwall	15th century–1877
Wheal Owles	Cornwall	c. 1830–1893
Wheal Peevor	Cornwall	c. 1701–1950s
Wheal Pell	Cornwall	1750–1895
Wheal Prosper	Cornwall	c. 1860–1866
Wheal Pye	Cornwall	c. 1837–1895
Wheal Sterran	Cornwall	early 20th century–1927
Wheal Towan	Cornwall	By 1756 (as Wheal Sound)–1837 (abandonment plan)
Wheal Union	Cornwall	1848–1882
Wheal Unity Wood	Cornwall	By 1815–1927
Wheal Uny	Cornwall	worked from c. 1800–1893
Wheal Vor	Cornwall	From the 15th century–1911
Whiteworks Mine	Devon	1180–1914