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The discovery of this shaft within a residential development plot in West Cornwall certainly highlights the value of a carefully conducted mine search.

Whilst in an area of historical mining activity, the historical archive plans available did not identify any shafts within the site.

However, the presence of a mine burrow (waste tip) and other telltale mining features from the old maps provided clues.

Interpretation by an experienced mining geologist suggested a likelihood of a shaft and its potential location.

As is evident from the digger tyre tracks in the photograph, the search was certainly focused in the correct area! On further investigation using the correct end of the digger, a fine example of a timber lined shaft was unveiled which can now be remediated appropriately.

This week the number of Mine Searches completed by Wheal Jane Consultancy topped 25,000. 

At one of a series of invitation events held at Wheal Jane on Wednesday for local lawyers and property experts Dale Foster, the Company’s Senior Mining Geologist explained the procedure for completing a Mine Search using the Company’s huge mine plan archive and database.

All those attending felt better informed about the importance of not just good basic information but of the need for expert and experienced interpretation of what is often incomplete and poorly documented  historical mine information.  Visitors were also able to see some of the mine plans owned by the Company dating back over 100 years, some on parchment and cloth.

There was also an opportunity to visit the Wheal Jane Group’s state of the art analytical laboratory.  The Wheal Jane Laboratory serves mining clients worldwide but can also carry out soil analysis for contaminated land surveys in  Cornwall and Devon.

The problem and potential liabilities for properties affected by “mundic” are well known in Cornwall and Devon.

The series of tests approved by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors provide the means of assessing whether mundic is present and an indication of its severity.

In 2002 the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors issued a supplement to the 2nd Edition of the Mundic Guidance Notes, outlining a new Stage 3 test for the classification of mundic concrete to supplement the existing Stage 1 and Stage 2 tests.

There are 3 levels of assessment which can be used.  Stage 1 and 2 are visual assessments of the compostion and condition of the aggregate in sample cores taken from the property.

Stage 3 is a longer term physical test of the performance of the aggregate under controlled environmental conditions which simulate ageing and weathering.

At each stage samples can pass or fail.  Successful completion of a Stage 3 test can in some cases reclassify a previous failure at Stage 2 bringing the subject property back into the mortgage market.

We are able to offer all 3 stages of testing in-house at Wheal Jane and we are the only Company in Cornwall offering a Stage 3 testing service.

Wheal Jane Laboratory

The latest new Wheal Jane Group company web site goes live this week. From humble beginings the Wheal Jane laboratory has grown into an international business serving clients worldwide. Investment in state of the art analytical equipment has ensured that the lab can meet the most demanding requirements whilst still providing rapid results and a unique personal service. The laboratory is based on site at Wheal Jane adjacent to Wheal Jane Consultancy ensuring a seamless service when materials testing and analysis are required.

Students from the University of Exeter have contributed to development plans for an Earth Science & Renewable Energy park at Wheal Jane.

Working with partners in the scheme, Pure Energy Professionals who are investigating the development of a biomass power plant at Wheal Jane, the students undertook a full assessment of the site and prepared a feasibility study.

The work included site visits and appraisals, survey work on the proposed location and an assessment of suitable plant.

The students were given full access to the site and had the opportunity to discuss the biomass proposals with the site’s owner before completing their feasibility study for Pure Energy Professionals.

For more information visit the Wheal Jane Masterplan website.

Over 5,600 solar panels transform old tin mine to generate electricity for 400 homes

The South West’s first solar farm has been connected to the grid in Cornwall by UK-based solar developer Lightsource Renewable Energy. On the site of a disused tin mine, the 1.4 MW farm is the biggest in the UK to date. Covering a 7.2acre plot at Wheal Jane, Truro, it is the first of many renewable energy projects planned at the reclaimed mine. The farm’s 5,680 solar panels will generate 1,437 MWh of electricity a year, enough to power the equivalent of 430 homes in the area and save over 737 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. Lightsource Renewable Energy has a number of additional sites being built across the UK, due to be connected by the end of the month.

Lightsource Renewable Energy Ltd. worked with Solarcentury, the UK’s most experienced solar energy company, to deliver the solar farm; the project is funded by Octopus Investments.

Conor McGuigan, Head of Planning, Lightsource Renewable Energy said: “It’s fantastic to see our first solar farm in the South West operational. It’s been a race against the clock to get it connected to the grid by the end of the month. Cornwall Council, Western Power Distribution, Wheal Jane Group, 35 Degrees, Solarcentury and the local suppliers have all played a significant role in making this happen. While it’s been disappointing that the Government has decided not to support the large scale solar sector going forward, the solar farms developed this summer will play a critical role in the supply of green energy in the UK. We look forward to helping building owners develop solar projects from this point.”

Derry Newman, CEO, Solarcentury added: “To see a tin mine diversify into producing 21^st Century clean solar energy, provides an optimistic glimpse of where we’re now heading for our energy production. Wheal Jane’s solar farm demonstrates that solar technology can contribute to our clean energy future, and quickly.  Solarcentury designed and constructed this site, powering over 400 homes, in less than two months.  Solar is not to be underestimated; it is the fastest growing energy technology in the world, simply because it is clean, reliable and a readily available alternative to fossil fuels.”

The South West's first solar park

Julian German, Cornwall Council cabinet member for the Environment, said: “It’s great to see the UK’s biggest solar farm opening in Cornwall where we are well placed to take advantage of the significant potential of solar power. Wheal Jane solar farm demonstrates how these developments have been sensitively sited, maintaining the balance of our need for clean energy and maintaining our landscape. Despite the Government’s change in policy on Feed-in tariffs, we are determined to ensure that solar energy brings great benefits to businesses and communities throughout Cornwall. Those with roof space for solar should see it as not only as helping to contribute to our clean energy future but a rewarding investment.”

For the construction of Wheal Jane solar farm, local contractors were employed to carry out the work, preparing the land, supplying fencing and installing the solar panels. The solar farm is situated at Wheal Jane, a reclaimed mine site, due to be home to the UK’s first earth science park that will use renewable energy from solar, wind, hydro, shallow and deep geothermal sources. The site is currently being developed with plans underway for a 60,000sqft business park.

Bernard Ballard, Marketing and Planning Director of the Wheal Jane Group added: “We are thrilled that Wheal Jane is now home to one of the UK’s first solar farms. This is another significant step towards our ambition to have a number of renewable technologies operating on the site providing green energy to businesses based here.’

Truro and St Austell based law firm Stephens Scown LLP has provided property and commercial legal advice to the Wheal Jane Group throughout this project.

Scott Mitchell, Partner and Commercial Property Team Leader at Stephens Scown LLP said: “We are absolutely delighted that this latest phase of regeneration and development of Wheal Jane has come to fruition through renewable technologies. This is the latest chapter in a long but extremely successful story for the site.”

Work on the construction of the solar farm at Wheal Jane has begun in earnest.  Just five weeks in to the build, solar panels are being installed and virtually all the ground works and support infrastructure have been completed.

Wheal Jane partner company Carnon Contracting were delighted to win the contract for the site preparation, piling and trenching and has had a workforce of more than 25 working on the site in order to meet the short timescale.

The project must be completed and connected to the grid by July 31st 2011 in order to secure the current level of feed-in tariff. The government’s planned review, which has drastically reduced the incentive, comes into force on August 1st.

Panel frames in place and packs of panels about to be fixed.

After 23 years of service to the property sector in the South West, Crofty Consultancy has changed its name. If there has ever been one aspect of our business which has proved confusing to the world its our name, so Crofty Consultancy is now Wheal Jane Consultancy.

The change brings our extensive land and property service business firmly into the Wheal Jane Group family identity where it belongs, and reflects where it has been based for the past 12 years.

Our new identity also serves to develop the growing family of businesses based at Wheal Jane, all of whom specialise in mining, minerals and renewable energy or some other aspect of ‘earth sciences’.