Latest News
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13 July
The legacy of a fine summer
For most of us the present long, dry and hot spell is a welcome change after very average summers during recent years. The downside of course is that, in traditional mining areas such as Cornwall, when such a spell ends with heavy or persistent rain, as it usually does, the likelihood of shaft collapses increases. […]
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14 June
What is a proper mine search, and why are they so important?
The Cornwall and Devon area is known to hold a huge diversity of rich mineral resources beneath its surface. These minerals including tin, copper, lead and a host of others have been mined from prehistoric times right through to the 21st Century. Whilst this long history and heritage is now celebrated through the area’s Mining […]
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25 May
Bioavailability testing yields benefits
Work by the Wheal Jane Consultancy at a proposed four hectare mixed development site in Camborne resulted in positive conclusions from a detailed risk assessment. Research had indicated that high levels of arsenic and other metals were likely to be present on the land, owing to natural geology. A detailed sampling plan was devised to […]
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23 May
New appointments at Wheal Jane Consultancy
During recent weeks we have been delighted to welcome two new members to our Consultancy team. Dan Jobson joins the team as a Senior Engineer. As a qualified Engineering Geologist with five years of experience in site investigation supervision as well as office-based consultancy, Dan will be helping develop our range of geotechnical services to […]
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14 May
Dale hits the spotlight in Cornwall and South Africa
Dale Foster, our Senior Mining Geologist and Cornish mining specialist at Wheal Jane Consultancy, has been in the spotlight for both his expertise in mining and his many years of involvement in the sport of target shooting. Dale is currently Chairman of the International Gallery Rifle Federation (IGRF) and officiated over the recent 2017 Gallery […]
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14 March
Construction Club Success
We were delighted to be sponsors of the Foot Anstey Construction Club meeting last Thursday in Truro. Interest in the event was such that over 60 people attended to learn more about the activities and services provided by the Wheal Jane Group. According to our hosts, Foot Anstey Solicitors, it was one of the best […]
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12 February
What is Mundic?
What is Mundic? Minerals commonly found in mine waste, such as pyrite (or mundic as it is also known), can decay over time and cause a slow chemical reaction which can result in concrete deterioration. This can lead to powdering and crumbling, and may cause weakening of a mass of concrete or mortar and structural […]
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8 December
What is a Phase 1 Contamination Report?
Phase 1 Contamination Reports are a comprehensive desk based study that collects and examines a vast array of historical and current data from a wide variety of sources. Information regarding any potential contaminative risks are compiled into a matrix to create a ‘Conceptual Site Model’. This is a visual overview that characterises and evaluates the […]
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21 September
National Trust mining search and investigation
Wheal Jane Consultancy has completed a site investigation for the National Trust at Godolphin. A documentary mine search indicated that a mineralised structure, known as a lode, passed through the area. A series of trenches were then excavated to search for unrecorded mining features within the footprint of the proposed building. The field work was […]
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15 September
Our extensive mining archive gets an upgrade
Wheal Jane Consultancy has completed the digitisation of 10,000 35mm slides. The slides contain images of historical maps and photographs, all of which have been converted to digital files and catalogued. These 10,000 new digital records almost double the size of our catalogued archive, increasing the accuracy and efficiency of the production of mining searches […]
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1 August
Window sampler in demand
We are pleased to report increasing levels of work for our window sampler rig (pictured). This compact tracked window sampler is small enough to fit through a standard domestic doorway, meaning that tight spaces and situations with difficult access can be dealt with, enabling us to complete deep sampling for either geotechnical or environmental purposes. […]
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30 June
Working together for best results
In a perfect example of the Wheal Jane Group companies working together to provide seamless solutions for our clients, Wheal Jane Consultancy have completed another successful site investigation project on behalf of Carnon Contracting and their client. The site at Telegraph Hill in St Day is in an area known to have seen extensive historical […]
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15 May
Mining geologist contributes to book
Our senior mining geologist Dale Foster has recently been acknowledged by the South African author Peter Derichs in his guide book of the Pilanesberg National Park. A chance meeting led to Dale agreeing to help Peter by explaining and describing the complex geology of the area in an interesting and simple to understand way for […]
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13 July
Soil profiling
Wheal Jane Consultancy were recently engaged to establish the baseline chemistry of an interesting site to aid in attaining safety and environmental certification based on the current storage of explosives for the quarry industry. To establish the base line levels of the soil constituents a number of samples were taken using a hand auger, samples […]
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21 June
Historical mining in Plymouth
Plymouth is not an area generally associated with high levels of historical mining activity such as in other parts of Devon and much of Cornwall. However, sporadic mining activity has taken place in and around the city, making a mining search a prudent step to ensure peace of mind when buying property in the area. A […]
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16 December
Trade levels up on previous year
As we approach the end of 2015 we are pleased to report that our level of trade in mine searches is growing year on year and once again exceeding those we were achieving prior to the recession – an indication perhaps that the present economic recovery is here to stay, at least for a while […]
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30 June
Mine searches support improving housing trend
The number of requests we are receiving for mining searches is continuing to grow month on month, suggesting that the housing market is continuing to strengthen steadily. Average monthly numbers of searches being processed by our mine search department are now matching the levels seen in 2006/7 prior to the recession. Whilst a welcome trend, […]
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23 February
Wheal Jane Consultancy reaches new milestone
Wheal Jane Consultancy has, this week, reached a new milestone by completing its 30,000th documentary mining search. Mining searches are an essential part of the property and land conveyancing process due to the extensive, and often unrecorded, mine workings in many parts of Cornwall and Devon. The shafts and workings are a legacy of the […]
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16 April
New Ordering System
We now have a new online ordering system for our Documentary Mine Searches and Non-Interpretive Environmental Reports. If you already hold an account with us, you can simply enter the site details and upload a site plan. We will then complete the report and invoice you as usual. If you do not hold an account […]
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7 November
Tellus South West Conference
A representative attended a recent conference, hosted by the British Geological Survey, that outlined the ongoing Tellus Geophysical Survey of the southwest. You may have noticed the survey aircraft flying along survey lines running north to south over the region at 200 metre spacings. The project includes a LiDAR (Light Radar) survey, airborne magnetic and […]
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24 September
New Service!
Wheal Jane Consultancy can now provide in-site California Bearing Ratio (CBR) testing using the UK Transport Research Laboratory Dynamic Cone Penetration method (DCP TRL). This test method enables the testing and calculation of CBRs for soils to a depth of just over 900mm. The method is also very quick, with the possibility of being able […]
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5 March
Money well spent!
Here’s an extract from a letter we received from one of our clients; “We are extremely grateful for your very prompt and detailed report. If your report had taken longer to prepare, our clients would have lost more money than they have already”.
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18 December
Sun Shines on Solar Students
A glorious spell of winter sunshine greeted more than 30 Exeter University students on a field trip to Wheal Jane last week. The visit was arranged to coincide with the Solar module of the 3rd year undergraduate groups Renewable Energy degree course at Tremough Campus. Getting up close to a major operating solar PV installation and hearing the […]
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28 November
Flood Risk
One of the major bookmakers in the country recently offered odds for a hose pipe ban in 2013 was 100 to 1. Many of us here in the South West must be thinking these laughably short odds, considering the weather we are currently experiencing. The Newquay Weather Station has recorded 153.1mm of rainfall for November, […]
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12 November
Wheal Jane Welcomes BSc Environmental Resource Management Students & Staff
22 BSc Environmental Resource Management students and staff from Cornwall College gained an insight into the past, present and future of Wheal Jane and enjoyed a tour of the Water Treatment Plant and other projects taking place on the site this week. Over 250 students have visited the site over the past 2 years from […]
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9 November
Mine Search Milestone
Wheal Jane Consultancy is approaching its 25th year in business and has this week completed its 26,000th mine search. The company owns the largest privately owned archive of mine plans in the South West assembled over nearly 100 years. However this is not the only reason why Wheal Jane Consultancy is the leading mining consultancy in the […]
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24 October
Wheal Jane’s New Planning Assessment Tool
Some significant changes have been made to the planning system as part of the Coalition Government’s ‘Red Tape Challenge’. One of the outcomes of this is that Local Planning Authorities can determine how much information they require to be submitted with a Planning Application. Cornwall Council is one of very few Councils in the Country […]
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1 August
Gold Medals Come to Wheal Jane
Wheal Jane Consultancy mining geologist and longstanding target shooting enthusiast Dale Foster has returned to Cornwall with a clutch of winner’s medals from a national target shooting event. During the major event know as the Phoenix Meeting held at Bisley, Dale participated in fifteen disciplines in the Gallery Rifle Small Bore, Gallery Rifle Centrefire, LBR/LBP […]
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15 May
How Important Is A Good Mining Search?
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 […]
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27 January
New Wheal Jane Laboratory web site goes live
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 […]
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16 January
The only Company in Cornwall to offer Stage 3 Mundic testing
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 […]
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21 July
Exeter University students study potential renewable energy project at Wheal Jane
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 […]
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13 July
South West’s first solar farm operational
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. […]
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27 May
Wheal Jane solar park construction gets underway
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, […]
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27 May
A change of name for Crofty Consultancy
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, it is our name, so Crofty Consultancy is now Wheal Jane Consultancy. The change brings our extensive land and […]