Phoenix United Mine
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| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 Disused buildings of Phoenix United Mine | |
  Location within Cornwall  Phoenix United Mine (England) | |
| Location | Cornwall |
|---|---|
| Grid reference | SX266724 |
| Coordinates | 50°31′34″N 4°26′50″W / 50.5261°N 4.4471°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 29.79 hectares (0.298 km2; 0.115 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1996 |
| Natural England website | |
Phoenix United Mine is a disused 19th century copper and tin mine in Cornwall, England, UK. Heavy metals left over in the soil from the mining operations have allowed mosses and lichens to flourish, and today the site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), noted for its biological characteristics.
All of the land designated as Phoenix United Mine SSSI is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.[1]
The mine was first worked in 1836 as Cornwall Great United Mines, having previously been mined separately as Clanacombe, Stowes and Wheal Prosper mines. The mine was subsequently bought by James Seccombe in 1842 who renamed it Phoenix Mine/Wheal Phoenix in 1844, finally being called Phoenix United Mine when West Phoenix Mine was incorporated.[2][3]
The mine originally extracted copper, the 1850s being the mine's peak production of the metal, with a work force of 130. By the 1860s the copper reserves were diminishing but consultant mining engineer, William West, bought a controlling share in the company and equipped the mine to extract tin in 1864 after samples showed evidence of tin deposits. By 1865 the work force had expanded to 460, continuing to 600 by the 1870s. It used the Liskeard and Caradon Railway to transport the ore away and supply the mine with coal. With the price of tin and copper slumping, the West Phoenix Mine ceased operation in 1898. The final shaft, the Prince of Wales Shaft, was closed in 1914.[2][3]
