Mineralization in the British Isles

This is a comprehensive review of the major orefields and metallogenic provinces in the British Isles. Each chapter, written by those active in research on the orefield described, discusses the characteristics of the mineralization and reviews recent research and genetic models, placing the mineralization in a local and worldwide context. The introductory chapter provides an overview of mineralization in the British Isles, putting the mineralization in the context of the geological evolution of the British Isles from the Pre-Cambrian to the Tertiary. Many of the orefields are classic examples of their type (for example, the tin province of south-west England and the Irish base-metal deposits) and have played an important part in the early industrial development of the host countries (especially the iron orefields). The recently discovered stratiform mineralization in the Dalradian as well as the mineralization associated with Caledonian intrusives are reviewed, which are especially important as they are currently the focus of metalliferous mineral exploration.