Scottish shale Scottish shale

Pumpherston No.3 mine

Parish:
Midcalder, Midlothian
Local authority:
West Lothian
Seams worked:
Pumpherston Shale
Closed:
1901
Current status of site:
Rehabilitated land forming part of Pumpherston golf course
Regional overview:
Mines in the Pumpherston area

pumpherston3mine1.jpg

Inclined adit

Serving Pumpherston Oil Works

One of a sequence of steeply inclined mines following the outcrop of Pumpherston Shales along the western arm of the Pumpherston anticline. It appears that latterly, workings from Pumpherston No. 3 Mine linked to those of Pumpherston No. 1 and No. 2 Mines.

Shale-field: Pumpherston shale-field.

Mapped by the Ordnance Survey of c.1895, showing the mine in operation.

  • Location & workings at Pumpherston No.3 mine

      • Show seams:

  • Detailed maps
  • Newspaper references

      • We contemplate developing that portion of our mineral field lying to the south and convenient to our works, and working that new seam of shale to which some reference was made in our report last year. I am happy to be in a position now that, after repeated tests, this shale is fund to give the high yield of 40 gallons of crude oil per ton of shale, and in money value gives results not obtainable from any other shale presently worked in Scotland.

      Annual general meeting of the Pumpherston Oil Company reported in Glasgow Herald, 11th June 1887

  • External references

      • Coal Authority Mine Abandonment Catalogue No. 4183, showing workings from Pumpherston No. 1, No. 2, & No. 3 in the Upper or Jubilee, Maybrick, Curly, Plain and Wee, abandoned in 1901.

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