Tuesday 5th January - Around Headon China Clay Works

We started from Tolchmoor Gate. A fine morning but very wet underfoot. The first stop was at Crownhill Tor.

Then around the edge of one of the huge china clay quarries.  This is looking directly into the Headon China Clay quarry and.....

...this is a zoomed in view.

It was then a short walk to very recently re-opened (September 2015) Hermadon Tungsten and  Tin quarry which is expected to operational for at least 10 years.

The giant trucks wait for their turn to go up the hill to collect their load. Behind is the new processing plant.

A wider view.  The quarry is operated by Wolf Minerals and there is a video of the project here
http://www.wolfminerals.com.au/IRM/content/default.aspx

We continued around the china clay quarry to the mica dams and one of the small reservoirs used in extracting the clay.

Jon spotted this - Orange Peel Fungus.






















Near this is another part of the quarry.  Now operated by Tarmac to extract sand and aggregate from quarry waste.

Another view with a huge pile of sand at the end.






















 A short walk to Broomage Farm which dates from the 13th Century.

Lunch was at the Farmyard Café Wotter. Very different. Basic but excellent value for money.

With Jon, Stella, Brenda, Charlie, Terry, Phil, Jane, Amber and Collin