Excerpt from The Geology of the Country Around Padstow and Camelford

The following pages describe the geology of that part of Corn wall which stretches from Bodmin Moor westward to the sea, and includes the towns of Padstow, Wadebridge, and Camelford. More exactly it may be considered as taking in two-thirds Of Bodmin m-oor, most of the basin of the Camel, and the coast from Mawgan Porth to Boscastle. Most of this area is included in Sheets 335 and 336 of the Geological Survey Map but the annexa tion of a small area around Tintagel (in Sheet 322) enables us to complete the description of the Upper Devonian rocks which run in and out across the boundary. The total area is about 200 square miles.

The surface contours of this district are decidedly complex and difficult to describe in a few words. On the east we find the high granitic Bodmin Moors, which rise to feet at Brown Willy and exceed feet at many points. But these high moors do not form the main watershed, which is found further north, off the granite and on slate, at a height of about 900 feet. This elevated slate ridge stretches westward to the coast at Tintagel, and then turns southward, at a somewhat lower elevation, run ning near and parallel to the coast. Thus most of the tributaries of the Camel flow southward, but the main river is suddenly deflected by the high ridge Of St. Breock Down-s (700 feet) and turns north-westward, to reach the sea at Padstow.

Though the basin of the Camel occupies most of the area, and is mainly included within the area, much of Bodmin Moor drains southward towards the Fowey; a few small streams fir w eastward to join the Tamar, and others, mainly south-west of Padstow, reach the sea by a direct course over a comparatively low west ward-sloping plateau.

Mining, or rather streaming, was at one time a great industry on Bodmin Moor, much tin occurring in the alluvial deposits, though lodes are small and scattered. The streaming ceased for a series of years, but lately there has been a revival, especially in those alluvial deposits which happen to contain wolfram, formerly Of no value. A few tin and copper mines are still being worked. Over the slate and lava areas antimony has been mined at different times; but the lodes are small and impersistent. Iron has also been mined.

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