Mining in UK

In August 2014 I made my first trip to Weardale, in the north of England, to visit the well known Rogerley mine. On that occasion, I visited the surrounding area and the other mining sites and I was extremely impressed by the several similarities with my native village, Perticara. The local economy depended mainly on the mining sector and when this was plunged into crisis, the entire economy of the region collapsed. Over time, I had the opportunity to meet former miners, see collections and acquire good specimens. I took the opportunity to collect into the mines that wrote the history of English mineralogy and nourished the imagination of many collectors. All this time I had an idea running around in my head, to organise a mineral exhibition in the heart of Weardale; so in 2017 I decided and organised, in the village of St John's Chapel, the first edition of the North Pennines Mineral Expo to pay homage to the glorious mining past of the area. The exhibition was a success and became a recurring appointment.