Bonmahon Copper Mines Development Syndicate Ltd

Description

Formed to acquire 190 acres of ground at the Bay of Bonmahon, County Waterford, Ireland. The property consisted of three mines known as the Bonivy, Knockmahon and the Tankardstown mines. These had previously been worked by the General Mining Co., of Ireland between 1824 and 1878, to produce over 194,000 tons of ore at a grade of 10%. It was reported at the time that this high grade had been achieved through hand picking the ore which would mean there was a significant amount of low and medium grade ore available for the present company.

At the first general meeting of the company in November 1906, it was reported that the operations at the mines where progressing well with dewatering and rehabilitation of the shafts having been nearly completed to the lower levels. It was also reported that there had been two shipments of ore, the first having a grade of 9% and the second being 7.5%. A third shipment was also being prepared of unsorted ore which was expected to grade at 3-3.5%. In addition to this it was also reported that operations had exposed 60,000 tons of ore at a grade of 3%.

The company was wound up in 1907, this coincided with  court case another court case for liable involving Mr Marks who had promoted the company and Mr W. F. Skinner who was the proprietor of the Mining Manual and the also the Capitalist newspaper. Mr Skinner had published an article accusing Mr Marks of altering records to make the ore grade appear higher than it actually was. The jury found in favour of Mr Skinner.