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| Protected Sites |
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| Hope's Nose SSSI, Torquay, Devon |
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| Hope's Nose SSSI, Torquay, Devon, is the
site of a unique type of gold mineralisation in Devonian limestones.
The gold occurs in carbonate veins cutting the limestone, forming
tiny specks, almost invisible to the naked eye. Upon treating samples
with strong acid, the surrounding carbonate vein dissolves and a spectacular
interconnected network of branching gold is revealed. The site is
also notable for the occurrence of very rare minerals of palladium
and selenium, associated with the gold. |
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| Over a number of years, collectors have
removed the carbonate veins without consent from either the owners
of the site or from Natural England, using heavy-duty equipment. Samples
from Hope's Nose have appeared for sale on the mineral collector's
market, where they fetch large sums of money. As a result of these
activities, the mineralogical interest at Hope's Nose has virtually
disappeared. Samples of Hope's Nose gold can be observed in the Natural
History Museum, but it is no longer possible for anybody to observe
this unique geological feature in its original context. |
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A void, where once there was a gold-bearing
mineral vein, removed without permission from Hope's Nose SSSI, Torquay,
Devon by collectors using a power-saw. The mineral interest at Hope's
Nose has been virtually eradicated by collectors. |
| Photo: Mick Murphy, Natural England |
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