Buddle operation East Caradon

TeamManleyy

East Caradon Mine

The Buddles

Below is a simplified diagram of a buddle similar to the ones installed at East Cardadon, the wooden structure has disappeared leaving the centre cone and round pit onto which the convex decking would have been fitted.

The fine ore powder would have arrived suspended in water through a launder. This mixture (pulp) would be spread out from a centrally placed funnel to flow down the slope of the buddle towards its outer rim. As it did so the heavier ore would settle first nearer the centre.

Simplified layout of a Convex round Buddle

Click on for a view of the Buddle
The material building up on the buddles surface would be eventually dug out when it had reached a thickness of about six to twelve inches. This digging out would be done in concentric circles each giving material of different richness.
Rotating brushes swept the ore layer to give an even build up of material and to avoid the flowing water forming channels. These brushes were normally powered by a small water wheel.

Detail of the Central cone of a buddle at East Caradon Mine.
Being a copper mine these buddles were used to treat only the lower quality ore after it had been crushed or fines resulting from other processes.

On many mine sites in Cornwall dangers may still exist, many hidden. This web site is published as a resource to those visiting the Wheal Tor Hotel to explain the view from the Hotel and its access road.