Cornish Tin Mine Chimney Stock Photography

Mining in Cornwall began in the early Bronze Age, around 2150 BC, and ended at least temporarily with the closure of South Crofty tin mine in Cornwall in 1998. Tin, and later copper, were the most commonly extracted metals. The ground around this chimney is polluted from years of `acid rain` from the smoke containing sulphur and arsenic. As you can see, little is growing there, as only plants that thrive in acidic soil will thrive.