Tin & Copper Prices, Cornwall

Tin & Copper Prices, Cornwall

1787 The Great Copper Slump

The end of the Napoleonic Wars saw falling tin prices

The copper slump of 1866-1867.

There was a short-lived boom in 1870–72

Difficulties in the tin market caused prices to slump by nearly a third between 1890 and 1896

1897 £61
1901 £118
1902 £120
1903 £127
1904 £126

1905 £143
1906 £180
1907 £172
1908 £133

1912 £210

1914 £151

1920 tin mining experienced a slump which lasted for more than three decades.

High prices then persisted (albeit with artificial price intervention by the International Tin Council) until October 1985 when the Council collapsed financially in spectacular style and the price of tin halved overnight. By the end of the year the tin price had dropped from over £10,000 per tonne to under £3,000 per tonne.

Wheal Concorde (St Agnes) and Pendarves closed in 1988, Geevor closed in 1990, Wheal Jane closed in 1991, and South Crofty closed in 1998.

 

Mines and Mining In Cornwall