Bere Alston: grid reference SX436644

South Tamar Mine, also known as Cleave Mine and as Birch Mine, lies about 1.5 miles south sou'west of Bere Alston in West Devon. The mine was worked from the early 1800's with content of the Silver ore between 40 and 90 ounces to the ton. The mine merged with South Hooe Mine in 1820 to form as South Tamar Consols. The merger was not a success however as the mine was offered for sale in 1821. South Tamar was reopened in 1846. By 1847 Cowie’s Shaft was 90 fathoms deep and was working half a mile under the river. The river broke into the workings in 1856, luckily the flooding took place on a Sunday when the mine was deserted, so there was no loss of life. The mine worked from Engine Shaft and Glynn’s Shaft.

Production records report that output as South Tamar Consols was 7,140 tons of 64% lead ore and 350 tons fluorspar between 1849 and 1860. Between 1852 and 1860 262,470 ounces of silver was also raised. Minerals found at the site includes: Anglesite, Aragonite, Cerussite, members of the 'Chlorite Group', Fluorite, Galena, Goethite, Hydrozincite, Linarite, Pyrite, Quartz and Smithsonite.