Ecton is a historic mining area, once one of the foremost copper mines in the British Isles, now a Scheduled Monument and a valuable educational resource.

The principal aim of The Ecton Mine Educational Trust is to promote education in applied geology, chemistry, mining and mineral extraction. Thanks to the generosity of Mrs Elizabeth Cox, the Trust is the owner of the relevant mineral rights of, and the Study Centre at, the 18th Century Ecton Copper Mines in the Peak District National Park, near Hartington.

The Trust provides the facilities for school and university teachers to bring their students for one-day or two-day field courses that introduce them to subjects relevant to the minerals industry..

Much of the teaching at Ecton is carried out on behalf of the Trust by members of the Ecton Hill Field Studies Association (www.ectonhillfsa.org.uk). All EHFSA members are teachers, or retired teachers, mainly chemists and geologists. Their courses take into account the latest changes in the National Curriculum, and A Level courses and involve both surface and underground geology, mineral identification and mineral separation. A safe level underground area reached through an adit is used for part of the instruction. Ecton has the capacity for at least 500 students a year to take part in its courses. It has recently developed courses for Primary schools and can also accommodate general interest groups, such as scientific societies, industrialists and U3A groups.

The Trust is grateful for the support of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining which is able to use the Trust's facilities to support its own schools Affiliate Scheme, which aims to excite young people to the importance of careers in its fields, and in which there are
320 schools.

Ecton Mine Educational Trust is a Company Limited by Guarantee No. 555044, and a Registered Charity, no. 1112892.

Ecton Mine Educational Trust

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