According to Steve Rust (quoted on mindat), the "silver deposit was discovered in late 1861 when the 70 fathom level was being driven through the north slide in to Wheal Wrey."

"By 1864 the silver deposit was all but worked out, having produced 306 tons of silver ore, being the second highest recorded output from the West Country. This relatively small silver ore body has produced some of Britains best examples of silver sulphides and sulphosalts, although very few examples have survived ( probably less than 20 specimens)."