Karst development and surface water management in the West Cumbrian iron-ore field, Cumbria, UK

Historical mining of haematitic iron-ore in western Cumbria is introduced, with brief consideration of relationships between ore deposits, geology and palaeokarstic features. The few recorded examples of surface and underground karst in the area are noted against the background of their geological setting, with speculation that unknown examples await discovery. Problems of surface water entering mined voids associated with underground karst features and fractures are discussed, accompanied by descriptions of surviving examples of engineered attempts to alleviate the problem.