1940
“The continual drop in gold production after 1940 was due to the effect of the War. From 1942, restrictions on gold mining still further caused a drop in production. Many mines ceased operations, and only those larger operators producing metals vital to the war effort, in association with gold were able to contribute appreciably to the annual gold production of the State.
Of the total production of gold recorded during the years 1939-1945 inclusive, 71,418 oz. of gold were won by dredges mainly from the Wellington and Gulgong districts.
The most notable production for the period was that from the Cobar field, where 295,961 oz. of gold were produced, mainly by the three mines under the control of New Occidental Gold Mines N.L. . With the exceptions mentioned above, the bulk of the gold produced was won by a large number of small mines, sluicing plants, tailings, retreatment plants, prospectors and fossickers.
Left: Mines Department Annual Report 1940. Images and content presented here from this report reproduced courtesy of NSW Trade & Resources, Minerals & Energy
GOLD SUMMARY FROM THE REPORT
“Adelong Division. Total production amounted to 1,258 oz valued at approximately £11,505 during the period. The Gibraltar Gold Mine continued production from 1939 to 1943. The Golden Valley dredge was moved to a new site during 1939, when 463 oz. of gold were produced. In 1940 the dredge had to work in poor ground with very low production. In 1941, 35,000 cu. yd. of material were treated for a recovery of 1:-56 oz. gold. Operations ceased in 1942 owing to the difficulty of obtaining labour and supplies on account of the war.
GOLD SUMMARY FROM THE REPORT
They cover the activities in the various Mining Divisions for the period 1919-1945 inclusive. Further information is contained in reports by the District Inspectors, which are available for perusal in the Department.
AdJaminaby Didsion.
-Total gold production for the Division amounted to 77 oz., valued at approximately £740, won mainly by fossiekers from alluvial sources. No production c was recOl’ded after 1912.
Adelong Divisim.
-Total production amounted ta 1,2J8 oz.,_ valued at arproximately £11,505 during the period. The Gibraltar Gold Mine continued production from 1939 to 1943 with the following r’esults:- 1939-1,200 tons of ore treated for a recovery of 110 oz. of gold valueu at £959. 1940.-104 0!l. gold reeovered, valued at £1,101. 1941-198 tons treated, 7H oZ. gold recovered. 1942-253 tons treated, 121 oz. gold recovered, valued at £1,073. 1943-40 oz. of gold valued at £400 recovered from 200 bns of ore, 1944-1945-N”0 production, some de,elopment carriell out. The Golden Valley dredge was moved to a new site during 1939, when 463 oz. of gold were produced. In 1940 the dredge had to work in poor ground with very low prolluction. In 1941, 35,000 cu. yd. of material were treated for a recovery of 1:-56 oz. gold. Operations ceased in 1942 owing to the difficulty of obtaining labour and supplies on account of the war.
Albury Division.
-The following productions of gold were recorded:- J. F. C. Meyer, working a mine on poi:. G.L. 1, Parish Thurgoonu, WOII 43.5 oz. of gold valued at £361 from 91 tOllS of ore in 1939. In 1942 he produced 1 0:’:, 13 dwt. gold from 5 tOllS of are, and in 1943 he raised 6 tons of ore estimated to contain £200 woi·th of gold. . III 1941, 23 oz. of gold, valued at £166, were won mainly by fossicl’ers. In 1942, Mr. Mason produced 10! oz. of gold from 28 tons of ore mined at a site near Burne Reservoir. No production of gold was recorded f],om the Division during 1944 or 1945.
Amluen Division.
-During the period under review 490 oz. of gold valued at approximately £3,451 were produced. In 1939 G. W. Wynne produced 5 oz, gold from 10 tons ore from G.L. 7, Parish Milo. J. E. Mullens won 3 oz. gold from 400 loads of wash dirt from portion 32, Parish Aralu811, 311’1 2.5 oz, from a similar quantity of wash dirt from portion 33. l’rOlll P.G,L. 37, Parish Araluen, W, M. Naughton produced 5 oz. gold Irom 200 loads of wash, and Irom G.L .. 62, Parish Aralnen, T. M. Dillon recovered 12 oz. gOld. Fosslckers produced about 58 oz. gold Irom various sources. In 1940, despite one of the driest years on l:ecord, 140 oz. of gold were produced valued at £1,371. Durmg the year Glen Innes Dredging N.L. transferred its bucket dredge from Glen Innes to Araluen. In 1941 this Company treated 178,70~ cu. yd. of material and recovered 173 oz. gOld. In 1942, 6.3v oz. gold were won during preparations for docking ~he dr~dge. Operations then ceased and the dredge remamed Idle for the remainder of the period. During the years 1941·1944 fossickel’S won 37~ oz. gold from alluvial sources. No production was recorded from 1945.
.tfnnidale Division.
-Total production for the period is estiniated at 4,440 oz., valued at approxim~tely £32,65? Principal mine operators recorded the followmg productIons:- E. W. O’Brien was engaged in the cyanidation of sand and slimes from the Old Eleanora Mine, at Hillgrove. In 1939, 994 oz. of gold were produced, valued at £3,425; 1940, 635 oz., valued at £5,812; 1941, 1,754 tons tailings and 200 tons sands treated for a return of 147.5 oz. gold; 1942, 750 tons sands and 980 tons slimes treated, 250 oz. gold won valued at £2,613; no ‘Work done 1943-1943. T. C. Faint recovered 137 oz. of gold from the treatment of 1,650 tons of tailings at Hillgrove in 1939; in 1940 he recovered 140 oz. of gold, valued at £1,258; 1941, 585 tons treated for a recovery of 131 oz.; and 1943, 242 tons were treated for a return of 52 oz., valued at £1l8. N. G. Glashen, at Hillgrove, treated 5 tons of ore for a recovery of 15 oz. gold, valued at £113 in 1939; 1940, 24 oz. won; 1941, 10:’1 oz. from 21 tons ore, and 14 oz. from 1l tons of tailings. In 1939 New Bakers Creek Mine l’ecovered 15 oz. gold from 180 tons of dump material. Prospecting only was carried out from time to time during the remainder of the period. At Puddledock, Whybatong N.L. produced 406 oz. of gold, valued at £3,500 in H)3!J; in 1940, 242 oz., valued at £2,255; 1941, 40 oz. from 130 tins at dump on main shaft; 1942, 14 oz. 16 dwt., valued at £114 were recovered from 101 tons of ore. No production was recorded after 1942. In 1939, J. J. and A. Clark produced 42 oz. of gold from 500 loads of wash dirt, valned at £325. In 1940, F. G. Smith treated 16,000 cu. yd. of wash dirt at Duval and recovered 43 oz. gold. In 1943, 82 oz. of gold were recovered from antimony COllcentrates, produced on behalf of the Commonwealth Government under National Security (Minerals) Regulatioll’S, from the Garibaldi and other milles at Hillgrove. In 1945, Metz Gold Mines, at Hillgrove, won 20 oz. gold, valued at £200. The remainder of the gold production l’ecorded from the Armidale Division is attributable to fossickers throughout the Division.
.tfj·illethan Division.
-Messrs. Rohacker and Parker, operat, ing on dumps at the Old Mallee Hen Mine, produced 207 oz. gold from tailings during 1940 and 1941. Ballina Division.-Abont 9 oz. gold ,vere won from beach mining in 1940 and 1943. – Ban’aba Division.-Fossickers produced ]09 oz. gold, valneu at approximately £900 during the years 1939-1943.
Bathw’st Division.
-807 oz. of gold were produced during the period 1939-1945, valued at approximately £7,300. The pl”incipal producer was the \’iseman’s Creek Mine, from which the following production was recorded :-1940, 97 oz., valuerl at £900; 1941, no record; 1942, no record; 1943, 25.5 oz., valued at £2,623; 1944, no record; 1945, 43 oz., valued at £452. In 1942 M. Murphy produced 23 oz. gold from 43 tons of ore at n site near /ifiseman’s Creek. The rcmainder of the gold produced in the Division was WOn by fossickers. Bingam Division.-1,213 oz. of gold, valued at approximately £9,700, were produced between 1939 and 1942. In 1939 New BingDra Gold Mine Ltd. (formerly All Nations :Mine) was reported upon by a prominent mining engineer. In 1941, 1,000 tons of ore were raised Dnd 155 oz. produced, mainly from No.1 and No.2 level. A large make of ore 20 ft. wide with orsays up to 30 dwt. per ton was stDted to llave heen exposed on No.1 level. An intennediDte level was driven hetween Nos. 1 and 2 levels, and a ten-head battery with cyanide plant erected. In 1942, 97.5 oz. of gold, made up of 26.575 amalgam and 70.937 oz. in concentrates, valned at £924, were produced, No wOl’k was done in 1943, but ,?ewate.ring and development was commenced in 1944. In .194.) 150 ft. of driving and 180 ft. of cross-cutting were carned out, amI the main shaft sunk to No. 3 level (326 feet). In 1941, at Gouron Gouron Cl’eek, Beechworth Alluvials removed 7,500 yards of overbul’den, and treated 6,000 cu. yd. of wash for a recovery of 59 oz. gold. Dams were excavated to provide water, but the plant was l’equisitioued .for defence purposes, and operations had to cea~e for t~e rem.alnder of the period. Gold was also WOll hy foslsckers In vanous parts of the Division.
Bega Division.
-R. S. Hall produced 36i oz. gold from his mine at Vimy Ridge during 1940·1941. Bendcmeel’ Division.-Bendemeer Gold Mines erected :1 plant at Congi in 1941, but did not operate in the remainder of the period to 1945.
Blavney Dh·illion.
-Approximately 680 oz., valued at £6,701, were produced between 1939 and 1945. At Brown’s Creek, G. H. Davis treated 300 loads of tailings for a yield of 44 oz. of gold in 1939; 1940-33 oz. gold produced; 1941-780 tons were cyanided and 17 oz. gold produced. At the Last Chance Mine, Kings Plains, /if. V. Cooper recovered 41 oz. gold from tailings in 1940; in 1941, 900 tons of sand and slimes yielded gold to the value of £443; 1942, 738 tons tailings treated, 25 oz. gold valued at £221 won; 1943, 820 tons tailings treated, 33 oz. gold, valued at £289 won; 1944, 600 tons treated, 29 oz. gold recovered; 1945, 300 tons treated, 27 oz. gold won. The Fay Syndicate, at Newbridge, produced 9 oz. gold from 35 tons ore in 1939; production for 1940 was not recorded; in 1941 the shaft was sunk to 115 ft., 300 to 400 gallons of water per holll’ was encountered at the 90 ft. level, and pumping plant installed. A drive 32 ft. south was put in at 30 ft., 300 tons of ore were raised, but not treated; in 1942, 185 tons were treated and 6-0 oz. gold, valued at £475; in 1943, 85 tons treated, 39 oz. of gold, valued at £284, won; no further production recorded in 1944 or 1945. At a site neal’ Newbl’idge, R. H. Hodgson prodnced gold valued at £390 in 1939, and 13 oz. in 1940. Remainder of the production in the Blayney Division was won by prospectors and fossickers whose records are not complete. In 1945, alluvial production included one nugget of gold weighing 175 oz. 15 dwt. Bodalla Division.-79 oz. valued at £715 were won during 1939-1943. No prodnction was recorded for 1944 or 1945. In 1940, the Radiant Mine, Nerrigundah, treated 56 tons of ore and produced 13 oz. gold valued at £97. In 1942 North Creek Alluvials (Bollard Jenkins & Smith) treated 700 yards of wash dirt with a jet elevator for a yield of 6 oz. gold. Nerrignndah Gold Mining Syndicate erected a jet elevator but did not reach production. The remainder of the gold ‘produced was won by fossickers: Braidwood Division.-During the period 1939-1945, 296 oz. gold valued at £2,647 w,ere produced by fossickers and prospectors. In 1945 the Amluen Division was incorporated in the Braidwood Mining Division.
Broken Hill Division.
-Gold recovered in the treatment of lead,zinc concentrates from Broken Hill Mines was 5,238 oz. 1939; 4,917 oz. 1940; 4,905 oz. 1941; 4,269 oz. 1942; 3,573 oz. 1943; 4,761 oz. 1944; 5,074 oz. 1945; making a total of 32737 oz. for the period 1939-1945. ‘ Bu.lahdelah Division.-InI940 J. Rhone, at the Clll’reeki Mine, Coolongolook, recovered ]2 oz. gold valued at £148 from 50 tons of ore, and in 1941 3} oz. from 6 tons ore. BungendOj’e Div-ision.-In 1940 Shepherd and Keir produced ]5 oz. gold valued at £740 from 20 tons of ore; in 1941, 40 tOllS were raised, and 19 tons crushed yielding 81 oz. gold; ] 09 oz. valued at £881 were produced from this area in 1942. No further production was recorded to 1945. BUl’mga Division.-About 26 oz. gold valued at approximately £894 were won by fossickers between 1939 and 1941. In 1940, Akstone Alluvial Syndicate constructed a dredge at Little River, but owing to shortage of labour did not operate and the plant was sold in 1941. ‘ Canbelego Division.-3,067 oz. gold valu~r1 at £27,500 were produced between 1939 and 1941. No operations were recorded, between 1942 and 1945. The largest producer was Mt. Boppy Gold Mines Pty. Ltd., ,,-hich erected a plant valued at £72,000 to treat the -dumps at the oM :Mt. Boppy Mine. It was estimatOr! that there were 7iiO,OOO tons of materials suitable for treatment. In 1939 the Company trcated 27,400 tons of tailings, and rccQ1’ered 1 147 oz. gold valued at £10,334. In 1940 the Company proc1~ced 1,715 02:. gold valued at £iti,305 from tniiings und 55 oz. valued at £530 from slag. Operations ceased at the end of 1940. G. W. Budd recovered 37 oz. gold valued at £315 from the Mt. Boppy Mine in 1939; in ]940 he treated 40 tons of ore for a yield of 18 oz. gold, and in 1941 the estate of G. W. Budd recorded a production of 23~ oz. gold from 66 tons of ore, and 54~ oz. from 140 tons of tailings. W. Mitchell produced 17 oz. of gold from 50 tons of ore in 1940. . Cap·tains Flat Division.-Gold produced from this Mining Division was contained in concentrates produced by Lake George Mines Ltd. Details of production appear under the section dealing with silver, lead and zinc. The Company started production in January, 1939, and lead conccntrates produced are estimated to contain 1,174 oz. gold. In ]940 estimated gold content of concentrates was 4,835 oz. valued at £52,866; 1941, 12,688 oz.; 1942, 5,589 oz. valued at £fi8,409; 1943, 4,894 oz.; 1944, 5,342 oz. valued at £56,381, and 1945, 2,266 oz. valued at £24,394.
Candelo Division.
-In 1939, T. T. R. Biddulph produced 4.5 oz. gold fl’om 14 tons ore.
Capel’tee Division
.-Between 1939 and 1941, J. Beazley produced 20 oz. gold from 50 tons ore.
Cobar Divisi01t
.-During the period 1939-1945 the Cobar Mining Division produced 295,961 oz. gold valued at £3,072,397. The principal producers were the New Occidental, New Cobar and Chesney Mines operated by New Occidental Gold Mines N.L. New Occidental Mine.-This mine was developed from No.7 to No. 13 level during the period, and provision was made for opening No. 14 level. The table sho,vs the production for individual years:- In 1940 a slime treatment plant was installed at the Ne,v. Occidental Mine to treat old mill residues. In 1941, 64672 tons of slimes were treated, and 4,264 oz. gold recovered.’ In 1D45, ;4,723 tons from the New Cobar dumps produced 2,703 oz. go.d. The New Occidental Mine was shut down for part of 1945, us labour was needed for the New Cobar and Chesney Mines whi~h produced appreciable quantities of copper required durlllg the ,,·ar. In order to ofIset the unavoidable increases in costs of la bour and materials, it was decided to increase the output of the New Occidental Mine when it reopened in 1946, by installing an underground crushing unit, thus avoiding loss of time in skip haulage. Several visits to the mine were made hy :Mr. H. V. C. Conolly, Mining Geologist, during 1944 and ] 945, and an extensive diamond drilling programme was drawn up with the object of locating the continuation of the existing ore shoots and new ore bodies not evident at the surface. Peak Mines N.L. at the Peak produced 10 oz. gold from [j} tons of ore during 1939. The mines did not operate during llJ40-1943, hut were acquired by E. K. Freeman who has carried out considel’able prospecting on the mine. In 1944, 27 tons of ore w.ere crushed and yielded 38 oz. of gold and in 1945 gold yulued at £50 was won. In 1944 some diamond drilling was carried out by the Commonwealth Government at the P~ak to test the possibility of developing copper ores on the BIg Lode on Freeman’s leases. The Blue Peak Syndicate at the Peak treatecl 200 tons of ore and recovered 33 oz. of gold iu 1940; 190 tons treated in 1941 yielded 5n oz. of gOld; 216 tons crushed in 1942 produced 65.25 oz. gOld. The Great Cobar leases were acquired by Great Western Mines Pty. Ltd. in 1939, and a plant valued at £10,000 erected in 1940. In 1941, 3,206 tons of ore from a dump at the open e~t on the Great Cobar Mine yielded 636 oz. gold. No productlon was recorded after 1941. At Mt. Drysdale, Blackman and Party erected a cyanicle plant to treat tailings. 100 oz. valued at £962 were recovered in 1939; no records were obtained for 1940-41 or 1942· in 1943, 100 tons of tailings yielded £1,200 worth of gold ‘and in 1944, 321 oz. of bullion were recovered from 1,400 to~s of tailings. Con(lobolin Division.-13 oz. gold valued at £167 were produced in 1939 and 1940. Co0111a Division.-Total production for the period is estimated at 14,676 oz. of gold valued at approximately £136,215. In 1939 the Broken Hill Pty. Ltd. proceeded with development and erection of plant at its Cowal’l’a Mine, Cowra Creek. First production was recorded in 1940 when 14,206 tons of ore were treated, yielding 3,523 oz. of gold, valued at £34,650. In 1941 the mine employed 162 men, 35,354 tons of Ol’e were treated, and 9,470 oz. gold recovered. In 1942, 4,546 tons of ore treated produced 1,596 oz,. gOld. The mine closed down in 1942 and for the remainder of the period a small skeleton staff only was employed in maintenance of the plant. In 1940, the Cow.l·a Creek Development Co. carried out prospecting but did not reach the production stage. At the Bushy Hill Mine, Lane and Newell recovered 78 oz. gold in 1941, and treated 42 tons of ore for a yield of 9 oz. gold in 1942. ‘1’he mine was compelled to cease opel’ations in this year owing to shortage of labour and remained idle for the remainder of the period. COIYtamun(Ira Division.-The only produeers in this division were Thompson and party at the Christmas Gift Mine, Cullinga. In 1939, 3,000 tons of ore treated, yielded 1,000 oz. gold valued at £6,120. In 1941, 3,605 tons were treated, and 368 oz. gold recoYered valued at £3,627. In 1941, no return was received, but it was believed that 252 oz. gold were recoyered from sallds. Copl1tan7wl’st Division.-Production ror this Division amounted to about 97 oz. valuecl at approximately £935 during the years 1939-43. No production recorded for 1944 and 1945 •
Commba Division
.-190 oz. gold valued at appl’oximately £1,308 were won between 1939 and 1941. No worthwhile produetion was recorded after that date. A. Laurie produced 29 oz. gold from 65 tons of ore during the period 1939-41. In 1939 A. O. Robb, at Bushmans Range, treated 32 tons ol ore and recovered 54 oz. gold valued at £441. In 1941, Younger Bros., working on a site 2 miles west of WoolgooJga, recoyerecl 18?; oz. gold fr0111 18 tons ore.
Cowra Division
.-75 oz. gold valued at £717 were pI’oduC€!(l by M. Matheson at Mt. McDonald during the yeal’s 1939-41. Cudal D·ivision.-Total production amounted to 214 oz. valued at £793 fl’om areas neal’ Cargo. The bulk of the pl’oductiotl came from leases held by V. T. und K. O’Connell. Dal11Uwion bivision.-Production amounted to 281 oz. gold valued at approximately £2,627 won between the years 1939-42. At the Mt. Reinarkable Mino, E. S. Francis installed plant to the value of £5,350. Although hampered for a great deal of the time by shortage of water, 33 tons were crushed in 1939 for a yield of 50 oz. gold; 165 tons crushed in 1940, 77 oz. golq won; 296 tons crushed in 1941 returned 111 oz. gold; and in ~942, 41 tons yielded 5.25 oz. gold. Tailings said to amonnt to 500 tons with all average assay of 3 dwt. At Tower Hill, C. E. Boswell reco,ered 11 oz. gold from 12 tOilS are in 1939; 5 oz. from 6 tons ill 1940; and 8.6 oz. from 6 tons ill 1942. Fossickers wall from aIlu,ial alld vein mining a total of 70 oz. of gold, ,alued at £562. Dorrigo’ Division.-Production amounted to 683 oz. valued at £5,256, mainly from Amis Bros. Mine at Bobo, Cascade. In 1939-1940, modern machinery was installed, but drought conditions hampered production after machinery was ready for operation. Principal crushings were 1939, 78 tons-yield, 8’{ oz.; 1940, 185 tons-yield, 149 oz.; 1941, 180 tons-yield, 107 oz. from 50-feet le,el; 1942, 120 tons-yield, 90 oz.; 80 feet of sinking and 100 feet driving carried out in 1942.
Dra”ke Division.
-Total production for the period 1939-45 inclusive amounted to 2,919 oz. valued at approximately £24,912. Details of annual production are as follows:- 1939.-Wann and BOWll produced 40 tons of ore yielding 129 oz. gold. Young and Easterbrook treated 43 tons of ore for a return of 95 oz. gold. C. Collins won 29 oz. gOld, 8 tons are from a small mine at Lunatic. 1940.-R. McRae produced 217 oz. of gold. Young and Easterbrook sent 2n tons sulphide ore to Port Kembla from which 62 oz. gold were reeo,ered. Shackleton Gold Mines Pty. Ltd. installed a crushing and cyanide plant valued at £8,000, at Sawpit Gully. 534 tons of tailings cyanided, yielded 40 oz. gold. E. H. Young, M t. Carrington, crushed 52 tons of ore and recovered 26 oz. gold. Red Rock Mining Co. Pty. Ltd., working the Beardman Reef at Red Roel” treated 20 tons of ore for 12 oz. gold and cyanided 203 tons of tailings for a yield of 23 oz. gold. 1941.-R. McRae treated 6 tons of ore for a yield of 50! oz. gold, at his mine at Lunatic. Wann and Bown, working under tribute agreement to Shackleton Gold Mines, crushed 147 tons of stone and recovered 26 oz. of gold. C. Collins obtained 16 oz. gold from 12 tons mined at Lunatic. The shaft is 70 feet deep with a drive 180 feet long at that level. 1942.-Walm and Bown, under tribute agreement with Shackleton Gold Mines Pty. Ltd., crushed 24 tons of are and recovered 3 oz. gold. E. H. Young crushed 12 tons of ore for a yield of 6~ oz. gold. J. Chisholm operated a cyanide plant at Drake, treated 2,294 tons of tailings from various localities, and recovered 269 oz. gold between 1939 and 1943. The remaillder of the production from the Dl’nkc Dhision is attributable to fossickers, prospeetol’s and omall cyanide plants.
Dunedoo Division
.-12 loads of wash dirt were treated in 1939 for a return of 6 oz. gold valued at £53 lOs.
Forbes D’iv~8ion
.-Total pl’oduction for 1939-1941 amounterl to 157 oz. valued at approximately £1,310. W. F. Miller obtained 34 oz. gold from 122 tons of are in 1940. In 1941, S. W. Warren cyanided 2,460 tons of tailings and recovered 83! oz. gold. In the same year H. M. Pascoe crushed 11 tons of ore and obtained 9il” oz. gold. No production was recorded after 1941. Glen Innes Division.-Total production for the Division for the period 1939/1945 was 3,404 oz, gold ,alued at approximate) y £23,750. The Glen Elgin Dredging N.L. Bucket dredge operated at Glen Elgin until July, 1940, whell the plant was dismantled and transferred to Araluen. In 1939, 602,000 eu, yards were dredged, yielding 1,972 oz, gold; in 1940 to July, 562,000 cu. yards yielded 1,237 oz. gold valued at £8,C,54. A can. siderable quantity of tin wns also recovered, At Kookabookra, the New England Gold Syndicate operated a 6-inch pump dredge on the Mitchell River. In 1939, 20 oz. of gol(l were won together with a quantity of tin. In 1940, 40,000 Cll. yards were treated, and 81 oz. gold valued at £SOI recovered. The tin won proved more profitable than gold. In 1941, 1,500 cu. yards of wash produced 18 oz. of gold together with tm. (See under tin). In 1942 the Rj,ette Dredging Syndicate operated a 4-inch nozzle and 6-in(‘h grn,el ]lump nt Glen Elgin, prodncing 11~ oz. gold valued at £67 fr0111 1,560 yards of material.. Gloucester :Division.-During the ‘[leriOll 1939/1945, the Gloucester Division produced 409 oz. gold valncd at £3,705. The production was made np of a large number of. sn:a~ cl’ushings, rarely exceeding 10 tons per ,an~um for a~y mdlvldual or party from anyone locality. Prmclpal operatIOns were centred around Crayen, Upper BOWlllan and Copeland. The average value of the ore crushed was about 1 oz. per ton.
Grenfell Division.
-During the period 1939/1943, 1,203 oz. gold valned at £11,195 were won. There are no records of production for 1944 and 1945. A. Bradley treated tailings during the pedod. In 1939, 13,000 tons slimes yielded 387 oz. gold valued at £3,605; 1940, 11,400 tons slimes treated, 253 oz. gold recovered; 1941, 4,550 tons treated, 153 oz. gold recovered; 1942, 2,880 tons treated, 112 oz. ,alued at £996 recovered; 1944, 36 oz. 16 dwts. gold won. At Bumbaldry the Broula King Mine was worked by opencut methods. In 1939, 325 tons of ore were treated for a yiold of 76.22 oz. gold, valued at £701; in 1940, 266 tons treated, yielded 95 oz. gold, and in 1941, 657 tons treated for 98 oz. gold. No production after 1941.
Gulgong Division.
-During the years 1939/1945 inclusive, the Gulgong Division produced 8,860 oz. gold valued at £87,840. The principal producer was Cullengoral Alluvial Gold Sluicing N.L. In 1939 this Company treated 759,618 cu. yards of wash dirt, and recovered 1,366 oz. gold. In 1940, 926 oz. gold were won. The reduced production was due to a major breakdown of the dredge. In 1941, 817,000 cu. yards were treated and 2,683 oz. gold won. In 1942, the Company was affected by dronght conditions, followed by flood and shortages of labour and supplies; 444,700 cn. yards being treated, and 930 oz. gold valued at £9,732 recovered. In 1943, 402,150 cu. yards were treated for a yield of 492 oz. gold valued at £5,140. In 1944, 509 oz. gold valued at £5,351 were won; the Company showed a loss of £3,000 for the twelve months prior to April 30th, 1944. Dredging was concentrated on No.1 area. In 1945, 213,500 cu. yards were treated for a yield of 990 oz. gold valued at £10,642. The remainder of the proc1uction from the Gulgong Mining Di,ision was won by small operators from alluvial sourees. Gunilagai Division.-Prodnction between 1939 and 1941 amounted to C,59 oz. valued at approximately £6,391. Active prodnction ceased in 1941. The principal producer was the Long Tunnel Mine at Kimo, operated by Gundagai Gold N.L. This Company treated 200 tons of ore in 1939 and recovered 204 oz. gold. In 1940, 209 tons were treated, and 98 oz. gold recovered. In 1941 the mine closed down after treating 22 tons of ore for a yield of 12~ oz. of gold. Two hundred and seventy-eight oz. were recoverec1 from tailings in 1940, and from 682 tons of sand and new slimes, 56! oz. were recovered by J. J. Cleary and Sons in 1941. The remainder of the production recorded was won by fossickers. Gunning Division.-This Di,ision produced 571 oz. of gold valued at £5,194 between 1939 and 1941 when production ceased. The principal producer was the Coronation Gold Mine operated by J. L. Hodgkinson. In 1939, 519 tons of ore were treated, and 318 oz. gold valued at £2,800 recovered; 1940, 80 tons yielded 76 oz.; 1941, 190 tons treated and 78 oz. gold recovered. J. Sutton operating a small mine at Rockfield treated 30 tons of ore in 1939 for a recovery of 14.25 oz.’ gold valued at £121; 1940, 30 tons treated, 26 oz. recovered; 1941, mine operated by N. L. Burgess, 15 tons treated, 33t oz. of gold recovered. Hm’graves Division.-In 1940 fossickers in the Hargraves. Mining Diyision obtained 148.75 oz. of gold valued at £1,264
. Hill End Division
.-Gold production from the Hill End Mining Division during the years 1939 to 1945 inclusive amounted to 1,582 oZ. ,alued at approximately £14,441 mainly by fossickcrs. At Hawkins Hill, William Faraday obtained 55 oz. gold ,alued at £495 from 110 tons of ore in 1939; 32 oz. from 78 tOlls ore in 1940, nnd 3 oz. from 10 tons in 1941. Goodwin & Goodwin obtained 70 oz. from 150 t0l18 of are in 1939; 49 oz. from 100 tons in 1940 and 29 oz. from 52 tons in 1941. By al’l’angement with Amalgamated Hawkins Hill and Hill End Gold Mines N.L., tributors recovered 287, oz. gold betwecn 1940 and 1945. JlInee Division.-Proc1uctiOI1 between 1939 and 1941, amounted to 113 oz. valued at £1,040. No further production was recorrled. Hughes and Price treated 120 tons of tailings at Pike’s Reef, Illabo in 1939, producing 43 oz. gOld. In 1940, 38 tons of are ,’ere treated and yielded 27 oz. gold. The remainder of the produetion from the Junee Division wag won hy prospectors from small parcels of are rarely exceeding 5 tons. “ Major’s Creek Division.-Prodnctiol1 continned from 1939: to the end of 1942 and amounted to 488 oz. valued at £4,848. The principal producer was VJ. L. Moore at Cam age’s :Reef. 1n 193!) he obtained 12 oz. gold from 15 tons ore; 1940, 117.3 oz. valued at £1,177 from 30 tons ore; 1941,170 oz.; and 1942, 88 oz. valued at £928. The remainder of the Division’s production was won by fossickers.
Mandura’l11a Division.
-Production during the years 1939/ 1943 amounted to 535 oz. gold valued at £5,378. In 1939, Mandurama Gold produced 26 oz. from 200 tons of are. In 1940 the plant of Sulphide Gold IJtd. was repo~scssed by t.be Crown, dismantled, sold and removed to Bakers Creek, HIllgrove. The leases were worked by Sheahan Bros. who treated 90’0 tons of are and obtained 152 oz. gold valued at £1,620. Mandurama Gold obtained 15 oz. gold valued at £160 from 100 tons of are. In 1941 Sheahan Bros. treated 800 tons of are and recovered 153 oz. gold. They also worked the area of Mandurama Gold for seven weeks recovering 15 oz. fhim 100 tons of are. In 1942, 72 oz. valued at £li80 were won from 480 tons ore, and in 1943, 70 oz. were recovered valued at £708. It was stated that 10,000 tons of oxidised orc assaying 6 dwts. pel’ ton were in sight. G. Scealy cyani~ed 570 tons of slimes and sands at Burt Yards in 1941, l’ecovel’lng 24 oz. gold.
Moonan Flat Division
.-Tobil production for the pertod was 195 oz. valued at £1,644, obtained during the years 1939/ 1943. ,At Marti)1S Creek, Field and party crushed 31 tons of ore and obtained 5H oz. gold valued at £399 in 1939; 9.5 tons for 51 oz. gold in 1940; no crushing was done in 1941 owing to lack of water. In 1942 no record was obtained. In 1943, 4 tons wero crushed for a yield of 11 oz. 7 dwts. gold valued at £93. In 1941, James Finch obtained 49.75 oz. goid fi’oin 11 tOllS of ore won from a mine at Martins Creek. The rcmainder of the Division’s produetion was obtained from smull parcels of prospectors ore from various localities. Moruya Division.-Pi·odnction for the period amounted to 3-,781 oz. valued. approximately at £36,180. The principal prodncer was Morilya Gold Mines N.L. This Company crushed 3,180 tons of ore in 1939 and recovered 1237.5 oz. gold valued at £11,685. III 1940, 1,183 oz. valned at £11,699 were obtai!led. In 1941, the Company crushed 1,452 tons of ore and obta1l1ed 739 oz. gold. One thousand four hundred and ninety-seven tons of tailings were cyanided for a yield of 2321 oz. gold. In 1942, 25 tons of ore were crushed and 9 oz. gold obtained. Three hundred and sixty tons of tailings yielded fi8 oz. gold. In 1943, 24 tons of ore yielded 16 oz. gold and 100 tons of tailings were cyanided for a recoyery of 23 oz. of gold. In 1944,26 tons of ore yielded 10 oz. gold. The mine was severely hampered by shortage of manpower on account of the wai’ and only a skeleton staff was employed after 1941. A few small crnshings from several prospectors and a small amount of alluvial gold makes up the remainder of the production of the Moruya Division.
Mvunt Hope Division.
-During the period 1939/1941, 1,465 oz. of gold valued at £13,873 were produced from the Mt. Hope Division. No production was recorded after 1941. Matakana Gold Mines N.L. operating at Mt. Solitary treated 540 tons ore and 4,325 tons sands for 525 oz. gold valued at £5,082 in 1939 .. In 1940, 9,802 tons of stone were treated for a yield of 674 oz. gold. Operations ceased in December, 1940. At Mount Allen, P. J. Tullia obtained gold to the value of £980 from 200 tons of ore in 1939. In 1940 Associated Mineral Interests N.L. treated 100 tons of ore for 18 oz. gold at Mount Allen. In the same year, Down and Rooney treated 50 tons of ore, and 150 tons sands for a recovery of 43 oz. of gold at South Peak. In 1941; G. W. Warren treated 7,770 tons of tailings at Mount ,Allen and recovercd 94 oz. gold. Mudgee Division.-l,190 oz. valued at £10,063 were produced in the Mudgee Division during the years 1939/1945. The greater part of this production was obtained by fossickers from alluvial sources and a few prospectors on reefs. ,At Apple Tree Flat the Gunill Syndicate Pty. Ltd. proved an absolute failure in 1939, when 4.78 oz. valued at £42 were recovered. In 1942, lCacquarie Alluvials commenced operations at Gum Flat; 7,600 yards of ovel’burden were removed and 4,500 yards of wash were sluiced for a gold recovery of 255 oz. valued at £1,998. The Company’s plant was impressed by the Government for war purposes in May, 1942, and operations ceased for the rest of the period. M’lIn’u’ll1buI’rah Division.-Prospectors and fossickers obtained 289 oz. gold valued at approximately £2,740 between the years 1939/1941. There are no records of production after the end of 1941. Nar,randera Division.-Production of gold from this Division is recorded at 223 oz. valued at £2,287. The only mine operating was that of E. E. Osbome, known as the Golden Spray, at Bull Oak, Grong Grong. In 1939 this mine pro- 4iuced 76 oz. gold valued at £864 j in 19401 450 tons ‘lYere *50237-3 crushed and 12;) oz. gold valued. at £1,221 i’{)~ovefea; iii 1941,’ 150 tons from the 90·feet level yielded 2H oz. It was expected that better ore wonld be mined from the 250-fcet level in 1942, but adverse conditIons for gold mining brought abol;t by the war caused the cessation of operations.
Nundle Division.
-Total production from this Division for the period 1939/1945. amounted to 711 oz. valued at £6,454. A large proportion of this total was WOn by fossickers ahd prospectors. At Mount Pleasant Hanging Rock, D. Strong worked a deep lead. The average depth of the wash was about 240 feet below the surface, and the wash was about 8 to 10 feet thick. In 1941, 50 loads of wash yielded 37 oz. gold. In 1942, 114 oz. were obtained; in HJ43, 181 oz.; 1944, 62 oz. In 1944, the high values in the wash cut out and the tunnel was driven a flll’ther 175 feet through patchy values until the limits of the deep channel were reached. No ,YOI’k was done in 1945. NY’l11agee Division.-T. Sampson recovered gold to the value of £1,558 from the cyauidation of 3,070 tons of tailings at Bobatlah in 1942. Oberon Division.-J. M. Beale obtained about 16 oz. gold from the treatment of ore aud tailings at a site neal’ Oberon in 1940 and 1941. Orange Division.-Total produCtion for the years 1939/1945 was 1,665 oz. valued at £15,452. At Lucknow, a small amdunt of prospecting was carried out aud gold to the valne of £606 WOll from small crushings. In 1939 and 1940, the Manildi’a Prospecting Syndicate at Dead Horse Gully crushed 55 tOils of ore and obtained 151 oz. gold. At Cadia, Cadia, Gold Miiles Pty. Ltd. treated 6,480 tons of ore in 1940 fCli’ a yield of 380 oz. of gold valued at £3,620. In the same locality Tinnock and Party 0 btairted 25 oz. gold nom 49 torts of ore. In 1941 Cadia Gold Mines· treated 1,964 tOllS and obtained 246 oz. In the same year Tinnock and Party recovered 40 oz. 1’01.1 from 6H tons of ore. In 1942, Cadia Gold Mines treated 216 tons of ore and recovered 65 oz. gold. At the Chilcott Copper Mine at Cadia, J. G. Thomas obtained 59 oz. gold. valued at £548 from copper ores sent to Port Kembla. In 1943, the areas he.ld by Cadia Gold Mines were extensively worked by AustralIan Iron and Steel by agreement, for iron ores. No gold was produced. In the same year, J. G. Thomas obtained 61 oz. gold, valued at £588 from copper ores from the ChiI~tt Mine. None of the mines at 1ucknow Cadla or Forest Reefs operated after 1943. The total prdduetioil for the. Orange Mining Division is made up of the above figures to which gold won bv a number of fossickers fi’om alluvial sources has been added.
Pa’ll1bula Divisioil
.-During the years 1939/1941, 89 oz. gold valued at £679 were won from small parcels of ore mined in various parts of the Division.
Pm’lees Division.
-Production from the Parkes Division during the years 1939/1945 was approximately 1,000 oz. valued at £8,577. Principal producers were A. W. Cockram and R. R. Shaw. R. R. Shaw worked the Old Victoria Mine and produced 27 oz. gold in 1940. In 1941, he treated 526 tons, of ore for a recovery of 52! oz. gold. In 1942, 672 tons were treated for 84.45 oz. gold; in 1943, 357 tons for 37 oz. gold .. No production was recorded after 1943. A. W. Cockram treated 205 tons of ore and obtained 18 IlZ •. gold in 1941. In 1942, 541 tons were treated for a return of 52! oz.; in 1943, 614 tons for 77 oz.; in 1944, 828 tons for 114 oz. 1n 1945, 120 oz. gold valued at £1,074 were produced. In 1939, W. V. Cooper cyanided 1,168 loads of tailiilgs at the Old Bushman’s Mine and recovered gold to the value of £1,023. . In 1941, V. It. Alidel’son cyanided 2,099 tons of tailings froin a site 4t miles from Parkes, and recovered 131 oz. gol~. The remainder of the production of the Parkes Mining Division is made up of a nnmber of small amountS of gold produced by small opei’ators from alluvial sonrces. Peale Hill Division.-Total production from the Peak Hill Mining ‘Division for the period 1939/1945 was 1,839 oz. valued at approximately £18,400. The greaterpal·t of the prodnction was recovered from the treattnent of tailings at McPhail and Peak Hill. At McPhail, S. B. Hill treated 8,852 torts of. sa:tid~ lihd slimes in 1939 alid recovei’ed 286.33 oz. gold valued at £2)705. bl 1940, he l’ecovered gold to the value pf £4,261; 1941· 14,032 tons of tailings yielded 385 oz.; 1942, lJ,!5bb tons. o~ tailings treated, gold to the value of~2,164 won. No p,rddiiction recorded after 1942, but in 1945 it was consiaerea thH the plant would resume operations in 1946. At Peak Hill, H. M. Sherringham recovered ii3 oz. goia . from 400 loads of tailings in 1939; in 1940, 178 oz. valued af £1,767 were won; in 1941,1,573 tons of tailings treatedl 89 oz. gold won; 1942, 1,500 tons treatetl, 76. oz. gaM f::tIned at £804 won; in 1943, operations rcased at the end. of .Januar~ after 360 tons of tailings btL been t,’eated, yleldmg D. Hi yalued at £96. The remainder of the output of gold for this DiYision was l)roduced by small cyanide plants at Peak Hill and from alluvial sources. In 1941, R. W. Garlitk, working on a site 2~ miles south of Peak Hill, near the Parkes Road, 1 eeovered 42 oz. of gold from 500 loads of ,,·ash-dirt. This inc:uded a 3 oz. slug and several exceeding 1 oz. 18 Rockley Division.-Pl’oduction for the Friod 1939-1945 amounted to 877 oz. gold valued at £8,02.5. Of this total, V. H. Anderson recovered 679 oz. froin the cyanidation of approximately 10,000 tons of tailings at the old l1t. David Mine. In 1940, Martin and Edwards erected a plant on their mine at Wiseman’s Creek, and in 1944, 20 tons of ore were crushed, for a recovery of 7 oz. gold valued at £75. At Sewell’s Creek, near Main Ridge, G. E. Speare carried out a considerable amount of developmental work in 1939. Good wash was said to have been exposed, but no produ~tion was commenced. Other than the production figures mentioned, some gold was v;on by fessickers and prospectors from alluvial sources. Sofala Division.-Pros]Jects and fossiekcrs won 273 oz. gold valued at £2,639 dUl’lng the years 1£39-1943. No production was recorded after 1943.
Stuart Town Division
.-Production for this Division during the period 1939-1945 amounted to 1,141 oz. valued at approximately £10,241 and was mainly won by prospectors and fossickel’S. After considerable prospecting, Macquaric Alluvials in 1940 estimated that their property contained 4,450,000 cu. yards of material with a gold content valued at 17.27d. per cu. yard. Of this, 509,000 cu. yards contained values of 38.10d. per yard and 60,000 yards values of 118. 6d. per yard. In 1941, the Company stripped 23,000 cu. yards amI treated 2,740 cu. yards for a return of 59~ oz. gold.
T amWol’th Division.
-From copper ore mined at the Attunga Copper Mine, N. Potter obtained 49 oz. gold valued at approximately £463 during the years 1941-1943. Taree Division.-In this Division, Oxley GoIc1 Mines Ltd. produced 105 oz. gold valued at £933, from 199 tons of ore during 1939 and 1940.
TenlOra Division.
-Golc1 amounting to 9:56 oz. valued at approximately £9,341 was won from the Division during the years 193D-1942. No production was recorded after 1942. At Springvale, W. L. Coleman obtained gold to the value of £640 from the cyanidation of tailings. In 1940, the value of the recovered gold was £693. In 1941, 957 tons of tailings yielded 115 oz. of gold. Work was then abandoned. In 1941, Barron and party at Sebastopol crushed 300 tons of ore and recovered 660 oz. gold, and in 1942, 9 oz. gold were obtaind from 95 tons of ore. The remaInder of tile production from the Tcmora Dh’ision was won by prospectors.
Tiboo7J1/i’ra. Division.
-During th~ ~Tars 103D-1944, :fossiek€l’s obtained 103 oz. gold valued at £995, chiefly by dry blowing and “specking” after rain. Tntndle Division.-W. Young is said to have recovered 20 oz. gOla valUcCl at ;;l04 from loU lOns of are. T1’ltnkey Division.-Production for the years 1939-194.5 amounted to 802 oz. valued at £6,817. At a site north of ‘l’runkey, I. H. and H. C. Thompson crushed 70 tons of ore in 1941 for a recovery of 103 oz. of gold. In 1942, 40 tons yielded 28~ oz. valued at £267, and in 194;;, 1:5 oz. gold were won. At the Omrah Mine, Pine Ridge, 71 oz. gold valued at £600 were recovered from an unstated amount of ore in ).040. In 1944, 32 tons were crushed for a yield of 6 oz. 18 dwts. gold. The remainder of the Gold Production cf the Divisioll was won by fossickers from alluvial sources.
Tuena Division
.-Fossickers recovered 149 oz. valued at £1,291 from alluvial sources during the years 1939-1945.
TU1l!barumba Division.
-’Production for the years 1939-1943 amounted to 263 oz. valued at £2,285, recovered mainly by small operators working alluvial mines.
TU1l!ut Divisio1
~.-Production for the Tumut Division for the years 1939-1942 inclusive was 2,297 oz. valued at £20,685. No operations were recorded after 1942. In 1940, Sesame Gold N.L. crushed 5,223 tons of ore and recovered 1,758 oz. of gold. 1,260 tons of sands were cyanided for a return of 81 oz. of gold. In 1941, 410 tons of sands yielded 51 oz. of gold. The mine diel not operate after 1940. At Argalong, C. W. Fisher crushed 48 tons of ore for a yield of 112 oz. 7 dwts. gold in 1940, and :50 tOlls fol’ 115 oz. in 1941. II. W. Yale h)co,-ered 89.22 oz. gold from 68 tons of Ore in 1942. Fc-ssicl,crs recovered thQ remainder of the production frer:l all udal sources. lJj’alla Dh·ision.-Dl1l’ing the period 1939-1945, the production of gold from L’ralla Mining Division amounted to 735 oz. “alued at approximately £6,691, mainly won by fossiclters from alIuI’ial sources. At a site 011 Uralla Common, A. Hanson treated 500 loads of wash for a recovery of 16.35 oz. gold in 1939. In 1940, a similar amount of wash yielded 25 oz. In 1941, 2,100 loads or wash returned 24~ oz. gold. At West End, E. HilI recovered 11 oz. gold from 500 loads of wash in 1940 and 17 oz. from 2,000 loads in 1941. At a site on the Rocky River, F. W. Smith sluiced SO,OOO cu. yards of wash for a return of 195.23 oz. gold. TValella Dit·ision.-Gold recorded from this Division be· tween 1939 and 1943 amounted to 20 oz. In 1919, S. McRae cn:shed 50 tons of ore und recovered 25 oz. gold. TV attle Flat Division.-A production of 44 oz. gold valued at approximately £389 was recorded for the years 1940 and 1941. Of this total, 18.5 oz. was recovered by J. F. Reilly from a small crushing’ at Little Oakey, and the J’emainder by fossickers from alluvial sources. Wcabonga Divi.sion.-A production of Iii oz. gold valued at £90 from a crushing of 10 tellS of ore by T. Spicer was reo eerded in 1939.
Wellington Division
.-Total production for the Wellington Didsion for the yer.rs 1939-194,,> inclusive amounted to 59,200 oz. ’alued at approximately £474,980. The greater propor· tion of this tot:1l was won by the bUcket dredge of Wellington Alluvials Ltd. 011 the Macquarie River, between 1939 and 1942 Wh211 the dredge closed down on account of the war. TVindeycr Dir·ision.-Prospectors and fossickers produced 418 oz. valuE’d at approximately £3,595 during the years 1939- 1941. No production was recorded after 1941. West Wyalong Di’Vision.-Gold production for the years 1939-1945 inclush’e amounted to 4,283 oz. valued at approxi· mately £34,119. The greater proportion of this total was obtained from the eyunidation of tailings. In 1939, Misima United N.L. treated 22,370 tons of tailings and recoyer(‘d 690.5 oz. gold. In 1940, 902 oz. gold were recovered valued at £8,291. In 1941,23 020 tons vere treated r.nd yielded C43 oz. gold. ‘ In 1939, J. Coleman recovered 270 oz. gold yalued at £1620 from 4,620 tOllS of tailings. In 1940, he recovered 280’ oz. gold. In 1941, 6,000 tons of £~iIil1gs yielded 178 oz. gold. At a site near Kikoira, O. Sullivan and party recovered gold yalned at £113 from 15 tons of ore in 1939. In 1941, 29 oz. were recovered from 78 tons of ore, and in 1942 130 tons of are nnd 300 tons of tailings I”ere treated for a r~turn of 89 oz. gold valned at £826. R. Sibraa treated 78 tons of orc and recovered 66 oz gold in 1939, ::md treated 60 tons for a return of 25.5 oz: gold valued at £24D in 1940. II. Par!:el’ rccovered g-old “alued at £134 in 1943 and 331- oz. i., 1944 with his cyanide plant which was installed at the True Eke t:1ilings C!t:mp. . l1emaindcr of tha rroduction for the West Wyalong Divi. SlOn “’as won by prospectors from small crushings and by the treatment of small tonnages of tailings by various parties Guring- the years 1941, 1943 and 1945. Young Eit’ision.:-During tl:e years 1939-1943, :531 oz. gold valned at approxllnately £4,394 were produced mainly by fossickers from alluvirrl sources. At Wombllt, R. V. Hughes (Wombat Dredging Co. Pty. Ltd.) treated 800 loads of wash dirt and l’eco’ered 28 oz gold yalued at £230 ill 1939. . In 1940. the Company treat.ed 4,000 cubic Y81’ds and won 70 oz. gold, and ill 1941, 41 oz. goll were produced. No prodt:ction was recorc1ed after 1943.