Mount Morgan Mine

Last updated

Mount Morgan Mine
The Mine Stack in 2010.jpg
Mount Morgan Mine Stack, 2010
Location
Australia location map.svg
Schlaegel und Eisen nach DIN 21800.svg
Mount Morgan Mine
Location in Australia
Location Mount Morgan
State Queensland
Country Australia
Coordinates 23°38′28″S150°22′31″E / 23.64111°S 150.37528°E / -23.64111; 150.37528
Production
Products Copper
Gold
Silver
ProductionCopper: 387,000 tonnes
Gold: 262 tonnes
Silver: 37 tonnes
Financial year1882–1981
History
Opened1882
Closed1981
Owner
CompanyNorton Gold Fields
Year of acquisition2007

Mount Morgan Mine was a copper, gold and silver mine in Queensland, Australia. Mining began at Mount Morgan in 1882 and continued until 1981. Over its lifespan, the mine yielded approximately 262 metric tons (258 long tons; 289 short tons) of gold, 37 metric tons (36 long tons; 41 short tons) of silver and 387,000 metric tons (381,000 long tons; 427,000 short tons) of copper. [1] The mine was once the largest gold mine in the world. [2]

Contents

The Mount Morgan Mine also operated assay laboratories, brickworks, foundry, power house and workshops (including carpentry, electrical and plumbing) as part of its operations. [3] The Mount Morgan Mine also contained Fireclay Caverns excavated to provide clay for the mine brickworks. [4]

Wealth from the Mount Morgan mine funded Persian oil exploration, establishing the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, which became BP in 1954. Wealth from the Mount Morgan mine was also bequeathed in 1912 to establish the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.

Resources

The area near the mine contains sedimentary and igneous rocks. [5] The gold was rated 0.998 fine. [5]

History

View of the town of Mount Morgan and the mine beyond from the Queensland National Hotel StateLibQld 2 237174 View of the town of Mount Morgan and the mine beyond.jpg
View of the town of Mount Morgan and the mine beyond from the Queensland National Hotel

The Beginning (1882 to 1886)

Walter Hall and D'Arcy ~1885 Hall Darcy 01.jpg
Walter Hall and D'Arcy ~1885

In 1882, a syndicate was created to open a gold mine at Ironstone Mountain, 39 kilometres (24 mi) south of Rockhampton, Queensland. The syndicate comprised William Knox Darcy (later influential in establishing the Anglo Persian Oil Company), Walter Russell Hall (later influential in establishing the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research), Thomas Skarratt Hall, and Thomas, Frederick and Edwin Morgan. Ironstone Mountain was later renamed Mount Morgan after the Morgan members of the syndicate.

Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company Limited (1886–1928)

Mount Morgan Mine, 1906 StateLibQld 1 297715 Working at the cutting, Mount Morgan Mines, 1906.jpg
Mount Morgan Mine, 1906

In October 1886, the syndicate became the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company Limited, with James Wesley Hall, the younger brother of Walter Russell and Thomas Skarratt Hall, as the first general manager. The Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company Limited operated using underground mining methods until 1927 when fire destroyed underground workings. The company deliberately flooded its underground workings in response to the fire and went into liquidation.

By 1907 the mine had produced $60,000,000 worth of gold, making it one of the most productive in the world. [5]

Mount Morgan Limited (1928–1990)

The Mount Morgan Mine was reestablished using open-cut mining methods in 1928, operating as Mount Morgan Limited.

Conversion to open-cut operation included substantial modernization of Mount Morgan’s mining infrastructure and mining techniques. Mount Morgan Limited became a subsidiary of Peko-Wallsend in 1968 and continued operations until 1974, when Mount Morgan Limited began to reach the end of its ore body. Mount Morgan Limited progressively scaled back its workforce and operations until it reached the end of its ore body in 1981.

From 1982 to 1990, Mount Morgan Limited began processing tailings of its previous operations at the Mount Morgan mine site. In parallel, Mount Morgan mine facilities were used to process materials from other Peko-Wallsend operations. At the end of both such operations in 1990, the Queensland Government began negotiating with Mount Morgan Limited regarding terms of closure.

Recent

The Queensland Government began administration of the site in 1992. Perilya/Aumin NL commenced further exploration in 1992 leading to plans for potential further reprocessing at the Mount Morgan mine site in the future. Since 2007 the mine and mining leases have been owned by Norton Gold Fields. An estimated 327,000 ounces (9,300,000 g) of gold still exist at the site. [6]

Broader influence of the mine

BP

William Knox Darcy, an original member of the Mount Morgan gold mine syndicate, used proceeds from the Mount Morgan gold mine to fund oil exploration in Persia. The exploration made successful oil discovery in 1908 and commenced the Anglo Persian Oil Company. The company became The British Petroleum Company (BP) in 1954.

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Walter Russell Hall was also a member of the original Mount Morgan Gold Mine syndicate. Substantial personal wealth of Walter Russell Hall was bequeathed on his death in 1912 to establish the Walter and Eliza Hall Trust. The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research was established from the trust in 1915.

Today

External image
Searchtool.svg Water in the old Mount Morgan gold mine is being treated

The Mount Morgan mine site is a tourist attraction in the Central Queensland region. [7] The site contains remaining structures of its mining operations including the General Office, Gold Rooms and Main Stack. The Arthur Timms lookout overlooks remaining mine buildings and the Mount Morgan township.

According to former Queensland Minister for Mining, Stirling Hinchliffe, water in the pit contains elevated levels of copper, aluminium, magnesium and other metals. [8] The site contains a lime dosing water treatment plant and onsite evaporators. [9] Controlled water releases done to prevent an uncontrolled release during heavy rainfall events has been done twice in March 2011, once in January 2013 and again in February 2013.

In June 2011, the Government of Queensland announced $24.2 million in funding for site rehabilitation and management. [8] On 26 January 2013, the mine filled with water and overflowed in the Dee River for the first time ever. [10]

Although mining company Carbine Resources announced plans in 2014 to extract gold, copper and pyrite from tailings and improve the mine's acid mine drainage problem, [11] [12] it withdrew the proposal in March 2018 due to its doubts over the financial viability of the project. [13]

Estimates for a partial rehabilitation of the toxic environmental legacy of the old gold mine start at $450 million, but no costings of a full rehabilitation of the site have yet been carried out. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining</span> Extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth

Mining is the extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agricultural processes, or feasibly created artificially in a laboratory or factory. Ores recovered by mining include metals, coal, oil shale, gemstones, limestone, chalk, dimension stone, rock salt, potash, gravel, and clay. The ore must be a rock or mineral that contains valuable constituent, can be extracted or mined and sold for profit. Mining in a wider sense includes extraction of any non-renewable resource such as petroleum, natural gas, or even water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Knox D'Arcy</span> British businessman

William Knox D'Arcy was a British-Australian businessman who was one of the principal founders of the oil and petrochemical industry in Persia (Iran). The D’Arcy Concession was signed in 1901 and allowed D'Arcy to explore, obtain, and market oil, natural gas, asphalt, and ozokerite in Persia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BHP</span> Australian multinational mining and petroleum company

BHP Group Limited is an Australian multinational mining and metals public company headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Morgan, Queensland</span> City in Queensland, Australia

Mount Morgan is a rural town and locality in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census the town of Mount Morgan had a population of 2,487 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Russell Hall</span> Australian businessman and philanthropist

Walter Russell Hall was an Australian businessman and philanthropist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in Australia</span> Primary sector industry

Mining in Australia has long been a significant primary sector industry and contributor to the Australian economy by providing export income, royalty payments and employment. Historically, mining booms have also encouraged population growth via immigration to Australia, particularly the gold rushes of the 1850s. Many different ores, gems and minerals have been mined in the past and a wide variety are still mined throughout the country.

Mount Isa Mines Limited ("MIM") operates the Mount Isa copper, lead, zinc and silver mines near Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia as part of the Glencore group of companies. For a brief period in 1980, MIM was Australia's largest company. It has pioneered several significant mining industry innovations, including the Isa Process copper refining technology, the Isasmelt smelting technology, and the IsaMill fine grinding technology, and it also commercialized the Jameson Cell column flotation technology.

The Pronto Mine is an historical uranium mine located approximately 20 km south of Elliot Lake, Ontario near Spragge. The site is owned and operated by Rio Algom Ltd, has been rehabilitated and is currently undergoing environmental monitoring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chillagoe smelters</span> Heritage listed smelter in Queensland, Australia

The Chillagoe smelters is a heritage-listed refinery at Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park, Mareeba Mining District, Chillagoe, Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. It operated in the early 1900s. It is also known as Chillagoe State Smelters. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Morgan railway station</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Mount Morgan railway station is a heritage-listed railway station at Railway Parade, Mount Morgan, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It is on the Mount Morgan–Wowan railway line. The station was constructed in 1898 to service the former goldrush and gold mining township of Mount Morgan and its mine. The station was designed by Henrik Hansen, who also designed the Archer Park, Shorncliffe and South Brisbane railway stations. The station operated as a functional railway station from 1898 until 1987, after which it was restored as a Railway Heritage Museum. The museum includes artefacts from the rail and mining history of Mount Morgan, including a restored Hunslett steam engine, "Silver Bullet" rail motor and timber rail carriages. The station was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in Taiwan</span>

Mining has been practiced in Taiwan for hundreds of years. Sulfur was an early important resource collected on the island. Coal mining expanded in the 19th century to keep up with demand from increased foreign trade. Heavy industry was further expanded under Japanese rule, but air raids towards the end of World War II decimated mining infrastructure, falling below 19th century production levels. Copper mining expanded in the mid-20th century, but ended in the 1980s following a global collapse in the price of copper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Anglican Church, Mount Morgan</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

St Mary's Anglican Church is a State heritage-listed church at 11 Gordon Street, Mount Morgan, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed and built in 1888–1889 by Scottish-born Thomas Glen Cornes (1842–1903), superintendent of sawmills and carpenters at the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company Limited. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 August 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adolphus William Copper Smelter</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Adolphus William Copper Smelter is a heritage-listed former copper smelter and associated mining camp at Westwood and Oakey Creek in Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1874. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 13 May 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OK Mine & Smelter</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

OK Mine & Smelter is a heritage-listed mine at Kitoba Holding, Bellevue, Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1902 to 1942. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 2 October 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrconnel Mine and Battery</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Tyrconnel Mine and Battery is a heritage-listed gold mine between Kingsborough and Thornborough, Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1876 to 1980s. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Einasleigh Copper Mine and Smelter is a heritage-listed mine at Daintree Road, Einasleigh, Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1867 to 1922. It is also known as Lynd Copper Mine and New Einasleigh Copper Mine. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 11 December 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuridala Township site</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Kuridala Township site is a heritage-listed mining camp in the locality of Kuridala, Shire of Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1880s to 1920s. It is also known as Hampden Township, Hampden Smelter, Kuridala Smelter, and Friezeland Township. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 12 June 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Elliott Mining Complex</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Mount Elliott Mining Complex is a heritage-listed copper mine and smelter at Selwyn, Shire of Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by William Henry Corbould and built in 1908. It is also known as Mount Elliott Smelter and Selwyn. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 16 September 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Morgan State High School</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Mount Morgan State High School is a heritage-listed state high school and technical college at 4 Central Street, Mount Morgan, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1908. It was formerly known as Mount Morgan Technical College. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 4 December 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABC Radio Studios, Rockhampton</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

ABC Radio Studios are heritage-listed radio studios at 236 Quay Street, Rockhampton City, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 14 September 2009.

References

  1. Queensland Government: Mines and Energy: Mount Morgan Mine Rehabilitation Project: Project Summary Archived 2011-03-12 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Mount Morgan Mine Project". Norton Gold Fields. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  3. Operations of Mount Morgan Limited, September, 1969 pp12-27
  4. Romilio, Anthony; Dick, Roslyn; Skinner, Heather; Millar, Janice (13 February 2020). "Archival data provides insights into the ambiguous track-maker gait from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback beds, Queensland, Australia: evidence of theropod quadrupedalism?". Historical Biology. 33 (9): 1573–1579. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2020.1720014 . ISSN   0891-2963.
  5. 1 2 3 Emmons, William Harvey (1917). The Enrichment of Ore Deposits, Issue 625. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 343–344. Archived from the original on 23 April 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  6. "Reserves & Resources". Norton Gold Fields. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  7. Terzon, Emilia (15 March 2018). "Mount Morgan abandoned mine site brings environmentalists and farmers together". ABC News. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  8. 1 2 Cole Latimer (14 June 2011). "QLD provides mine rehab funding boost". Mining Australia. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  9. Andrew Cripps (22 February 2013). "Controlled water release at Mount Morgan Mine site". Media Release. Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  10. Ian Townsend (14 February 2013). "Queensland's toxic Dee River reveals national mine waste problem". RadioNational. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  11. "Former central Queensland gold mining town of Mount Morgan set to shine again". ABC News. 16 June 2017. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  12. 1 2 "Mount Morgan abandoned mine site brings environmentalists and farmers together". ABC News. 16 March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  13. "Farmers 'disgusted' as proposal at abandoned central Queensland gold mine canned". ABC News. 16 March 2018. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.