Tokatea Mine, Coromandel, Coromandel Peninsula, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato Region, New Zealandi

Regional Level Types
Tokatea Mine	Mine
Coromandel	- not defined -
Coromandel Peninsula	Peninsula
Thames-Coromandel District	District
Waikato Region	Region
New Zealand	Country

The heavily forested and steep Tokatea Range rises behind the Coromandel town-site, and was the scene of much gold mining from around 1868 to 1914.

Research for this section has been difficult. Limited and incomplete historical information was found for mines in the area. A number of overgrown drives, and hidden shafts lie in wait for the unwary. There appears to be two access points. The Success Track leaves the old colonial hospital at Taumatawahine Creek on the Main Road, 1.5 kilometres north of the town centre. This track zig-zags up the range front to the ridge. This follows the old road into the Success mining area, and apparently passes several drives. Another access point is by taking the Kennedy Bay Road to the Lucas Lookout, situated on the saddle of the range. A short steep walk heads north to a trig point, while another below this continues north into wild territory. There are reportedly several drives in the area just north of the road, which is the Tokatea Mine area.

We are obliged to warn against accessing old drives for safety reasons, although several videos are online for drives closer to Coromandel showing people walking through them.

All locations listed on Mindat for these areas are approximate. Some are considered lost locations. The Tokatea, Pride of Tokatea, Triumph, and Royal Oak adjoined each other based on newspaper articles, and has been listed based on the official New Zealand topographical map. Someone with local knowledge, and/or access to more detailed maps if they exist is needed.

Gold was discovered in the Tokatea area around 1870. The Tokatea Reef is large at 4.2 kilometres long, and up to 45 metres wide, but is weakly mineralised with gold along much of its length. It dips 40-65 degrees west, and mined to a depth of 300 metres from the surface. Most gold was found in oblique stringers, 1-2 cms wide, on the Footwall. Significant veins were called Tokatea and Tribute, trending east north-east and east respectively, and dipping steeply south. The area has produced 96 733 ounces of gold, and 41 823 ounces of silver.

Native arsenic is found in the reef as reinform nodules up to 15 cms in diameter, and a more massive form enclosing plates and filaments of electrum. Amethyst is noted in the reef. Arsenopyrite is likely but not specifically mentioned. The mineral list is incomplete.

There is a Tokatea Mine, but also several mines in the immediate area with Tokatea in the name. This includes the New Tokatea, which in 1896 became the Tokatea Consols, and newspapers mention the mine until 1908. The Tokatea Star mentioned only in 1896. The Pride of Tokatea active from 1871, and by tributers late 1870's, early 1880's, and again from 1896 when purchased by an English Company until 1911 when ore grades are poor. Key of Tokatea mentioned only in 1873. West Tokatea registered as a company in 1888, and noted as active until 1902, then in 1912, when well known local miner John Fenton was killed by a fall of earth while working alone in the mine. East Tokatea (late Tongariro) being tributed in 1899. Golden Tokatea 1895-1897 on the Swedish Croton leader. South Tokatea, a 'fair way' south of the Tokatea Mine, but on the same reef only mentioned in 1888 as being registered as a company in London. The lease was owned by Clarke (surname) and contained 160 acres. Not enough information was found on any to list separately.

The first mention of the Tokatea Mine is 1869, stating there is much litigation over the mine. Lotties, Siege and Van levels are stated as named. The mine was active across the 1870's, and early 1880's, often only mentioned in passing. The early 1870's specimen stone was found in the upper levels, while the later period the mine was on tribute. In 1895, the Tokatea Gold Mining Company was floated in London, and activity at the mine was found to 1908, when a new company was formed (or the old one reconstructed). No information was found beyond this date.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References