Preamimma Mine, Rural City of Murray Bridge, South Australia, Australiai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Preamimma Mine | Mine |
| Rural City of Murray Bridge | Local Government Area |
| South Australia | State |
| Australia | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
35° 2' 42'' South , 139° 5' 44'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Deposit first discovered:
1854 (approx.)
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kanmantoo | 618 (2014) | 8.1km |
| Callington | 1,246 (2012) | 9.7km |
| Harrogate | 320 (2016) | 12.8km |
| Nairne | 3,648 (2012) | 16.8km |
| Caloote | 299 (2014) | 17.6km |
Nearest Clubs:
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
Local clubs are the best way to get access to collecting localities
| Club | Location | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Murraylands Gem and Mineral Club | Palmer, South Australia | 22km |
| Mildura District Gem & Mineral Club Inc | Mildura, South Australia | 43km |
| Tea Tree Gully Gem and Mineral Club | Tea Tree Gully, South Australia | 44km |
| Adelaide Gem and Mineral Club | St Peters, South Australia | 46km |
| Adelaide Facetors Guild, Adelaide Facetors Group | adelaide, South Australia | 47km |
The Preamimma Mine is situated on Section 31, Hundred of Monarto, County Sturt, South Australia and is 9 km northeast of the small town of Callington, in the Adelaide Hills.
The Preamimma Mine was first opened as a copper-gold producer in 1854 but was soon abandoned.
It was reopened in 1861 and a large boilier and steam engine installed along with a 12.8 metre shimney stack. A shaft was also sunk to a depth of 86 metres but the mine was again abandoned.
In 1899 the mine was reopened as a producer of arsenopyrite. In two years it produced 300 tons of ore assaying 40% As.
After 1900 the mine must have closed down again, as the 'Records of the Mines of South Australia' states 'operations have recently resumed here and returns for the years ending June 30, 1907, show that 55.5 tons of 9% copper ore and 4 tons of arsenic ore were raised'.
In 1917, the mine was open again, but little work was done.
Operations began again in 1924 when a diesel engine was installed and the mine was dewatered to the 150-metre level and stoping carried forward. No production figures are available, but the stope below the Main Shaft would have yielded at least 750 tons of broken ore containing about 200 tons of arsenopyrite.
In 1926 the mine was placed on a care and maintenance basis for a short time before its final closure.
The lode was emplaced in fine-grained quartz biotite schists of the early Cambrian Kanmantoo Group. The lode strikes N28° W and dips 80° to the west. This dip agrees with the length of the crosscut to the lode at 60 ft. level in the No.2 shaft, but in the Main Shaft and No.3 shaft, the lode appears to be vertical. On the 60 ft. level, north of No.3 shaft, the lode is 10 ft. wide and shows quartz, limonite and copper carbonates. The Main Shaft is well to the west of the line of shafts and the gossanous outcrops marking the lode.
Nice lavendulan micromounts could still be found on the dumps in the late 1990s (Uwe Kolitsch field observation).
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Antlerite Formula: Cu3(SO4)(OH)4 Description: Locality might be uncertain - see discussion on https://www.mindat.org/mesg-6-418608.html. References: |
| ⓘ Arsenopyrite Formula: FeAsS Description: "Arsenopyrite is the most abundant primary ore mineral in the mine. Found always in white quartz, it occurs as coarse granular masses, as rare rosettes of columnar prisms or as simple prismatic crystals elongated along the C axis. Crystals pseudomorphed by chalcocite, covellite, lavendulan and white porous scorodite have been noted." |
| ⓘ Azurite Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 Description: "Azurite is fairly common as deep blue stains, veinlets and small nodules in the northern workings, where it seems to have been the main ore mineral. In the dumps of the South Shaft, azurite is only rarely seen as rosettes of dark blue acicular prisms, sometimes overlaying crusts of lavendulan." |
| ⓘ Chalcocite Formula: Cu2S Description: "Chalcocite always occurs massive, as a replacement of chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite." |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 Description: "The only primary copper mineral appears to be chalcopyrite which is seen only as rare residual grains in chalcocite." |
| ⓘ Covellite Formula: CuS Description: "Covellite was noted as pseudomorphs after arsenopyrite crystals. Clusters of arsenopyrite crystals bearing a thin film of purple covellite occur in some vugs where the sulphides are encrusted by clear colourless scorodite." |
| ⓘ Goethite Formula: Fe3+O(OH) Description: "Limonite, the earthy form of goethite, is encountered throughout the mine, particularly in the northern workings where the load was more cupriferous." |
| ⓘ Iodargyrite Formula: AgI References: |
| ⓘ Jarosite Formula: KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 Description: "Jarosite occurs throughout the mine as spongy boxworks and crusts of small crystals. It is light orange yellow to honey brown, dull and translucent. It crystallizes as small rhombahedra with large basal plane. Jarosite crystals occur on limonite, and prisms of clear, colourless scorodite have been seen upon jarosite, which evidently formed early in the paragenetic sequence." |
| ⓘ Lavendulan Formula: NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O Description: "Lavendulan was the last arsenate to crystallize. It is found only on the dump of the South Shaft, where it is relatively abundant. The lavendulan is bright sky blue, with a lustre varying from pearly to dull vitreous. It occurs as powdery to scaly films in schistose quartz, but in voids in hard quartz it occasionally forms rosettes of acicular crystals. It is more commonly found as hemispherical clusters of minute square tablets which are sector twinned into four triangular segments. In solid quartz, lavendulan often occurs as pseudomorphs after scorodite, which had itself replaced arsenopyrite as spongy white form." |
| ⓘ Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 Description: "Malachite if found chiefly in the northern workings as a replacement of azurite." |
| ⓘ Metazeunerite Formula: Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O Description: "On one specimen found in the Northern workings, pearly apple-green square scales on porous limonite were observed. The flakes were strongly fluorescent in ultra-violet light and are probably metazeunerite." |
| ⓘ Native Bismuth Formula: Bi References: |
| ⓘ Natropharmacosiderite ? Formula: NaFe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| ⓘ Olivenite Formula: Cu2(AsO4)(OH) Description: "A relatively rare mineral at Preamimma, olivinite occurs in the dumps of the North workings and of the South Shaft. It is recognized by its brownish green colour, bright glassy lustre, translucency and occurrence as slender, longitudinally striated prisms with imperfect terminations. The olivine may grow over crystals of amber pharmacosiderite and in turn be overlain by lavendulan." |
| ⓘ Orpiment Formula: As2S3 Description: ((Possibly confused with arseniosiderite?)) |
| ✪ Pharmacosiderite Formula: KFe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 6-7H2O Description: "At Preamimma, pharmacosiderite occurs in two distinct habits. On the dumps of the South Shaft it occurs on limonite or on scorodite encrusted quartz, as scattered, equant cube-octahedron combinations which are deep amber brown, glassy and transparent. On the dump of the No. 2 Shaft, it is found as turbid, sea green, sharp, unmodified cubes lining joints in the mica schist country rock. In this habit it could easily be mistaken for fluorite." |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 Description: "Pyrite occurs throughout the mine as streaks and granular masses in quartz. Crystals are rarely seen, but limonite pseudomorphs after octahedral crystals are occasionally found in small vugs." |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Scorodite Formula: Fe3+AsO4 · 2H2O Description: "Scorodite the first of the arsenates to crystallize, is found throughout the mine as crusts of minute glittering crystals lining small vugs or coating the walls of thin cracks or joints in quartz, limonite or arsenopyrite. It commonly occurs as equant pyramids, terminated by a near square basal plane, but in rare cases it has crystallized in forms moderately elongated on the b axis, which show the (101) hemipyramid, as well as pyramid and base. The scorodite ranges in colour from pale sea green to white, colourless and various shades of brown. It always has a bright glassy lustre and varies from turbid to completely transparent." |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Bismuth | 1.CA.05 | Bi |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Chalcocite | 2.BA.05 | Cu2S |
| ⓘ | Covellite | 2.CA.05a | CuS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
| ⓘ | Orpiment | 2.FA.30 | As2S3 |
| Group 3 - Halides | |||
| ⓘ | Iodargyrite | 3.AA.10 | AgI |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Goethite | 4.00. | Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Azurite | 5.BA.05 | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Antlerite | 7.BB.15 | Cu3(SO4)(OH)4 |
| ⓘ | Jarosite | 7.BC.10 | KFe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
| ⓘ | Olivenite | 8.BB.30 | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| ⓘ | Scorodite | 8.CD.10 | Fe3+AsO4 · 2H2O |
| ⓘ | Lavendulan | 8.DG.05 | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| ⓘ | Pharmacosiderite | 8.DK.10 | KFe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 6-7H2O |
| ⓘ | Natropharmacosiderite ? | 8.DK.10 | NaFe3+4(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| ⓘ | Metazeunerite | 8.EB.10 | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Antlerite | Cu3(SO4)(OH)4 |
| H | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| H | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Metazeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| H | ⓘ Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Pharmacosiderite | KFe43+(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 6-7H2O |
| H | ⓘ Scorodite | Fe3+AsO4 · 2H2O |
| H | ⓘ Natropharmacosiderite | NaFe43+(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Antlerite | Cu3(SO4)(OH)4 |
| O | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| O | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Metazeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| O | ⓘ Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Pharmacosiderite | KFe43+(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 6-7H2O |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Scorodite | Fe3+AsO4 · 2H2O |
| O | ⓘ Natropharmacosiderite | NaFe43+(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| Na | ⓘ Natropharmacosiderite | NaFe43+(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Antlerite | Cu3(SO4)(OH)4 |
| S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| S | ⓘ Covellite | CuS |
| S | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| S | ⓘ Orpiment | As2S3 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| K | ⓘ Pharmacosiderite | KFe43+(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 6-7H2O |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Jarosite | KFe33+(SO4)2(OH)6 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pharmacosiderite | KFe43+(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 6-7H2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Scorodite | Fe3+AsO4 · 2H2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Natropharmacosiderite | NaFe43+(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Antlerite | Cu3(SO4)(OH)4 |
| Cu | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcocite | Cu2S |
| Cu | ⓘ Covellite | CuS |
| Cu | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Metazeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| As | ⓘ Lavendulan | NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 5H2O |
| As | ⓘ Metazeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| As | ⓘ Olivenite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) |
| As | ⓘ Orpiment | As2S3 |
| As | ⓘ Pharmacosiderite | KFe43+(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 6-7H2O |
| As | ⓘ Scorodite | Fe3+AsO4 · 2H2O |
| As | ⓘ Natropharmacosiderite | NaFe43+(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| Ag | Silver | |
| Ag | ⓘ Iodargyrite | AgI |
| I | Iodine | |
| I | ⓘ Iodargyrite | AgI |
| Bi | Bismuth | |
| Bi | ⓘ Native Bismuth | Bi |
| U | Uranium | |
| U | ⓘ Metazeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australia
- Adelaide SuperbasinBasin
- Delamerian OrogenOrogen
- South Australia
- Mount Lofty RangesMountain Range
- ⭔RockleighTown
- South Mount Lofty Ranges (Adelaide Hills)Mountain Range
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
- South Australian Craton
- Adelaide Rift ComplexOrogenic Belt
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Preamimma Mine, Rural City of Murray Bridge, South Australia, Australia