The Cracow Gold mine is part of a series of deposits known as the Cracow gold field. Underground Au-Ag mine in central Queensland. Epithermal deposit located near Cracow, an old gold mining town.

Gold was first discovered here in 1875 by itinerant fossickers, and a further discovery of a nugget was made by stockman Johnny Nipps in 1916. However, it was not until the early 1930s that mining took off, leading to a gold rush.

Gold is found in hypogene steep dipping, low sulphidation epithermal veins along fault structures hosted by andesites of the Camboon Volcanics. The lodes are often associated with quartz-carbonate-adularia stockwork veining and vein breccia, enveloped by a broader zone of vein stockworks up to 50 metres wide. There are at least sixteen separate deposits. Gold is largely restricted to fault damage zones, and where lodes thicken. Normal dip step faults are the main conduit for the original mineralising/hydrothermal fluids.

Over 90% is free gold, the remainder included or intergrown with pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, tetrahedrite, hessite and petzite. Gold is mainly found within electrum, lesser with pyrite, mustard gold at shallow levels, and tiny rosettes of crystalline gold in joints in the gangue. Gold is enriched within 30 metres of the surface, while silver is enriched near the water table. While most gold is found in the quartz-carbonate-adularia fault breccias, it can to a lesser extent by found in quartz stockwork, quartz-zeolite, and clay rich zones.

There is an east and west field, with the west field discovered by Evolution Mining in 1998. There are two mineralised fault sets, the largest 4-7 kms long covering the Kilkenny, Royal-Roses Pride, and Golden Plateau locations. The main Golden Plateau lode has east-west links with the White Hope and Golden Mile lodes. Klondyke, Standard, Dawn and Roma North follow similar trends.

Newcrest Mining Ltd entered a joint venture with Sedimentary Holdings (1997-2001) to explore the deposits, discovering the Royal and Crown deposits. Evolution Mining Ltd mined the Royal (2004), Sovereign and Phoenix (2008), Kilkenny (2009), and subsequently Griffin, Denmead, Baz, Killarney, Imperial and Sterling lodes. Aeris Resources Ltd purchased the gold mine in 2020, and has continued mining (2026).

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

20 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

ⓘ Andesite

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Albite

Formula: Na(AlSi₃O₈)

References:

Chatterjee, Robindra Narayan (2025) Learning a Mineralised Fault Network at the Cracow Gold Mine from Geologically Informed 3D Synthetic Seismic Data, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland

ⓘ Anhydrite

Formula: CaSO₄

References:

ⓘ Arsenopyrite

Formula: FeAsS

References:

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO₃

References:

ⓘ Chalcopyrite

Formula: CuFeS₂

References:

ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'

References:

ⓘ Diaspore

Formula: AlO(OH)

References:

ⓘ Epidote

Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)

References:

ⓘ Galena

Formula: PbS

References:

ⓘ Goethite

Formula: Fe³⁺O(OH)

References:

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

ⓘ Hessite

Formula: Ag₂Te

References:

ⓘ Kaolinite

Formula: Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄

References:

ⓘ 'K Feldspar'

References:

ⓘ 'K Feldspar var. Adularia'

Formula: KAlSi₃O₈

References:

ⓘ Laumontite

Formula: CaAl₂Si₄O₁₂ · 4H₂O

References:

ⓘ Muscovite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite

Formula: K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Native Gold

Formula: Au

References:

www.newcrest.com.au (n.d.) http://www.newcrest.com.au//operations.asp?category=5

ⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum

Formula: (Au,Ag)

References:

ⓘ Petzite

Formula: Ag₃AuTe₂

References:

ⓘ Pyrite

Formula: FeS₂

References:

ⓘ Pyrophyllite

Formula: Al₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

ⓘ 'Smectite Group'

Formula: A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O

References:

ⓘ Sphalerite

Formula: ZnS

References:

ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'

Formula: Cu₆(Cu₄C²⁺₂)Sb₄S₁₂S

References:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Native Gold var. Electrum	1.AA.05	(Au,Ag)
ⓘ		1.AA.05	Au
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Hessite	2.BA.60	Ag₂Te
ⓘ	Petzite	2.BA.75	Ag₃AuTe₂
ⓘ	Sphalerite	2.CB.05a	ZnS
ⓘ	Chalcopyrite	2.CB.10a	CuFeS₂
ⓘ	Galena	2.CD.10	PbS
ⓘ	Pyrite	2.EB.05a	FeS₂
ⓘ	Arsenopyrite	2.EB.20	FeAsS
ⓘ	'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'	2.GB.05	Cu₆(Cu₄C²⁺₂)Sb₄S₁₂S
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Goethite	4.00.	Fe³⁺O(OH)
ⓘ	Hematite	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	Diaspore	4.FD.10	AlO(OH)
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Calcite	5.AB.05	CaCO₃
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘ	Anhydrite	7.AD.30	CaSO₄
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Epidote	9.BG.05a	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
ⓘ	Pyrophyllite	9.EC.10	Al₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂
ⓘ	Muscovite var. Illite	9.EC.15	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
ⓘ		9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
ⓘ	var. Sericite	9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
ⓘ	Kaolinite	9.ED.05	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
ⓘ	Albite	9.FA.35	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
ⓘ	Laumontite	9.GB.10	CaAl₂Si₄O₁₂ · 4H₂O
Unclassified
ⓘ	'K Feldspar var. Adularia'	-	KAlSi₃O₈
ⓘ	'Chlorite Group'	-
ⓘ	'K Feldspar'	-
ⓘ	'Smectite Group'	-	A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Diaspore	AlO(OH)
H	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
H	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
H	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
H	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
H	ⓘ Laumontite	CaAl₂Si₄O₁₂ · 4H₂O
H	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Pyrophyllite	Al₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Smectite Group	A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ K Feldspar var. Adularia	KAlSi₃O₈
O	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
O	ⓘ Anhydrite	CaSO₄
O	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Diaspore	AlO(OH)
O	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
O	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
O	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
O	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
O	ⓘ Laumontite	CaAl₂Si₄O₁₂ · 4H₂O
O	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Pyrophyllite	Al₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Smectite Group	A_0.3D_2-3[T₄O₁₀]Z₂ · nH₂O
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ K Feldspar var. Adularia	KAlSi₃O₈
Al	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Al	ⓘ Diaspore	AlO(OH)
Al	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Al	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Al	ⓘ Laumontite	CaAl₂Si₄O₁₂ · 4H₂O
Al	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Pyrophyllite	Al₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ K Feldspar var. Adularia	KAlSi₃O₈
Si	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Si	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Si	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Kaolinite	Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄
Si	ⓘ Laumontite	CaAl₂Si₄O₁₂ · 4H₂O
Si	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Pyrophyllite	Al₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Anhydrite	CaSO₄
S	ⓘ Arsenopyrite	FeAsS
S	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
S	ⓘ Galena	PbS
S	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
S	ⓘ Sphalerite	ZnS
S	ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup	Cu₆(Cu₄C₂²⁺)Sb₄S₁₂S
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ K Feldspar var. Adularia	KAlSi₃O₈
K	ⓘ Muscovite var. Illite	K_0.65Al_2.0[Al_0.65Si_3.35O₁₀](OH)₂
K	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
K	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Anhydrite	CaSO₄
Ca	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
Ca	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Ca	ⓘ Laumontite	CaAl₂Si₄O₁₂ · 4H₂O
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Arsenopyrite	FeAsS
Fe	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
Fe	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Fe	ⓘ Goethite	Fe³⁺O(OH)
Fe	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
Fe	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
Cu	Copper
Cu	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
Cu	ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup	Cu₆(Cu₄C₂²⁺)Sb₄S₁₂S
Zn	Zinc
Zn	ⓘ Sphalerite	ZnS
As	Arsenic
As	ⓘ Arsenopyrite	FeAsS
Ag	Silver
Ag	ⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum	(Au,Ag)
Ag	ⓘ Hessite	Ag₂Te
Ag	ⓘ Petzite	Ag₃AuTe₂
Sb	Antimony
Sb	ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup	Cu₆(Cu₄C₂²⁺)Sb₄S₁₂S
Te	Tellurium
Te	ⓘ Hessite	Ag₂Te
Te	ⓘ Petzite	Ag₃AuTe₂
Au	Gold
Au	ⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum	(Au,Ag)
Au	ⓘ Native Gold	Au
Au	ⓘ Petzite	Ag₃AuTe₂
Pb	Lead
Pb	ⓘ Galena	PbS

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Australia

Bowen BasinBasin
New England OrogenOrogen
- Connors-Auburn ProvinceGeologic Province

Australian PlateTectonic Plate

Sydney-Surat BasinVolcanic Arc

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References

Poblete, Jaime; Savinova, Katerina (2025) South-East Queensland Mineral Provinces Atlas, Cracow, Ch. 26, WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland

www.newcrest.com.au (n.d.) http://www.newcrest.com.au//operations.asp?category=5

Micklethwaite, Steven (2009) Mechanisms of faulting and permeability enhancement during epithermal mineralisation: Cracow goldfield, Australia. Journal of Structural Geology, 31 (3). 288-300 doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2008.11.016

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Cracow Gold Mine, Cracow, Banana Shire, Queensland, AustraliaiRegional Level TypesCracow Gold MineMine (Active) CracowTown Banana ShireShire QueenslandState AustraliaCountry function showexplain() { $("#locexplain").toggle(); if (typeof movemap === "function") movemap(); }

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Mineral List

Rock Types Recorded

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Detailed Mineral List:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

List of minerals for each chemical element

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References

Cracow Gold Mine, Cracow, Banana Shire, Queensland, Australia i
Regional Level Types
Cracow Gold Mine Mine (Active)
Cracow Town
Banana Shire Shire
Queensland State
Australia Country