Golden Site Mine, Preservation Inlet, Fiordland National Park, Southland District, Southland Region, New Zealandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Golden Site Mine | Mine |
| Preservation Inlet | - not defined - |
| Fiordland National Park | National Park |
| Southland District | District |
| Southland Region | Region |
| New Zealand | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
46° 9' 15'' South , 166° 42' 0'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Abandoned gold mine.
The mine site is within a gorge on the Wilson River, 4 kilometres from Preservation Inlet, and accessed by walking along the old tramway. The De[artment of Conservation (DOC) keeps the site accessible by clearing vegetation, which is thick temperate rainforest and tree ferns.
The auriferous quartz reef was discovered in 1892 by James Smith, one of a party of alluvial miners. He had felled a tree, in the process this knocked down another tree, exposing the reef.
Due to the site's remote location, little subsequently happened for a time. The prospectors sold a fourth share in the claim to raise money for equipment, and the Golden Site Mining Company was formed. Meanwhile the government began a slow process in constructing a tramway through the thick rainforest to the location. Inclement weather, a lack of supplies, and a disgruntled poorly paid workforce all inhibited the development of the mine.
The mine opened with a ten head battery in 1894, and over the subsequent thirteen month period it produced 640 tonnes of ore for 666 ounces of gold. By the end of 1895, 1,155 tonnes of ore had been extracted for 875 ounces of gold. Gold values in the reef then decreased.
The company was reconstructed in 1897 as the New Golden Site Extended Company, and by 1899 the main shaft was down to 210 feet with two levels. Poor returns continued and the mine closed in 1901, and the battery was sold. The mine was taken over by Webster (surname) of Invercargill in 1907, but it never re-opened.
When the mine closed, most of the equipment remained, as it was too expensive to remove due to the remote location. The ten head stamp battery, main winch, pelton wheel, berdans all remain.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Native Gold Formula: Au |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| Au | Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australian Plate
- Buller TerraneAccretionary Complex
New Zealand
- South IslandIsland
- Southern AlpsMountain Range
Pacific PlateTectonic Plate
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