Wheal Ellen, Strathalbyn, Alexandrina Council, South Australia, Australiai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Wheal Ellen | Mine |
| Strathalbyn | Town |
| Alexandrina Council | Local Government Area |
| South Australia | State |
| Australia | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
35° 11' 15'' South , 138° 55' 36'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Macclesfield | 1,469 (2012) | 8.5km |
| Strathalbyn | 4,731 (2012) | 8.6km |
| Willyaroo | 624 (2018) | 10.4km |
| Callington | 1,246 (2012) | 12.8km |
| Mount Barker | 8,357 (2012) | 14.5km |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Rockhounds Gem and Mineral Club | Christie Downs, South Australia | 40km |
| Metal detecting and searching for other items | Christie Downs, South Australia | 40km |
| Goldfields Club of South Australia | Warradale, South Australia | 41km |
| Gem and Mineral Clubs Association of South Australia | adelaide, south australia | 41km |
| Adelaide Facetors Guild, Adelaide Facetors Group | adelaide, South Australia | 41km |
Located 8 kms from Strathalbyn, the Wheal Ellen mine was worked from 1856. The lode was a tabular, massive, stratiform lead, zinc, iron sulphide body to 4.5m wide, at least 230m long, and plunging ~25 degrees S. Massive ore consisted of lead-zinc-silver sulphides carrying gold occurring in garnet-quartz-biotite rock within a greywacke (quartz-mica schist of the Tapanappa Formation), dipping 65 degrees, and trending 110 degrees. The mineralisation is possibly SEDEX style, and clearly modified by metamorphism. There is strong zonation from copper-rich in the north through to zinc-rich in the south, similar to the Angus Deposit 10 km along strike. Estimated production was ~75,000 tonne of sulphide ore from 1857-1911, averaging ~10% lead, 18% zinc, 150 g/t silver, and 4 g/t gold. It was mined to a depth of 120 m. There was some diamond drilling in 1920, and 1952. Also recovery of ~5,000 tonne arsenic ore at 49%As. There were reports of a bed of garnetiferous sandstone to 40-60m wide, with up to 50% garnet in places. Exploration by Hillgrove Resources in 2015 indicated no significant mineralisation along strike, with known mineralisation open at depth. Best assays were 1.6 m at 8.5% Zn, 4.3% Pb, 1.1g/t Au, 0.7% Cu, and 81 g/t Ag.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Andradite Formula: Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ Arsenopyrite Formula: FeAsS |
| ⓘ Azurite Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| ⓘ 'Biotite' Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| ⓘ Boulangerite Formula: Pb5Sb4S11 |
| ⓘ Cerussite Formula: PbCO3 |
| ⓘ Chalcanthite Formula: CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ 'Chlorite Group' |
| ⓘ Cuprite Formula: Cu2O |
| ⓘ Epsomite Formula: MgSO4 · 7H2O |
| ⓘ Gahnite Formula: ZnAl2O4 |
| ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS |
| ⓘ Galenobismutite Formula: PbBi2S4 |
| ⓘ 'Garnet Group' Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ 'Limonite' |
| ⓘ Magnetite Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ Malachite Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Marcasite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Melanterite Formula: Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| ⓘ Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Native Gold Formula: Au |
| ⓘ Native Sulphur Formula: S8 |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 |
| ⓘ Pyrrhotite Formula: Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS |
| ⓘ Staurolite Formula: Fe2+2Al9Si4O23(OH) |
| ⓘ 'Tennantite Subgroup' Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
| ⓘ Tenorite Formula: CuO |
| ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
| ⓘ | Native Sulphur | 1.CC.05 | S8 |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Marcasite | 2.EB.10a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
| ⓘ | 'Tennantite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S |
| ⓘ | 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup' | 2.GB.05 | Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S |
| ⓘ | Boulangerite | 2.HC.15 | Pb5Sb4S11 |
| ⓘ | Galenobismutite | 2.JC.25e | PbBi2S4 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Cuprite | 4.AA.10 | Cu2O |
| ⓘ | Tenorite | 4.AB.10 | CuO |
| ⓘ | Gahnite | 4.BB.05 | ZnAl2O4 |
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Cerussite | 5.AB.15 | PbCO3 |
| ⓘ | Azurite | 5.BA.05 | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Malachite | 5.BA.10 | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Chalcanthite | 7.CB.20 | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| ⓘ | Melanterite | 7.CB.35 | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| ⓘ | Epsomite | 7.CB.40 | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Andradite | 9.AD.25 | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | Staurolite | 9.AF.30 | Fe2+2Al9Si4O23(OH) |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Biotite' | - | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Limonite' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Garnet Group' | - | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| H | ⓘ Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| H | ⓘ Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
| H | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Staurolite | Fe22+Al9Si4O23(OH) |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| C | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| C | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| O | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| O | ⓘ Cuprite | Cu2O |
| O | ⓘ Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
| O | ⓘ Gahnite | ZnAl2O4 |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Staurolite | Fe22+Al9Si4O23(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Tenorite | CuO |
| O | ⓘ Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Gahnite | ZnAl2O4 |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Staurolite | Fe22+Al9Si4O23(OH) |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
| Si | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Staurolite | Fe22+Al9Si4O23(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| S | ⓘ Boulangerite | Pb5Sb4S11 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| S | ⓘ Epsomite | MgSO4 · 7H2O |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Galenobismutite | PbBi2S4 |
| S | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| S | ⓘ Native Sulphur | S8 |
| S | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S |
| S | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Andradite | Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Fe | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Marcasite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Melanterite | Fe2+(H2O)6SO4 · H2O |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Fe | ⓘ Staurolite | Fe22+Al9Si4O23(OH) |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcanthite | CuSO4 · 5H2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Cuprite | Cu2O |
| Cu | ⓘ Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| Cu | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S |
| Cu | ⓘ Tenorite | CuO |
| Cu | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Gahnite | ZnAl2O4 |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| As | ⓘ Tennantite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S |
| Sb | Antimony | |
| Sb | ⓘ Boulangerite | Pb5Sb4S11 |
| Sb | ⓘ Tetrahedrite Subgroup | Cu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Boulangerite | Pb5Sb4S11 |
| Pb | ⓘ Cerussite | PbCO3 |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| Pb | ⓘ Galenobismutite | PbBi2S4 |
| Bi | Bismuth | |
| Bi | ⓘ Galenobismutite | PbBi2S4 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australia
- Adelaide SuperbasinBasin
- Delamerian OrogenOrogen
- South Australia
- Mount Lofty RangesMountain Range
- South Mount Lofty Ranges (Adelaide Hills)Mountain Range
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
- South Australian Craton
- Adelaide Rift ComplexOrogenic Belt
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Wheal Ellen, Strathalbyn, Alexandrina Council, South Australia, Australia