Golden Crown Gold Mine (Neptune), Boogardie Goldfield, Mount Magnet, Mount Magnet Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Golden Crown Gold Mine (Neptune)	Mine
Boogardie Goldfield	Ore Field
Mount Magnet	Mountain
Mount Magnet Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

This is a different mine to the Golden Crown at Cue/Day Dawn elsewhere in the district. Mount Magnet's Golden Crown was a historic gold mine west of the Morning Star open cut.

The mine was first developed by prospectors George Laurie and Morgan (surname). Bickford Anthony, a mining speculator, took over the mine in August 1896. He floated the Mount Magnet Golden Crown Company Ltd. 24 acres. The main reef was quartz, slightly ferruginous, dipping almost vertical and 3 feet thick. The reef trended east-west and had gold evenly distributed throughout, a lot of it in pyrites. By 1897, the shaft was down to 217 feet.

Across its main mining period 1896 to 1898, A.G. Smith was mine manager. He came to Western Australia from the U.S.A., with mining experience in Idaho, Colorado and California.

In 1899, John Stephens took over the mine and re-named it the Neptune. He conducted a lot of development work, and crushings are reported in 1900 and 1901. The mine was having trouble with water inflow. It offered water free to the Boogardie battery, and an arrangement was made, the mine could construct a tailings dam next to the battery for its own ore. The mine was not able to supply enough water, and the favoured treatment to the mine led to disputes with neighbouring lease holders.

In 1904, mining at the site is at a low ebb. It is stated is largely being run by one prospector employing one or two hands. Some of the leaders have gold, some are barren. The ore is quartzite showing varying gold results. It is mentioned at this point the lode is an extension of the one at the Venus mine. Crushings are reported in 1906, 1907 and 1909. London Financiers Bewick Moreing and Co looked at purchasing the mine in 1907.

In 1911, it is reported only one man is working the lease, and then only prospecting the surface. Later in 1911 the lease (GML 445) was forfeited. Prospecting work with a shaft to 30 feet is reported in 1914. In 1915, C. Stephens and party have the lease. 39 tonnes of ore is crushed this year. The lease was forfeited again in 1918. A further crushing report is found in 1923 of 45 tonnes at 35 oz and 5 dwt.

From at least the early 1930's, the mine was owned by Jim and Jack Pozzi. They were Italian immigrants, so it is unlikely these first names are correct, by rather what the locals called them. Other sources state the mine was owned by F. Pozzi. They were not directly related despite having the same surname. In 1933, Jim struck a rich patch, and Jack became so excited at the top, he fell down the shaft. He was not injured, apart from a few abrasions.

From January to June 1937, Chester Morrow and William Parkinson took out a six month tribute over the mine. Parkinson had been involved looking for gold most of his life. Morrow had come from America about 1932 to work diamond drills, and had been prospecting for only a few months. They discovered a sensationally rich pocket worth at the time 12 000 pounds. This at the time would be the equivalent sale value of the whole mine.

At the end of the tribute period, the Pozzi's sold the mine to a syndicate. For the year ending 1938 457 tonnes at 224.04 oz was produced. The syndicate installed a five head battery. The mine was equipped with a headframe, compressor, electric pump, 1 tonne winch, and employed six men. The outbreak of World War Two effectively ended mining at the site. After the war it was eventually swallowed up as part of the Morning Star open cut.

Up to 1936 the mine produced 3597.91 tonnes for 4624.28 oz, and a further 934.5 oz dollied. Up to 1932, 35 000 pounds was earned from the mine, making it one of the richest on the field.

The Mindat co-ordinates are approximate, the large scale modern workings obliterating any evidence of the mine.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References