Calzoni Gold Mine (Heaton and Hollow's Find), Holleton Goldfield, Yilgarn Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Calzoni Gold Mine (Heaton and Hollow's Find)	Mine
Holleton Goldfield	Ore Field
Yilgarn Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

Peter Kilmartin first discovered gold at the Holleton location, but not in payable quantities. Encouraged by his report, two long term prospectors, Alf Heaton and Joe Hollows, visited the site in 1924. They also found gold, and after two months prospecting discovered a payable lode.

Their reward lease was known as Heaton and Hollow's Find. At the time of discovery it was described as a lode of greenstone, quartz and micaceous schist, with quartz veins carrying gold. Three shafts had been sunk to 10 feet on a lode 300 feet long, striking north-west, the lode 4 to 8 inches wide. The main shaft would eventually reach 80 feet depth.

Water shortages and distance to a battery plagued their operations at the mine.

In 1926, the Glenelg Hills Merredin Gold Mining Syndicate took out a working option over the mine. Heaton and Hollows took off to prospect in the nearby Forrestania region. While out there, Hollows died, aged 54, of a stomach ulcer. He had spent 25 years prospecting the Yilgarn and Kundip areas, and served during World War One.

In 1931, Heaton sold the mine, it is assumed to the Calzoni brothers who are noted at the mine from 1932. Alf Heaton finally left the area in 1933, citing government fees as making his prospecting operations there uneconomic.

Frank and Toni Calzoni took over, and regular crushings are noted from them until 1945. Initially in 1933, crushings are reported for the brothers separately, then always co-joined thereafter. In evidence as a witness in a court case over the mine, it is described as a large quartz formation, carrying heavy sulphides from 2 feet down. The Calzoni's sent crushings through from several leases along the line of lode, and appear to have taken over much of the goldfield. These include GML 3928, P.A. 4579, GML 3923, GML 3428, P.A. 5036, GML 3823, GML 3428.

The Calzoni brothers erected a 5 head battery in 1934, and constructed two dams. They still at times had to close the battery due to a lack of water.

There was also an Antonio Calzoni operating at Holleton at the same time. Crushings in his name are found from 1934, when he was 29 years of age. The sources always state him separately from the brothers, but he is likely related in some way. Also reports state he was operating the battery, and at least one lease was applied for in his name, but Frank and Toni are named as sending ore from it.

Antonio married Faith Henderson from Victoria Park Perth in 1942. Later the same year he was temporarily exempted from military service, citing he had to operate the battery at Holleton, and the mine would close down without him. This was not true as Frank and Toni could have operated it without him. In 1944, Faith gave birth to a son, at Sir John of God Hospital in Subiaco Perth.

Gold mineralisation is found in near surface laterite bodies, and in places there is a supergene enrichment blanket. Gold mineralisation in bed rock is associated with shear hosted quartz veining. Drilling by Perilya in 2004, produced dis-appointing results.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References