Mount Molybdenite prospect, Mertondale Goldfield, Leonora Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Mount Molybdenite prospect	Prospect (Abandoned)
Mertondale Goldfield	Ore Field
Leonora Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

As the name suggests this is a prospect for the mineral molybdenite. It is located roughly 8 kilometres east of the Linger and Die Gold Mine Mindat locality.

The mineralization is contained in the quartz core of a pegmatite which trends southwest, and dips at 45 degrees to the southeast. The molybdenite occurs as scattered flakes throughout the quartz core and at the margins of the core. The molybdenite is free of arsenic and bismuth, but is altered to powellite in places at the surface. The quartz core has been traced over 100 metres; it is lenticular, and varies in width from 5 centimetres to 1 metre. A second molybdenite-bearing vein 3 metres north of the main vein has not been worked. The enclosed pegmatite intrudes a banded biotite adamellite.

It was discovered by a prospector in 1914, working for a Perth syndicate headed by F. Seale. They applied for a reward lease of 48 acres, granted later in the year.

In 1918 a Katanning syndicate applied for the lease They sank a 50 foot shaft on the Hanging Wall, and crosscut to the Footwall. The reef is said to strike 400 feet, with molybdenite showing in most stone on the surface and within the shaft. The quality was said to be good, but the quantity of ore available was not sufficient to be payable. Two tonnes of ore raised, but was investigated no further.

It does not appear to have been investigated since, or at least exploration holes, or prospecting pits were not seen. Like the Linger and Die locality, access is difficult along miles of station fence lines. Permission would be needed from the station owner and getting lost is likely.

The Mindat co-ordinates are approximate.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References