Yerilla alluvial gold areas, Yerilla Goldfield, Menzies Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Yerilla alluvial gold areas	- not defined -
Yerilla Goldfield	Ore Field
Menzies Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

This section contains historic information about several small alluvial gold finds in the Yerilla area. Most locations are listed separately on Mindat.

The Mount Catherine Gold Mine was said to contain a rich alluvial gold area when discovered in 1895. The early Queen of the Earth Gold Mine at the western edge of the main gold field, was said to have contained a decent alluvial patch. Small alluvial patches were found in 1897 at the La Tosca Gold Mine.

There was little hope of finding alluvial at the main goldfield, which borders the south of the Kookynie-Yarri Road, and south of the Yerilla homestead. Many nuggets were initially found, but these had been shed from the reefs. Later a small area was located being deep alluvial in cement (a term often used at the time for hardened clay).

This was discovered by the Thomas brothers who located a deep alluvial area in 1906, immediately south of the Yerilla Central mine on the Viola lease and part of the Melba Consols lease. The gold was said to be 10 feet from the surface, in wash 2 to 3 feet thick, dipping 45 degrees south. Gold values increased with depth and could be freely seen in the cement/quartz whitish wash estimated at 500 ounce to the tonne.

Seventy men who were raising stone in the area, immediately pegged surrounding leases. The Thomas's had dug five holes 10 to 20 feet in depth which bottomed on the wash. Three months later, warden P.L. Gibbons and the Inspector of Mines visited, and awarded the Thomas' a one acre reward claim, in addition to the two leases they had already pegged. No alluvial gold was found in the neighbouring claims pegged by the other prospectors. GML 181R.

Several minor gold discoveries occurred in outlying areas both north and south of the main goldfield. It is unclear whether these were alluvial and/or part of a minor reef system. For example in the late 1890's an Afghan cameleer discovered several gold nuggets while taking the post from Kookynie to Yerilla. This was said to be on or near the old telegraph line. After taking the nuggets into town he went back, but for some reason was unable to re-locate the site.

It was rediscovered in 1934 by an aboriginal named Sullivan who worked on the local sheep station. He went into partnership with E. McIness, T. Barratt, and H. Harris. They let the area as a working option to the Western Mining Corporation, after which the location became lost again.

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References