Sudden Jerk Gold Mine, Mount Monger, Mount Monger Goldfield, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Sudden Jerk Gold Mine	Mine
Mount Monger	Mountain
Mount Monger Goldfield	Ore Field
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

Sudden Jerk is the name of an old gold mine, but also lent its name to the surrounding area. It is located on a low hill, about 8 kilometres north north-west of the Mount Monger pastoral station homestead.

Gold was discovered here and near the homestead in 1896. Despite an initial alluvial rush, and some reef mining, it was short lived due to the lack of water, low grades, high cartage costs etc.

Sudden Jerk followed a similar pattern to the homestead area, in that it was 're-discovered' at various points, when a prospector would un-cover a rich patch, before falling back into slumber.

The Sudden Jerk site presently contains three abandoned pits from modern mining, named New Bau and Futi Baguss next to each other, and Sibu one kilometre to the north-east. Several groups of historic shafts are a short distance to the south.

Gold was discovered at the Sudden Jerk deposit in 1896 by Jack Chappell (variously spelt in the sources) and A. Troupe, the former said to be a solid man, who uncovered the first rich patch at 800 ounces. There was an alluvial rush. Then an English company purchased the lease for 10 000 pounds. They developed it for twelve months, and sank several shafts, one to 200 feet. After this period the company abandoned the lease, and Chappell came back from Victoria to take it over again.

The brothers George and Alfred Whittingham held the leases at Black Hill, a few kilometres to the north and offered to swap leases with Chappell. This was agreed to, and after working the mine for four years, they became farmers in 1912. George passed away in 1930 at Pithara in the northern Wheatbelt.

The brothers eldest sister visited the mine on their silver wedding anniversary. As a gift the brothers hauled a bucket of ore from the mine, and gave it to them. It contained 900 ounces of gold.

Chappell had made much money from the mines, but had been wasted in various ways (alluded as alcohol in the source), and he lived a paupers life.

The lode is found in a mullocky lode formation, of quartz pieces, and rubble, sometimes intruded by porphyry. The country rock is weathered diorite, the lode trending north-south, containing leaders 3 to 12 inches thick, some very rich.

Alexander McLean and Charles Don found the rich but small Little Wonder deposit in 1929.

Vulich, Tarevini and Gavranich (surnames) discovered a rich patch in the area in 1944, obtaining 150 ounces in one day worth 1200 pounds. They had been working the deposit for two months to that point.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

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