Vanguard Mine, Thames, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato Region, New Zealandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Vanguard Mine | - not defined - |
| Thames | Town |
| Thames-Coromandel District | District |
| Waikato Region | Region |
| New Zealand | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
37° 8' 5'' South , 175° 32' 57'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Thames | 7,136 (2014) | 0.9km |
| Ngatea | 1,151 (2011) | 17.1km |
| Kerepehi | 537 (2011) | 18.4km |
| Paeroa | 3,994 (2011) | 27.8km |
| Whangamata | 4,253 (2011) | 29.0km |
Historic gold mine.
The Vanguard Mine is along the eastern border of the Thames town-site, near the May Queen, Queen of Beauty, Bright Smile and several other historic mines in this area.
It follows the same course of action of the other mines in the immediate area. Prospectors take up the lease 1867 to 1868, then companies move in to develop the mines in the early 1870's, spending vast sums of money, finding some minor upper level specimen stone, and then far more low grade ore. Mining ceases in 1875, when the Bright Smile Mine turned off its pumps allowing sea-water to flood its workings, and those of neighbouring mines.
The government steps in early 20th Century and develops a major pumping project from the Queen of Beauty shaft as the Thames-Hauraki Company , with another Vanguard Gold Mining Company forming around 1899, now being able to access the deeper levels. Meanwhile the Thames Drainage Board charges the mines pumping charges, which invariably is challenged in the courts, the Vanguard each year from 1905 to 1908, tying up the courts with lawyers and expert witnesses arguing whether and by how much benefit the mine achieves from the Thames-Hauraki pumping. In 1909, the May Queen Mine purchases the property.
In 1906, the change rooms and office burned to the ground, destroying also all the company records and plans. A battery from the New Eclipse Company was purchased in 1908, and moved to the site.
The Vanguard Reef is said to trend east-west, 2 to 15 feet wide, accessed via the Vanguard cross-cut during the May Queen mining days, and driving from the old Piako shaft (Bright Smile?) to a depth of 423 feet, and at a shallower level from the old Vanguard shaft. The reef consists of hard compact quartz, with much sulphides, particularly pyrite.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsGallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| O | Oxygen | |
|---|---|---|
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
- Taranaki ProvinceVolcanic Arc
New Zealand
- North IslandIsland
Pacific OceanOcean
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