Aspasia Mine and Battery
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| Aspasia Mine and Battery | |
|---|---|
  Location of Aspasia Mine and Battery in Queensland  Aspasia Mine and Battery (Australia) | |
| Location | Gulf Developmental Road, Georgetown, Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 18°16′57″S 143°26′56″E / 18.2825°S 143.4488°E |
| Design period | 1914–1919 (World War I) |
| Built | 1916–1952 |
| Official name | Aspasia Mine and Battery, Mount Turner Battery |
| Type | state heritage (archaeological) |
| Designated | 13 April 2006 |
| Reference no. | 602245 |
| Significant period | 1916–1952 (fabric and historical use) |
| Significant components | machinery/plant/equipment – mining/mineral processing, tank – water, mullock heap, stope, mounting block/stand, shaft |
Aspasia Mine and Battery is a heritage-listed mine and stamper battery at Gulf Developmental Road, Georgetown, Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1916 to 1952. It is also known as Mount Turner Battery. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 13 April 2006.[1]
The Aspasia Mine, 3–4 kilometres (1.9–2.5 mi) west of Durham on the former Etheridge Gold and Mineral Field, was worked from 1916 to 1929, during the 1930s, and between 1947 and 1952, producing gold, silver, lead and copper.[1]
The Etheridge was an unusually large gold/mineral field and the rushes were widely scattered. The first recorded gold in the district was found by geologist Richard Daintree in 1867 near present-day Georgetown. A series of other gold and base metal discoveries followed and after publication early in 1869 of Daintree's report of discoveries of gold on the Gilbert River, the first rush began. By July 1869 a population of 3,000 were mining the rivers for alluvial gold, and by November 1870 reef mining had commenced. By late 1871, the township of Etheridge (later Georgetown) had a population of 600. The Etheridge Goldfield was proclaimed officially on 18 January 1872, with Georgetown designated the administrative centre.[1]
In 1872 the Durham area, just west of Georgetown, was developed with more than 44 separate auriferous reefs being worked and crushing machinery set up in Georgetown. The Durham Mine worked a rich auriferous reef down to the 122 metres (400 ft) level between 1879 and 1899 and again from 1907. It produced over 20,000 ounces (570,000 g) of gold.[1]
For a short time the Etheridge was one of the richest goldfields in Queensland and in 1885 was still the second highest producer behind Charters Towers. However, due to the isolation, which resulted in high transport costs and scarcity of labour, and with the continuing development of Ravenswood (1868) and the Hodgkinson (1876) in competition, production began to lag behind other fields. Etheridge reefs were small and shallow, yet expensive to develop. The high cost of living meant the population was less likely to settle permanently, so the availability of labour was an uncertain factor. It was, however, known as a reliable standby when other rushes had been worked out.[1]
The Etheridge field peaked as a gold producer in the 1890s but was in decline by World War I. However, high base metal prices during the war turned attention to lead, silver and copper and the field boomed until the onset of the Depression in the late 1920s again caused prices to drop. The 1930s Depression temporarily rejuvenated the Etheridge due to the tendency for gold values to rise during a depression, and unemployment relief funds were provided to assist prospectors.[1]
Approximately 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) west of the Durham and north of Hawkins Hill, a line of reefs can be found. The most southerly mine, the Aspasia, was worked between 1916 and 1929, during the 1930s and between 1947 and 1952, for gold-silver-lead ore. Silver-lead-zinc ore was first discovered near the site of the Aspasia in 1888, but it wasn't until the World War I boom in base metals that the area began to be mined. The main workings consisted of three shafts and nearly 45 metres (148 ft) of stopes, from the surface down to at least 9 metres (30 ft). Officially the records show a production of 716 long tons (727 t) of ore, returning 37 ounces (1,000 g) of gold, 14,626 ounces (414,600 g) of silver, 285 long tons (290 t) of lead and 0.8 long tons (0.81 t) of copper.[1]
In the aftermath of World War II, production costs rose and after 1950, silver-lead prices fell, leading to the closure of the Aspasia mine in 1952.[1]
