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Surprise Mine, Ajana, Northampton Shire, Western Australia, Australiai
Regional Level Types
Surprise MineMine (Abandoned)
AjanaGroup of Villages
Northampton ShireShire
Western AustraliaState
AustraliaCountry

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PhotosMapsSearch
09252320017272252233810.jpg
Surprise Mine

Surprise Mine, Ajana, Northampton Shire, Western Australia, Australia
06300600017272252245101.jpg
Surprise Mine- Processing Plant Remains

Surprise Mine, Ajana, Northampton Shire, Western Australia, Australia
04231450017272252259277.jpg
Surprise Mine-Shaft

Surprise Mine, Ajana, Northampton Shire, Western Australia, Australia
09252320017272252233810.jpg
Surprise Mine

Surprise Mine, Ajana, Northampton Shire, Western Australia, Australia
06300600017272252245101.jpg
Surprise Mine- Processing Plant Remains

Surprise Mine, Ajana, Northampton Shire, Western Australia, Australia
04231450017272252259277.jpg
Surprise Mine-Shaft

Surprise Mine, Ajana, Northampton Shire, Western Australia, Australia
09252320017272252233810.jpg
Surprise Mine

Surprise Mine, Ajana, Northampton Shire, Western Australia, Australia
06300600017272252245101.jpg
Surprise Mine- Processing Plant Remains

Surprise Mine, Ajana, Northampton Shire, Western Australia, Australia
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
27° 49' 58'' South , 114° 41' 5'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-27.83295,114.68494
GeoHash:
G#: qe199tpj2
GRN:
S19E72
Type:
Mine (Abandoned) - last checked 2021
Köppen climate type:
BSh : Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Ogilvie112 (2018)35.6km
Mindat Locality ID:
125693
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:125693:5
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Locality: 56 km north of Northampton.

The mine is located on the southern bank of the Murchison River, west and near Galena Bridge, which carries the North West Coastal Highway across the river. The mullock hill has been encased in earth making specimen collecting difficult. What remains is gradually degenerating on exposure to oxygen. Galena, South Surprise and Two Boys mines are all in the same vicinity.

The mine was operated by R.M. Halgood from 1867-1872, and in its early years ore was transported by tramway to the Warribanno smelter. The mine closed in 1878 when Halgood died.

It re-opened in the 1920's by the Fremantle Trading company. This was a fairly large operation employing 160 men, and a small town sprung up to service the mine. They mined a lode from an open cut 60 metres in length and 30 metres wide by 18 metres deep, producing 90 000 tonnes of galena. There was also a shaft to 91 metres below the surface. The mine closed in 1927.

The deposit is on a sinistral west dipping fault in granulite, with much alteration and brecciation in the lodes, and wall rocks. The ore shoot is traversed by branching and looping shears, and tension gashes, with mineralisation following a shear in the granulite and dolerite. Abeysinghe states white to pale honey yellow barite crystals to 1 cm long were found in a vug in the mine.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


25 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Antigorite
Formula: Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ Atacamite
Formula: Cu2(OH)3Cl
ⓘ Augite
Formula: (CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘ Azurite
Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
ⓘ Cerussite
Formula: PbCO3
ⓘ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
ⓘ Cordierite
Formula: (Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ 'Garnet Group'
Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Marcasite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Mottramite
Formula: PbCu(VO4)(OH)
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Rutile var. Sagenite (of Saussure)
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Sillimanite
Formula: Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘ Smithsonite
Formula: ZnCO3
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
ⓘ Spinel
Formula: MgAl2O4
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘ Zircon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘMarcasite2.EB.10aFeS2
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘAtacamite3.DA.10aCu2(OH)3Cl
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘSpinel4.BB.05MgAl2O4
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
ⓘvar. Sagenite (of Saussure)4.DB.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘSmithsonite5.AB.05ZnCO3
ⓘCerussite5.AB.15PbCO3
ⓘAzurite5.BA.05Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘBaryte7.AD.35BaSO4
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
ⓘMottramite8.BH.40PbCu(VO4)(OH)
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘZircon9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘSillimanite9.AF.05Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘCordierite9.CJ.10(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
ⓘAugite9.DA.15(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘAntigorite9.ED.15Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘChrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'-
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ'Garnet Group'-X3Z2(SiO4)3

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AntigoriteMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ AtacamiteCu2(OH)3Cl
Hⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Hⓘ MottramitePbCu(VO4)(OH)
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
CCarbon
Cⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cⓘ CerussitePbCO3
Cⓘ SmithsoniteZnCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AntigoriteMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ AtacamiteCu2(OH)3Cl
Oⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Oⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Oⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ CerussitePbCO3
Oⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Oⓘ Cordierite(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ MottramitePbCu(VO4)(OH)
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ SillimaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Oⓘ SmithsoniteZnCO3
Oⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Oⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ Rutile var. Sagenite (of Saussure)TiO2
FFluorine
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
NaSodium
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ AntigoriteMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Mgⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ Cordierite(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
Mgⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Mgⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
AlAluminium
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Alⓘ Cordierite(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ SillimaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Alⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AntigoriteMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Siⓘ Cordierite(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ SillimaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Siⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Siⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
SSulfur
Sⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
ClChlorine
Clⓘ AtacamiteCu2(OH)3Cl
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Caⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
Tiⓘ Rutile var. Sagenite (of Saussure)TiO2
VVanadium
Vⓘ MottramitePbCu(VO4)(OH)
FeIron
Feⓘ Augite(CaxMgyFez)(Mgy1Fez1)Si2O6
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ Cordierite(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
CuCopper
Cuⓘ AtacamiteCu2(OH)3Cl
Cuⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cuⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cuⓘ MottramitePbCu(VO4)(OH)
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SmithsoniteZnCO3
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
BaBarium
Baⓘ BaryteBaSO4
PbLead
Pbⓘ CerussitePbCO3
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS
Pbⓘ MottramitePbCu(VO4)(OH)

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Australia
Australian PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Blockley, J. G. (1971) The lead, zinc and silver deposits of Western Australia. Mineral Resources Bulletin 9. Geological Survey of Western Australia
Heritage Council of Western Australia (1997) Galena Mine, Surprise and South Surprise, Two Boys, Shire of Northampton (11 Jul 1997).
Abeysinghe, P. B., Fetherston, J. Michael (1997) Barite and fluorite in Western Australia. Mineral Resources Bulletin 17. Geological Survey of Western Australia
Ferguson, K. M. (1999) Lead, zinc and silver deposits of Western Australia. Mineral Resources Bulletin 15. Geological Survey of Western Australia
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