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Thunderbox Gold Mine, Leinster, Leonora Shire, Western Australia, Australiai
Regional Level Types
Thunderbox Gold MineMine (Active)
Leinster- not defined -
Leonora ShireShire
Western AustraliaState
AustraliaCountry

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PhotosMapsSearch
07110230017272322861154.jpg
Thunderbox open cut mine

Thunderbox Gold Mine, Leinster, Leonora Shire, Western Australia, Australia
06473100017625631328767.jpg
Native Gold, etc.

Thunderbox Gold Mine, Leinster, Leonora Shire, Western Australia, Australia
07110230017272322861154.jpg
Thunderbox open cut mine

Thunderbox Gold Mine, Leinster, Leonora Shire, Western Australia, Australia
06473100017625631328767.jpg
Native Gold, etc.

Thunderbox Gold Mine, Leinster, Leonora Shire, Western Australia, Australia
07110230017272322861154.jpg
Thunderbox open cut mine

Thunderbox Gold Mine, Leinster, Leonora Shire, Western Australia, Australia
06473100017625631328767.jpg
Native Gold, etc.

Thunderbox Gold Mine, Leinster, Leonora Shire, Western Australia, Australia
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
28° 11' 29'' South , 121° 0' 24'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-28.19150,121.00685
GRN:
S19E76
Type:
Mine (Active) - last checked 2020
Deposit first discovered:
1999
Age:
At least 5000 Ma
Geologic Time:
: to Mesoarchean
Köppen climate type:
BWh : Hot deserts climate
Mindat Locality ID:
248465
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:248465:8
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Thunderbox Zone C


A 2 Moz Archaean orogenic gold deposit located 45km south of Leinster. The deposit was blind, overlain by Tertiary sediments and alluvium and was discovered by drilling in 1999. Gold mineralisation is hosted by a strongly deformed, silicified and carbonate-altered albite-quartz porphyry in the immediate hanging wall of a major brittle-ductile shear zone.

The original owner was a joint venture between Lionore and Dalrymple, which merged into one company mid 2003. Production from an open cut mine commenced in November 2002. The company had a good first two years, then struck trouble in 2005. This included lower than expected production, water shortages, equipment failure, and write downs due to the short remaining life of the mine. This resulted in large financial losses. For almost two years Lionore sought a buyer. Eventually Russian nickel miner Norilsk took over the company and mine in June 2007.

The mine was operated until September 2007, when it was placed on care and maintenance by Norilsk Nickel Australia. The open cut produced 10.9Mt at 2.4 g/t Au for a total production of 805,000 oz Au.

Mark Bennett, who discovered the deposit mid 1999, said of the name for the mine: 'We named it Thunderbox as the only toilet facility at the outback exploration site was a 44 gallon drum over the top of an old drill hole. At that point our geologist decided to name every target after curries- we had Madras, Rogan Josh etc- anything that could lead to the toilet'.

The mine is 45 kilometres south of Leinster, and borders the west side of the Goldfields Highway. The mine was sold by Norilsk to Saracen Mineral Holdings in 2014 and re-opened in 2016.





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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

23 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

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

Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

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Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Actinolite
Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Ankerite
Formula: Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘ Arsenopyrite
Formula: FeAsS
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Chamosite
Formula: (Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8
ⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite
Formula: (Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
ⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite
Formula: (Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Clinochlore
Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
ⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite
Formula: (Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
ⓘ Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘ 'Hornblende Root Name Group'
Formula: ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Native Gold
Formula: Au
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Scheelite
Formula: Ca(WO4)
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘ Tremolite
Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Gold1.AA.05Au
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘArsenopyrite2.EB.20FeAsS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘGoethite4.00.Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘAnkerite5.AB.10Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘScheelite7.GA.05Ca(WO4)
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘEpidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘActinolite9.DE.10◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘTremolite9.DE.10◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘvar. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘChamosite9.EC.55(Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8
ⓘClinochlore9.EC.55Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
ⓘChamosite
var. Daphnite		9.EC.55(Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
ⓘClinochlore
var. Ripidolite		9.EC.55(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
ⓘChamosite
var. Brunsvigite		9.EC.55(Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Hornblende Root Name Group'-◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ Chamosite(Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8
Hⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Hⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite(Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Hⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Hⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite(Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
CCarbon
Cⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ Chamosite(Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8
Oⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Oⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite(Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Oⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ ScheeliteCa(WO4)
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Oⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Oⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite(Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
FFluorine
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Fⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ Chamosite(Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8
Mgⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Mgⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite(Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Mgⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Mgⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Mgⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite(Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ Chamosite(Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8
Alⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Alⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite(Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Alⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Alⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Alⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite(Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ Chamosite(Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8
Siⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Siⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite(Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Siⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Siⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Siⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Siⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite(Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
SSulfur
Sⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
ClChlorine
Clⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Caⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caⓘ ScheeliteCa(WO4)
Caⓘ Tremolite◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2
Caⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
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
FeIron
Feⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Feⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Feⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ Chamosite(Fe2+,Mg,Al,Fe3+)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8
Feⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite(Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Feⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Feⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
Feⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite(Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
CuCopper
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
Asⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
WTungsten
Wⓘ ScheeliteCa(WO4)
AuGold
Auⓘ Native GoldAu
PbLead
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS

Localities in this Region

Australia

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

Bennett, M.A., Buck, P.S. (2000) Discovery and Geology of the Thunderbox Gold Deposit, Yandal Belt. In: Yandal Greenstone Belt, AIG Bulletin 32: 373-379.
www.saracen.com.au (n.d.) http://www.saracen.com.au
Du Puy, K. (2003) Descriptive Hydrothermal Alteration Model for the Thunderbox Gold Deposit- insights into timing of gold mineralisation relative to deformation and metamorphism. Unpublished Honours thesis, University of Western Australia, 88 pages.
The West Australian newspaper (Perth) (2015) No Toilet Humour for Gold Miner Thunderbox, 03/08/2015.
www.en.wikipedia.org (n.d.) http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbox_Gold_Mine
de Souza, A. E. C. M., Sarout, J., Luzin, V., Sari, M., & Vialle, S. (2022). Laboratory measurements of ultrasonic wave velocities and anisotropy across a gold-hosting structure: A case study of the Thunderbox Gold Mine, Western Australia. Ore Geology Reviews, 146, 104928.
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