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Tower Hill Gold Mine, Leonora, Leonora Shire, Western Australia, Australiai
Regional Level Types
Tower Hill Gold MineMine
LeonoraTown
Leonora ShireShire
Western AustraliaState
AustraliaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
28° 53' 59'' South , 121° 19' 25'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-28.89992,121.32387
GRN:
S20E76
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
BWh : Hot deserts climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Leonora532 (2012)1.8km
Mindat Locality ID:
25377
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:25377:5
GUID (UUID V4):
0


A gold-silver mine started in 1984. Produced 1 million tons of ore at 3.24 grams/ton Au (1984)(13,671 ounces Au & 2,068 oz. Ag).

The mine is on the south-west outskirts of the Leonora town site. It was operational intermittently from 1897 onwards, with peak production from 1905 to 1911. A local Leonora syndicate worked it from 1979 to 1982. Late 1982, Forrest Gold Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of CRA) took out an option, with mining commencing in November 1983, and a new plant erected in early 1984. CRA sold the mine in 1987, with ownership eventually passing to Dominion Mining Ltd in 1989.

Active open pit mining occurred between 1986 to 1992, Plutonic Resources purchased the mine from Dominion Mining Ltd, then Sons of Gwalia purchased the mine in 1995.

The Tower Hill mine is located in the Sons of Gwalia Shear Zone. At Tower Hill from the base up is granitoid; ultramafic schist with minor molybdenite and porphyry inclusions; mafic schist after dolerite and basalt with minor sediments and quartz-chlorite-fuchsite-sericite; same as prior zone with additional minor andalusite-rich zones and shale; and lastly felsic schist.

The ore body strikes for 150 metres Gold at Tower Hill is found in milky quartz veins, associated with tetrahedrite. The gold is rarely visible. Other species found at the site include pyrite, chalcopyrite, molybdenite, bismuthinite, argentian gold and arsenopyrite. The gold is found in several sub-parallel quartz veins with a strike length of 600 metres and 45 degrees easterly dip.

Select Mineral List Type

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

14 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

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Andalusite
Formula: Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘ Arsenopyrite
Formula: FeAsS
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Bismuthinite
Formula: Bi2S3
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Epidote
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘ 'Hornblende Root Name Group'
Formula: ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ 'Leucoxene'
ⓘ Molybdenite
Formula: MoS2
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite
Formula: K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Native Gold
Formula: Au
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
ⓘ Zoisite
Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Gold1.AA.05Au
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘBismuthinite2.DB.05Bi2S3
ⓘMolybdenite2.EA.30MoS2
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘArsenopyrite2.EB.20FeAsS
ⓘ'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘAndalusite9.AF.10Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘEpidote9.BG.05a(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘZoisite9.BG.10(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite
var. Fuchsite		9.EC.15K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
ⓘ9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘvar. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Leucoxene'-
ⓘ'Hornblende Root Name Group'-◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Hⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CCarbon
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Oⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Oⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
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
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Alⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Alⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Siⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
Siⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SSulfur
Sⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Sⓘ BismuthiniteBi2S3
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ MolybdeniteMoS2
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
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ⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caⓘ Zoisite(CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Caⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
CrChromium
Crⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
FeIron
Feⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
CuCopper
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
AsArsenic
Asⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
MoMolybdenum
Moⓘ MolybdeniteMoS2
SbAntimony
Sbⓘ Tetrahedrite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)Sb4S12S
AuGold
Auⓘ Native GoldAu
BiBismuth
Biⓘ BismuthiniteBi2S3

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

Mining Annual Review (1985) 367, 373
Vearncombe, J.R. (1992), Archaean Gold Mineralisation in a Normal Motion Shear Zone at Harbour Lights Leonora Western Australia, Mineralium Deposita, Vol 27 (3), pp 182-191, June 1992.
www.portergeo.com.au (2007) http://www.portergeo.com.au/database/mineinfo.asp?mineid=mn761
Layman, L., Fitzgerald, C. (2011) 110 Degrees in the Waterbag: a history of life work and leisure in Leonora Gwalia and the northern goldfields, W.A. Museum/ Leonora Historical Research Project, 2011.
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