Butcher Bird Mine, Mount Riddock Station, Harts Range, Central Desert Region, Northern Territory, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Butcher Bird Mine	Mine
Mount Riddock Station	Mountain
Harts Range	Mountain Range
Central Desert Region	Region
Northern Territory	Territory
Australia	Country

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At the Butcher Bird Mine, rose quartz is found rarely in the dumps, with clear, smoky, and milky quartz far more common. Bluish grey quartz can be found higher up. Biotite and muscovite is common. Magnetite occurs as occasional small veins, and crystals of the species is reported from the creek bed derived from the garnet gneiss country rock. Samarskite is also reported.

A syndicate led by H. Jenkins discovered the deposit in 1937. This syndicate consisted of John Souter, William Urwin, Colin James Campbell, Hector Norman Jenkins, and his wife Elsie May Jenkins. Simmianato (surname) worked at the mine, and was previously a member of the Italian tug-o-war team at the Olympics. He left in 1948 to go back to his wife and family in Italy. Peter Morelli is also noted as working at the mine.

At the beginning of World War Two, speculators launched a campaign against Italian miners on the field, in the hope of gaining control of their mines. Most of the miners did not speak English, and due to the remoteness of Harts Range, were not even aware there was a campaign against them in the southern cities. Jenkins, who at this stage was operating the Eastern Chief mine, became aware of the situation, and instructed the miners to register their leases in British names, thereby thwarting the speculators. He also contacted politicians and campaigned for the Italian's rights. With mica important for the war effort, the Commonwealth Government took over the mines, and the Allied Works Council brought in gold miners, along with much cash and equipment. However, they lacked experience with mica. The government enticed the Italians back with free water, transport, medicine, a store on the field, and other benefits.

In 1948, the Harts Range contained 125 people, of which 86 were miners- 37 Australian, 3 English, 2 New Zealanders, and 44 Italians. Butcher Bird was one of the biggest producers of mica at the time, but closed in 1950.

To reach the mine follow the directions listed for the Benstead and Painted Canyon localities. Walk on foot from Painted Canyon (approximately 45 mins) upstream (south) along the Elbana Creek. Three creeks will come in from the east, then Elbana Creek turns briefly westwards. Here, take a small creek bed south, which turns then east, and shortly comes to the mine. It is a compact area of shafts and pits on the south bank of the creek.

There are two groups of un-named mines, a further 2 kilometres east along the tributary, on the north and south sides of the creek, with the northern side on a peak, the southern diggings on the northern face of a low ridge.

Mineral List

4 valid minerals.