Marmont Gold Mine (Marmont Extended), Meekatharra Goldfield, Meekatharra, Meekatharra Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Marmont Gold Mine (Marmont Extended)	Mine
Meekatharra Goldfield	Ore Field
Meekatharra	- not defined -
Meekatharra Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

This was a small gold mine, about 1 kilometre east south-east of Meekatharra. It has possibly been swallowed up by the large abandoned Halcyona pit developed in the 1990's. The Marmont mine was worked by prospectors for syndicates. At one point it employed up to fifty men. Several times it was given over to other companies under option, given over to tributors or was under exemption in a chequered history. It is on the main Paddy's Flat line of lode, with the Fenian mine to its north and Phar Lap mine to the south.

12 acre lease. There was also a Marmont Extended lease which at times was worked in conjunction with the Marmont. Like much of the Paddy's Flat lode, the quartz veins were many, short and erratic, at various angles in broken blocks of stone.

Mining first comes to light at the location in 1905. In 1906 the main shaft is down to 145 feet, and a second shaft on the property to 90 feet. Initially in its first 18 months it produced 700 tonnes of ore for 2016 ounces of gold. J.F. Lander, Inspector of Mines states in 1907, the mine is equipped with a battery, 45 foot high poppet legs over the shaft, winding engine, trucks, cages and various other machinery. Between 1904 to 1909 the mine produced 18 970 tonnes of ore for 17 417 ounces of gold averaging 7 dwt/t. By 1913 the total for the history of the mine was 45 000 tonnes of ore earning 141 500 pounds in money with 41 000 pounds paid in dividends.

It is reported to be owned in 1905 by Geary and party. In 1906 by W.R. Johnson and party. Marmont Extended was first owned by F.J. Smith. From 1907 to 1917 it is owned by Tom Ryan and party. Tom was the principal but not sole owner, and they controlled at the time the Marmont, Marmont Extended, and Fenian mines. Tom was originally from the Victorian goldfields. In 1907, they purchased a 20 head battery from the Weld Range Hercules Gold Mine north-west of Cue.

Kalgoorlie based, Boulder No 1 Company took out a 12 month option over the mine in 1907 for 60 000 pounds. In October 1912, it was let out to option to the Great Fingal Company for 30 000 pounds, who gave up on the mine after only three months.

The battery is idle for part of the year in 1913. Many mines closed down through World War One due to increased costs and a shortage of labour. The local paper complains bitterly in 1916, the mine is closed and the plant is rusting to ruin. It is reported from 1924 to 1927 only development work was being conducted at the mine.

London based firms took over the field in the mid 1930's, including the Marmont mine, but little mining took place. Crushing from tributors are reported from 1936 to 1941. P Stephen and party are noted as owning the mine in 1937, and that it had been let to tributors.

The rocks are albite quartz porphyry, greenstone, flecked carbonate schist, fuchsite, with the bulk carbonate rock. Shears and spur veins carry valuable gold. A cross fissure in the Marmont mine is the largest and most important in the whole field. The main ore channel the mineralised shear zone strikes north north-east, dips east, and contains quartz veins of various sizes.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

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