Comet Gold Mine, Marvel Loch, Yilgarn Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Comet Gold Mine	Mine
Marvel Loch	Loch
Yilgarn Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Comet Gold Mine is named after Halley's Comet which was visible in the sky when the deposit was discovered in 1911. A party of prospectors had set up camp, when one the next morning was sweeping under the bed, and came across a small elongated nugget. The prospectors were Richardson, Worth and Anstey (surnames).

Over the next couple of years the mine produced 1170 tonnes of ore, and 10 980 pounds profit for the prospectors. They were considering letting the mine out to option, when government geologist Goeczel called by. Asking for his advice he pointed to a spot, and said words like go forth and prosper.

Shortly after the Marvel Loch Gold Mining Company took a 6 month option over the mine. They took the geologist's advice and found the reef widened and increased in value. After 6 months they purchased the mine for 3000 pounds. However, the mine was then let to tributers, and was forfeited in 1916 for not applying with labour conditions. Tuckey and Mooney sent through a crushing in 1917, before all fell quiet.

In the late 1930's, Evans, Wirth and Gibellini re-opened the mine. Until 1942, they produced 1067 tonnes of ore for 639 ounces of gold at 11.9 g/t. The mine was temporarily closed while they went off to war service. While they were away their tools and the processing plant was stolen, and the mine was flooded with water and red mud. From 1946, they began un-watering the mine, and deepening the shaft. Also some loaming 300 feet south of the shaft turned up some nuggets, and they opened the ground to 10 feet deep, exposing the cap of a reef. Development work continued until 1949, but nothing was found beyond this.

The Comet area is 500 metres west of Marvel Loch. It is directly north-east of the Southern Cross-Marvel Loch Road with an un-named mining road heading north. On the west side of this road is a machinery service area, and the gold workings are on the eastern side of the road. Over several hundred square metres are numerous old shafts, alluvial workings, tailings, a small old processing plant, and bits of mining machinery.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

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