Little Doris Gold Mine, Erilstoun Goldfield, Laverton Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Little Doris Gold Mine	Mine
Erilstoun Goldfield	Ore Field
Laverton Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Little Doris Gold Mine 55 kilometres north of Laverton and about 5 kilometres north of the King of Creation Mine. While listed on maps, on the ground evidence for the mine could not be located.

It was operational from 1900 to 1909, and then briefly in the 1930's. The original prospector was John Nolan (spelt Nowlan in several sources), who was involved with developing the mine during its first decade. For a relatively small, insubstantial gold mine, there were a lot of court cases attached to it. This tends to reflect poorly on Nolan, as not all of the people who brought cases against him could be in the wrong.

Several employees brought cases regarding missing pay. Christopher Brown was working the lease adjoining to the north but had not registered it. Nolan offered to help him sink a shaft for a half share in the lease. When gold was discovered, Nolan travelled to Laverton, but placed the lease in his name only. The court awarded half the lease to Brown. Well known local identities, G.A. McOmish (discoverer of gold at Laverton), C.W. Lavers (after whom Laverton is named), Frank Butler and G Basham agreed to fund a five head battery at the site in return for half the lease. The battery went in but the lease remained in Nolan's name, and this too ended up in court.

Work underground had stopped by 1907, and A. Cale was treating the tailings.

Cox, Dwyer and Brennan (surnames) put through a trial crushing in 1930.

The deposit has been described as a small irregular quartz reef, enclosed in a narrow belt of greenstone schist, bounded by hard compact masses of greenstone. The ore body could be traced across the surface for 800 feet, with gold values along its whole length. Copper carbonates (probably malachite, chrysocolla, azurite etc) were very prevalent, which made treatment difficult during the early years.

The lease is presently under M58/916 and one prospecting area P.A. P38/2878 of 9.24 hectares. It appears to be an isolated lease held by a shelf company at the time of writing.

The Mindat co-ordinates are very approximate, merely showing 5 kilometres north of the King of Creation Mine.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References