Balkis Gold Mine (Friday; Menzies United), Menzies, Menzies Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Balkis Gold Mine (Friday; Menzies United)	Mine
Menzies	- not defined -
Menzies Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Balkis Gold Mine was a historic gold mine situated just west of the present First Hit open pit. The mine could be now under the tailings heap from this mine, or otherwise obliterated by modern developments. The Friday and Balkis were initially separate leases, both accessing the Friday Reef, but the leases were later amalgamated.

The Menzies United Gold Mining Company was formed in October 1895 with an absurdly high capital of 300 000 pounds to acquire five leases on the field, the main one being the Balkis.

A shaft was sunk 400 feet, making it the deepest on the Menzies field at the time. The reef proved poor, and a new shaft was sunk to the south, cutting a very rich reef at the 400 foot level. Galena, copper and iron pyrites were associated with the gold, which showed freely. The reef also contained Nagyagite, a rare gold-tellurium. There were probably other interesting species, but it all got crushed with little investigation.

The Menzies United abandoned the lease around 1902, and concentrated efforts at the Golden Age Mine also near Menzies, and the Lancefield Mine near Laverton. The Golden Age proved poor at depth, and the ore at the Lancefield was refractory, with equipment at the time not able to handle it. The company was wound up in 1906, the original shareholders losing most of their money.

After the Menzies United company left, the mine was owned by the Menzies Exploration Company, then late 1909, a syndicate took over the mine. This consisted of Dimmick, Allan, Heil, West and William Trotter. This last syndicate member passed away in 1912. They unwatered the workings, and a new battery was erected in 1911. Mid 1912, an explosion accident left employee J. Boult as a lifelong invalid.

Meanwhile on the Friday were two tributing parties being Beer and party, and Richards and Rasmussen. By 1913, the Balkis and Friday had been amalgamated. By 1913, the underground diggings at the Balkis had reached the lower levels of the Friday mine.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References