Slippery Gimlet Gold Mine, Ora Banda Goldfield, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Slippery Gimlet Gold Mine	Mine
Ora Banda Goldfield	Ore Field
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Slippery Gimlet is a historic lease, amongst several now occupied by the large Gimlet South open cut, 500 metres south of Ora Banda. GML 1336W. It is said the Gimlet lode was discovered after a wood cutter found some nuggets at the location in 1906. None of the reefs outcrop at the location. Discovery of the reef goes to Abbott, who dug an open cut. There was a James, Jimmy, and John Abbott in the sources, which one the discoverer unclear. He pegged the Slippery Gimlet lease, being the parent mine on the lode.

The mine passed to Nat Friedman, J.H. Johnson, Charlie Cutbush and Jack Fimister, who also initially work it. In 1909, the lode had been worked a length of 320 feet at the 150 foot level, 6 to 15 feet wide, in very soft oxidised ore. A 100 ounce slug was found in the workings in 1910, inamongst a very rich patch.

J.H. Johnson was born in New Zealand in 1864, and had arrived in the Western Australian goldfields in 1900. In 1913, he started the Swan Cement company, which later merged forming the Swan Portland Cement Company. Johnson claimed a shaft sinking record at the Slippery Gimlet of 375 feet in 30 days with 5 men.
They were however more preoccupied with their battery which crushed for the public, and was the fore runner of the state battery erected in 1913. By 1912, the mine had produced over 8000 ounces of gold from one source, and 25 000 tonnes of ore worth 18 000 $ pounds from another. Yet another source in 1915 states the mine has produced about 30 000 tonnes of ore for 16 673 ounces of gold.

The Oroya Links Company had secured an option over the mine early 1911 for 25 000 pounds, and 10% fully paid shares in any company formed to work the deposit. Oroya abandoned the option, stating it was not big enough. The lease was soon then taken as an option by the Gwalia South company who also abandoned it, stating the gold grades were too low. E. Graham Price and Co held a 6 month option in 1912, then Lionel Robinson and Clarke who abandoned it also with not much testing. Sidney Yeo held an option over the mine in 1913. Ten men are employed and W.M. Bailey is mine manager. A huntingdon mill is on the property.

Bailey and party are tributing in 1914. In 1915, a vein of quartz containing tellurides was discovered at the mine, at the 285 foot level. Sulphides were at the 150 foot level.

The Associated Northern Block (W.A.) had acquired the neighbouring Victorious lease in the early 1930's. Finding less gold than expected, they purchased the Slippery Gimlet in 1934 from the Goldfields Australian Development Company. They proceeded to unwater the shafts and recondition the property. Mining ceased in 1943, tailings retreatment 1945, the company liquidated in 1948, and the lease forfeited the same year for non payment of rent to the Mines Department.

The Mindat co-ordinates are approximate and mark the abandoned large Gimnlet South open pit, which swallowed all the old historic workings along this line of lode.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References