Station Peak Gold Mine, Port Hedland Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Station Peak Gold Mine	Mine
Port Hedland Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

Gold was discovered here by the brothers, Albert and David Bull in 1902. Pilgrims Rest was the dominant mine by far near here. It is a remote site, 120 kilometres south-west of Port Hedland, and 40 kilometres north-west of the Yandeyarra Community as the crow flies.

There does not appear to be any easy access from the community, and the road travels south from the North West Coastal Highway near the Mallina homestead, then south-east into rugged mountainous country, for about 40 kilometres. The mine is located on the south-east slopes of Station Peak, a few kilometres west of the Peawah Creek upper reaches.

One source states 360 kg of gold was obtained. Another, 9993 tonnes of ore for 936 ounces of gold at 18.73 dwt. Yet another states 35 000 pounds worth of gold was extracted in 1906 figures.

The quartz veins are hosted in a dolerite dyke. The veins strike east north-east, dip moderately to steeply south. The highest grades of gold is where the veins begin to flatten. Ore minerals in the hypogene zone are pyrite, arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite.

The property contained two leases, totalling 48 acres, and another 10 acres for water.

The Bull brothers purchased the idle 10 head battery and other machinery from the Hong Kong mine in the Friendly Creek Goldfield, and later another 10 head battery from the Yellow Aster lease at Toweranna, both gold localities in the region. A.R. Fleming is noted also as one of the owners, and at one point Dr. Lavers from Laverton was looking at taking an interest.

A 1908 visit by Mines Inspector, A. Gibb-Maitland notes the Bull brothers as still owners, and lacking capital to operate the mine full time. He states the reef is 9 feet thick of solid bluish quartz stained with Fe, the deepest parts also containing some chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite.

Two quartz reefs are described, trending east-west, 200 feet up the mountain. Ore was being mined via an open cut, 30 feet wide, and a tunnel driven into the mountain for 100 feet. Ore was then stoped 500 feet up to the surface. The northern reef was on the Footwall at 12 feet wide, while at a depth of 132 feet, the southern or Hanging Wall reef was intersected at 8 feet wide, but there is no official record of its value.

The Bull brothers sold the mine to J.H. Sedergreen representing a syndicate, mid 1905, and by 1906 the site was abandoned according to one source. However Gibb-Maitland confirms the Bull brothers were still there in 1907. It is reported the mine was sold to an English company in 1924, but no other activity was found at this time.

The lack of subsequent activity has attracted junior explorer Bullion in recent years. A shed, small processing plant, machinery and trucks are at the site. There is a small trial pit, and various disturbed ground from exploration activity. The state of the historic workings further up the hillside is unclear. It would be useful if some of these places remained historic sites, albeit this one would be difficult for visitors to get to. Its a case of out of site out of mind, and there is little in the way of sentimentality when it comes to mining.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

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