The deposit is east of the Carrawine Gorge, and 30 kilometres north of the Woodie Woodie manganese mine.

Manganese oxide occurs as cavity-filling veins transecting Pinjian Chert Breccia and underlying Carawine Dolomite, and along the junction of these formations. The mode-of-occurrence and the high Mn/Fe suggest all the ore is supergene. The mineralogy is mainly cryptomelane with traces of supergene braunite. Located immediately adjacent to a major fault, considered a hydrothermal deposit but subjected to sugergene upgrading based on the manganese mineralogy.

Mined from 1966 to 1972 at over 100 000 tonnes per annum. The mine closed due to the depletion of the high grade deposits, high transportation costs, and competition with other deposits like Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory.

The Western Australian Government Chemical Laboratories have identified braunite, cryptomelane, pyrolusite, calcite, quartz and baryte in samples (MDC 1255, 1256, 2570, 2571, 2572) from Mount Sydney.

Details for this location are also taken from its entry (site code S0021065) in the Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety's online database (MINEDEX) of mines, mineral deposits and prospects.

Further details for this location are taken from its’ entry (item number 3753) in the Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety's online WAMEX database of mineral exploration open-file reports.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

ⓘ Manganese

Mineral List

8 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Baryte

Formula: BaSO₄

References:

Williams, I.R., and Trendall, A.F., 1998, Geology of the Braeside 1:100,000 sheet: Western Australian Geological Survey, 1:100,000 Series Explanatory Notes, 39 p.

Government Chemical Laboratories. In: Annual Report of the Western Australian Department of Mines for 1964. p.178.

Simpson Mineral Collection of the Western Australian Museum.

Ostwald, J. (1993) Manganese oxide mineralogy, petrography and genesis, Pilbara Manganese Group, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 28 (3). 198-209 doi:10.1007/bf00204043

ⓘ Braunite

Formula: Mn²⁺Mn³⁺₆(SiO₄)O₈

References:

Williams, I.R., and Trendall, A.F., 1998, Geology of the Braeside 1:100,000 sheet: Western Australian Geological Survey, 1:100,000 Series Explanatory Notes, 39 p.

Government Chemical Laboratories. In: Annual Report of the Western Australian Department of Mines for 1964. p.178.

Simpson Mineral Collection of the Western Australian Museum.

Ostwald, J. (1993) Manganese oxide mineralogy, petrography and genesis, Pilbara Manganese Group, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 28 (3). 198-209 doi:10.1007/bf00204043

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO₃

References:

Williams, I.R., and Trendall, A.F., 1998, Geology of the Braeside 1:100,000 sheet: Western Australian Geological Survey, 1:100,000 Series Explanatory Notes, 39 p.

Government Chemical Laboratories. In: Annual Report of the Western Australian Department of Mines for 1964. p.178.

Simpson Mineral Collection of the Western Australian Museum.

Ostwald, J. (1993) Manganese oxide mineralogy, petrography and genesis, Pilbara Manganese Group, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 28 (3). 198-209 doi:10.1007/bf00204043

ⓘ Cryptomelane

Formula: K(Mn⁴⁺₇Mn³⁺)O₁₆

References:

Williams, I.R., and Trendall, A.F., 1998, Geology of the Braeside 1:100,000 sheet: Western Australian Geological Survey, 1:100,000 Series Explanatory Notes, 39 p.

Government Chemical Laboratories. In: Annual Report of the Western Australian Department of Mines for 1964. p.178.

Simpson Mineral Collection of the Western Australian Museum.

Ostwald, J. (1993) Manganese oxide mineralogy, petrography and genesis, Pilbara Manganese Group, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 28 (3). 198-209 doi:10.1007/bf00204043

ⓘ Hausmannite

Formula: Mn²⁺Mn³⁺₂O₄

References:

Williams, I.R., and Trendall, A.F., 1998, Geology of the Braeside 1:100,000 sheet: Western Australian Geological Survey, 1:100,000 Series Explanatory Notes, 39 p.

Government Chemical Laboratories. In: Annual Report of the Western Australian Department of Mines for 1964. p.178.

Simpson Mineral Collection of the Western Australian Museum.

Ostwald, J. (1993) Manganese oxide mineralogy, petrography and genesis, Pilbara Manganese Group, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 28 (3). 198-209 doi:10.1007/bf00204043

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

Williams, I.R., and Trendall, A.F., 1998, Geology of the Braeside 1:100,000 sheet: Western Australian Geological Survey, 1:100,000 Series Explanatory Notes, 39 p.

Government Chemical Laboratories. In: Annual Report of the Western Australian Department of Mines for 1964. p.178.

Simpson Mineral Collection of the Western Australian Museum.

Ostwald, J. (1993) Manganese oxide mineralogy, petrography and genesis, Pilbara Manganese Group, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 28 (3). 198-209 doi:10.1007/bf00204043

ⓘ 'Manganese Oxides'

References:

The Australian Mining Review (2012), Manganese Producer Changes Gear, 24/07/2012

ⓘ 'Psilomelane'

References:

Williams, I.R., and Trendall, A.F., 1998, Geology of the Braeside 1:100,000 sheet: Western Australian Geological Survey, 1:100,000 Series Explanatory Notes, 39 p.

Government Chemical Laboratories. In: Annual Report of the Western Australian Department of Mines for 1964. p.178.

Simpson Mineral Collection of the Western Australian Museum.

Ostwald, J. (1993) Manganese oxide mineralogy, petrography and genesis, Pilbara Manganese Group, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 28 (3). 198-209 doi:10.1007/bf00204043

ⓘ Pyrolusite

Formula: Mn⁴⁺O₂

References:

Williams, I.R., and Trendall, A.F., 1998, Geology of the Braeside 1:100,000 sheet: Western Australian Geological Survey, 1:100,000 Series Explanatory Notes, 39 p.

Government Chemical Laboratories. In: Annual Report of the Western Australian Department of Mines for 1964. p.178.

Simpson Mineral Collection of the Western Australian Museum.

Ostwald, J. (1993) Manganese oxide mineralogy, petrography and genesis, Pilbara Manganese Group, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 28 (3). 198-209 doi:10.1007/bf00204043

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

Williams, I.R., and Trendall, A.F., 1998, Geology of the Braeside 1:100,000 sheet: Western Australian Geological Survey, 1:100,000 Series Explanatory Notes, 39 p.

Government Chemical Laboratories. In: Annual Report of the Western Australian Department of Mines for 1964. p.178.

Simpson Mineral Collection of the Western Australian Museum.

Ostwald, J. (1993) Manganese oxide mineralogy, petrography and genesis, Pilbara Manganese Group, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 28 (3). 198-209 doi:10.1007/bf00204043

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Hausmannite	4.BB.10	Mn²⁺Mn³⁺₂O₄
ⓘ	Hematite	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
ⓘ	Pyrolusite	4.DB.05	Mn⁴⁺O₂
ⓘ	Cryptomelane	4.DK.05a	K(Mn⁴⁺₇Mn³⁺)O₁₆
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Calcite	5.AB.05	CaCO₃
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘ	Baryte	7.AD.35	BaSO₄
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Braunite	9.AG.05	Mn²⁺Mn³⁺₆(SiO₄)O₈
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Psilomelane'	-
ⓘ	'Manganese Oxides'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
O	ⓘ Braunite	Mn²⁺Mn₆³⁺(SiO₄)O₈
O	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Cryptomelane	K(Mn₇⁴⁺Mn³⁺)O₁₆
O	ⓘ Hausmannite	Mn²⁺Mn₂³⁺O₄
O	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Pyrolusite	Mn⁴⁺O₂
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Braunite	Mn²⁺Mn₆³⁺(SiO₄)O₈
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Cryptomelane	K(Mn₇⁴⁺Mn³⁺)O₁₆
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
Mn	Manganese
Mn	ⓘ Braunite	Mn²⁺Mn₆³⁺(SiO₄)O₈
Mn	ⓘ Cryptomelane	K(Mn₇⁴⁺Mn³⁺)O₁₆
Mn	ⓘ Hausmannite	Mn²⁺Mn₂³⁺O₄
Mn	ⓘ Pyrolusite	Mn⁴⁺O₂
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
Ba	Barium
Ba	ⓘ Baryte	BaSO₄

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Australia

Western Australia
- East Pilbara Shire
  - Gregory RangesMountain Range
- Fortescue BasinBasin
- Hamersley BasinBasin
- Pilbara CratonCraton
- West Australian ElementCraton

Australian PlateTectonic Plate

Muscgrave RangesOrogenic Belt

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Government Chemical Laboratories. In: Annual Report of the Western Australian Department of Mines for 1964. p.178.

Simpson Mineral Collection of the Western Australian Museum.

dmp.wa.gov.au (n.d.) http://dmp.wa.gov.au/WAMEX-Minerals-Exploration-1476.aspx

Ostwald, J. (1993) Manganese oxide mineralogy, petrography and genesis, Pilbara Manganese Group, Western Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 28 (3). 198-209 doi:10.1007/bf00204043

Williams, I.R., Trendall, A.F. (1998) Geology of the Braeside 1:100,000 sheet: Western Australian Geological Survey, 1:100,000 Series Explanatory Notes, 39 pages.

The Australian Mining Review (2012), Manganese Producer Changes Gear, 24/07/2012

minedex.dmirs.wa.gov.au (2020) https://minedex.dmirs.wa.gov.au/Web/home

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