Ruby Queen Gold Mine, Halls Creek Goldfield, Halls Creek Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Ruby Queen Gold Mine	Mine
Halls Creek Goldfield	Ore Field
Halls Creek Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The access track is about 4 kilometres west of Palm Springs, the track heading south south-west from Duncan Road for 8 kilometres to the mine site. Several postings on the internet by 4 wheel drive clubs indicate the track is diabolical, indistinct, many wash outs, and barely passable. There are two other longer possibilities. A track heads south from the back of Lake Monte Gordon (see Mount Bradley Gold Mine Mindat locality). A third option is to head east north-east from the Tanami Road, through the Blue Bar Mine, then turn east, passing the abandoned Chyna indigenous community in one source or called the Ngyallawilli community in another, to the mine site. Both contain many creek crossings, and there is no guarantee the tracks are better.

Another issue closer to the mine site is many and confusing tracks. This is largely the result of a rich Indian prince who purchased a lease in the area he named Majeed (see Mindat locality), and spent his time driving bulldozers making tracks to no-where.

There are substantial mining relics at the site, with the remains of a 20 head battery 2 kilometres from the mine. A small town called Rubyvale developed to service the mines in the 1890's, consisting of two hotels and two stores, a short distance from the battery, but only a few stone ruins can be seen.

The Ruby Queen Reef forms the crest of hills, and was worked by the Ruby Queen mine itself, and Ruby Queen No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Of the latter No. 4 and 7 achieved the best results. The Ruby Queen mine was accessed by a northern tunnel 305 feet long, and southern tunnel 155 feet long, driven from a steep gully. A main shaft with a whim intersected the southern tunnel 47 feet down, and continued down for another 204 feet. The reef averaged 3 feet wide. The richest gold was found where the quartz was dark blue, also containing vughs of impure hematite. Rich gold was found next to the walls, but sometimes the gold was disseminated throughout the reef. The gold was fine, with minor pyrite in places. Crushed strata is found between the reef and country rock, although the walls were also said to be well defined.

The country rock is micaceous sandstone with thin layers 1 to 2 inches of bluish slate. The eastern wall is sandstone, and western wall slate, dipping both east and west. The lower levels of the mine contain graphitic shale with pyrite cubes.

Alluvial gold was discovered here in 1888, but was limited in extent. Most of the alluvial workings trend west from the reefs in the ridge line. Several nuggets have been discovered in the area.

The underlying reef proved richer, with the Ruby Queen and St Lawrence being the main mines. After the initial period of activity in the late 1880's, through the 1890's, the mine has been active intermittently over subsequent decades to the present time by prospectors, and exploration companies. There is scant information relating to these activities.

The owners in 1895 were Connor and Doherty (surnames) who in this year took over the neighbouring Ruby No. 1, 2, 3, 4 Mile North and No. 1 South leases, all on the Ruby Queen line of lode. George Wright is mine manager. The mine was worked more or less continuously for a number of years from 1888. A report of a crushing was found in 1898 of 100 tonnes for 75 ounces, long after many mines in the district had closed.

The Ruby Queen was abandoned in the early 1900's, after the shaft was 'repeated burn't out' (caught fire, or worked until the shaft became dangerous?), and the workings became inaccessible.

The mine from 1897 to 1963 produced 3120 tonnes of ore for 53.7 kg of gold, and a further 0.11 kg dollied as Ruby Queen Claim 97. Also until 1908, 9833 tonnes of ore for 192.7 kg of gold as Ruby Queen Claim 61. North Ruby Queen to 1897 produced 194 tonnes of ore for 5.8 kg of gold.

It was reported in 1947 the mine was on several month exemption claiming a shortage of labour and no water. Two sources state the mine was active until 1954. Yet another source states the mine was abandoned in the 1970's, by default indicating a period of activity before this. Exploration companies were based at Ruby Queen in the 1980's, and had constructed sheds and dongas. Prince Jah also arrived around this time (see Majeed Gold Mine Mindat). In reality prospectors have probably come and gone from the site at various times right through the 20th century. PMA Gold Limited produced 22,000 ounces in 1994.

The owner of the lease in 2003 was Martin Hendrick Ynema, who was taken to the warden's court by William Robert Richmond, claiming the lease had not been worked, and expenses stated to the Mines Department falsified. A loss would have seen Ynema lose the lease to Richmond. After much argument over who had bulldozed what track, a processing plant at Halls Creek, detailed investigations on expenses, calling of witnesses, over three sessions across 2006 to 2007, Richmond failed to gain the lease.

A company called Chameleon Mining NL also issued a prospectus in 2003 with a claim over the lease. However one year later the company is in dispute with consultant Robert McLennon, who claims to not have received $200,000 for leases he sold to the newly listed company. The company was wound up having survived 13 months. In 2010, former Chameleon Managing Director Gregory Barnes, and former Chameleon Director Landon Roberts were both jailed for giving false information to the Australian Securities Exchange relating to its financial state when listed in 2003.

In 2006, an exploration company, proceeded to try and make the shaft safe to inspect the underground workings. Only a small amount of water was found in the bottom of the shaft.

Legacy Iron Ore Ltd began exploratory work on the deposit around 2008.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References