Bendigo Mine, Waiorongomai, Matamata-Piako District, Waikato Region, New Zealandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Bendigo Mine | Mine |
| Waiorongomai | - not defined - |
| Matamata-Piako District | District |
| Waikato Region | Region |
| New Zealand | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
37° 33' 11'' South , 175° 45' 35'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Historic gold mine.
Noted now mainly as the site of the Bendigo battery, consisting of some cyanide tanks, concrete foundations, and minor machinery relics, overgrown by ferns and kauri trees along the Waiorongomai walk trails.
The Bendigo Company was formed in 1909 to work former claims, mainly the Silver King, Werahiko, and Waikato lodes. The company was under capitalised, and with the addition of legal squabbles, progress was slow, the battery opening in 1911. An aerial tramway was also erected. By April 1913, the battery had closed due to the low grades of gold in the ore.
The mine and battery subsequently went through several owners. A private syndicate took out some ore from an open cut in 1917, a further 100 tonnes in 1918, and 40 tonnes again in 1921. None was viewed as payable and they abandoned the property in 1922.
The Waiorongomai Gold Mines was incorporated in November 1933 to work the Silver King reef, reconditioned the battery and installed an oil flotation tank, presumably to deal with the very fine nature of the gold. The battery was at this stage owned by James Alexander Pond. The company drove on the No. 2 level of the Bendigo claim. The company was under capitalised, and collapsed during 1934.
Despite attempts to sell the battery, Pond retained ownership until his death in 1941. Over the years, local farmers removed some of the machinery to sell as scrap. In 1950, local scrap merchant, William Sayle Reed was charged with illegally demolishing the battery, and selling its contents. He received 12 months imprisonment.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Native Gold Formula: Au |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| Au | Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
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