Mining and Geology

The Diamond (Stone of Destiny) – Ion Idriess

Idriess found this his hardest book to write yet it is another masterpiece of yarn and knowledge all revolving around the elusive diamond.

First published in 1948 under “Stone of Destiny” this book includes re-written elements and improvements.

Published by Angus and Robertson, a 1969 it is described as a second edition, but is really first of type.

Large octavo, 325 pages, illustrated from original photographs, diagrams and a map. A very good, clean copy.

For those with a basic knowledge of the discovery of gem diamonds in Australia, Argyle Pipe, etc the Author’s Note to this edition is very predictive … wish we had followed his lead.

Diamonds for ever – A very nice copy

$60.00

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Prospecting for Gold. From the Dish to the Hydraulic Plant and from the Dolly to the Stamper Battery. With Chapters on Tin, Osmiridium, Platinum, Opals and Oil. – Ion Idriess

Ion Idriess wrote Prospecting for Gold from his own experiences and the knowledge of his gold bug mates. He had been commissioned by the Australian Government to encourage self-employment.

Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney. A 1954. Octavo, x, 296 pages, illustrated and with a very helpful glossary. A separate chapter by Government Geologist W.G. Woolnough on Prospecting for Oil. Dust jacket a bit chipped, now protected in acid free removable Brodart. A very good copy.

Osmiridium is an interesting one. Read about the element Osmium … essential for good pen nibs. Stay away from the Tetroxide. Tasmania had its own Osmium boom starting the 1920’s … still quite a few undeveloped prospects. What can we do with the world’s heaviest element?

About the book .. unusual for Idriess – not a yarn to be seen – solid practical information that may have stood the test of time.

Ion Idriess – a guide to finding your fortune in the bush

$120.00

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Gold Escort Robbery Trails – Noel Thurgood.

Hard to find published by the special Kangaroo Press in 1988. The author passed away before the press.

Octavo, 192 pages, simple map of the region of the criminal goings on re the gold escort. Interesting group of illustrations including images of the main players

The Eugowra gold escort robbery likely the most sensational event in Australian bushranging history. In the year 1862, Frank Gardiner and his band od trusted bushrangers shot it out with the police escort and made off with a King’s ransom of gold and notes. The Forward and Prologue set the scene – the event and the capture. The main game “the trial” makes riveting reading for the colonial historian, gold buff or curious legal mind – theatre

The Biggest gold heist and subsequent trial …

$30.00

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A Strange Career – The Life and Adventures of J. G. Jebb [South America and Mexico] – 1895

John Gladwyn Jebb led as an adventurous life as could be possible. This book was compiled by his widow and carries the introduction of none other than possibly the greatest adventure writer H Rider Haggard.

English born Jebb’s adventures began as a military man in India. Soon he was conducting privately funded explorations into Central and Southern America. Involved in numerous business dealings… helped to start White Line … was in involved in armaments. He moved to the US and the Wild West … bear hunting, gold mining and a few conflicts with local bandits and Indians. Off to Mexico to make his fortune gold mining (made it and lost it) and much of the later part of the books is about his times in Mexico padded a bit with history of the region.

Published by Blackwood, Edinburgh in 1895 octavo, 271 pages, frontispiece of the great man, illustrated by John Wallce. Pictorial boards nice but a little rubbed especially at the tips. Overall, still a particularly good copy of a rather hard to find book.

Inspiration for Rider Haggard – John Jebb Adventurer

$50.00

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The North Coolgardie and East Murchison Goldfields – Geological Survey Western Australia Bulletin No 45 – H.B. Talbot – 1912

Stamped with the authors compliments – Talbot was assisted by R.A. Farquharson who produced petrographical notes.

Published Perth by the Government in 1912. Octavo, original wrappers, 61 pages followed by two very large coloured folding plates – 1 Geological Sketch Map of the Country in the neighbourhood of Lake Barlee, East Murchison and the North Coolgardie Goldfields and, 2 Geological Sketch map of the Country in the neighbourhood of [as above] and Yilgarn Goldfields; 11 figures in the text. Simple Map of WA showing the area covered as frontispiece.

Comprehensive informative analysis taking in various regions – North-east of Diemel’s; Between Diemel’s and the old Youanme well; Between Trainer’s Rocks and Yeedie Bilgar; around Youanme; Southward of the 50-mils Well on the Sandstone Lawlers Road; Between Duello Water Hole and Mt Forrest; West and NW of Mt Ida township; the Mt Ida Greenstone Belt; Eastward of Lake Giles and the Southern End of Lake Barlee etc etc.

Western Australian Goldfields – super original maps.

$100.00

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The Struggle of the Penguin Tramway and the Tasmanian Iron Mines at Penguin 1897-1910 – Ron Parnell.

Well this is one of the best local histories we have put eyes on – not only because of the unusual mining connection, but the rivalry between the two major players .. Parnell has done a wonderful job bringing the story to life. There is a movie in this.

Soft covers, 59 pages, illustrated well throughout with maps, diagrams, images etc, effectively self published, no date but 1986 and scarce.

If you get this before you read it skim the chronology on page 52 as it gives you a heads up on what is to come and joins the while together nicely. There is also and extensive bibliography and it’s no surprise to us that Fenton’s “Bush Life in Tasmania” starts the list.

Scarce mining, tramway, Penguin collectable packed with information.

$40.00

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The Diamond (Stone of Destiny) – Ion Idriess

Prospecting for Gold. From the Dish to the Hydraulic Plant and from the Dolly to the Stamper Battery. With Chapters on Tin, Osmiridium, Platinum, Opals and Oil. – Ion Idriess

Gold Escort Robbery Trails – Noel Thurgood.

A Strange Career – The Life and Adventures of J. G. Jebb [South America and Mexico] – 1895

The North Coolgardie and East Murchison Goldfields – Geological Survey Western Australia Bulletin No 45 – H.B. Talbot – 1912

The Struggle of the Penguin Tramway and the Tasmanian Iron Mines at Penguin 1897-1910 – Ron Parnell.

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