Mining and Geology

History of the Wedderburn [Victoria] Goldfields – J R Gray

A very nice copy of a hard to find copy published by Queensberry Hill Press in 1981.

Octavo, 92 pages, illustrated by Phillip Belfrage, who has nicely signed the half title. His sketches are better than the usual. Large coloured folding map at the rear too big for our imaging system.

Wedderburn on the Calder Highway in Victoria was an early gold area known for its sizeable nugget finds … an area with a number of gold rush waves leading to an interesting and varied history. Nicely written with good facts on the numerous reefs worked by those with the fever.

A special gold book – maybe one for the nuggeter.

$90.00

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Discovery – Stories of Modern Mineral Exploration – Alan Trengove

A fine copy of the first edition published by Stockwell Press in 1979.

Octavo, 278 pages, illustrated from photographs and numerous maps of mineral areas.

Starts with the “Forgotten Frontier” … Cape York and the Weipa area. Then the Bowen expanses, Pilbara before the arrival of the super mines, Gold and the advent of the offshore drilling ships. Closes with an appendix “A History of Resources of Metallic Ores” by King. Well its all a history really.

What is now a super background to the history of mineral exploration in Australia.

$30.00

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Gold – The Romance of its Discovery in Australia – Barrett – 1944

An unusual and scarce piece of “Gold” ephemera by Charles Barrett who was editor of The Swagman’s Notebook.

Published by United Press, Melbourne in 1944. Softcover, ninety-six pages, small format, decorative covers, illustrated with images from Gill the 19thC goldfields artist. The odd bit of age but still a good worthwhile copy.

A potpourri of bits about the history of gold … the odd relevant poem, and chapters on Early Discoveries [including slightly strangely California]; Hargraves Story; Discovery at Ballarat; Gold Mania in Melbourne; The Bendigo Diggings; Lucky Diggers; Canvastown on the Yarra; the Turon Diggings; Gold Brokers; the Great Escort robbery; Chinese in the Diggings; Famous Nuggets; etc etc

Postage in Australia will be reduced a tad on final billing.

Gold and the Mania it brought a nice readable summary by Barrett

SO SORRY SOLD

$35.00

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Victoria’s Forgotten Goldfield – Christie and Gray – Signed by Christie – First Edition 1981

… A History of the Dargo, Crooked River Goldfield.

Super little book and a very details and oft curious story of the goldfield at Dargo, in Eastern Victoria.

Softcover, small format, 136 pages, with illustration, tables of information etc a nice production. Signed on the title by Christie, very good condition albeit the back cover is marked at edges, but with no comprise internally which is bright and clean.

After discovery in 1865, gold recovery peaked in 1868 at 7,652 ounces and soon fell away. Despite this brief moment of glory as with other gold fields it spurred an enormous amount of interest and development in the area. We are off tomorrow to look at a spot not too far away.

Well honed history of one of the lesser known and more curious gold finds in Australia

$35.00

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Mount Morgan Gold Mine – Queensland – Newton & Co – Original Magic Lantern Slide – c1910

Very good condition magic lantern slide from Newton & Co Fleet described in cursive writing.

We date the slide to around 1910. New & Co were at 43 Museum Street London. They were the world’s longest established suppliers of scientific instruments being formed by Sir Isaac Newton’s cousin J. Newton in 1704. At the time of this slide the proprietors were still from the Newton family. The British Museum have Newton & Co out of business at Museum Street in 1913, but other references have it continuing

A classic view of this famous mine which magnifies to present incredible detail. Standard British size in fine condition. A scarce slide.

Gold was discovered in 1870 by William Mackinley. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find anyone to confirm that it was gold. After some “carry on” a chap called Gordan had a crack at it … he needed the financial muscle of the Morgan brothers who in the end diddled Gordan out of the find on a technicality. See our ephemera piece on the true story behind it all.

Rare Queensland Gold Mining Lantern Slide

$120.00

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Gold Refining – Donald Clark – First Edition Australian 1909

First edition published by Critchley Parker, Melbourne [Pitman’s London] in 1909.

Octavo, x, 124 pages with 12 full page plates. Original cloth covered boards, some foxing otherwise a very good copy of what seems to be an extremely scarce and interesting book. Early ownership signature of Harold Sims, Helensburgh, New South wales.

Donald Clark was born in Geelong in 1865. He studied under the Rev H Stewart who in turn had been a student of the great Lord Kelvin. After graduation Clark was soon made Director of the School of Mines at Bairnsdale and later Director at the School of Mines in Bendigo. He also authored “Australian Mining and Metallurgy”.

This is a sophisticated work, which deals with the methods and systems of gold refining. Includes chapters on … the Occurrence of Native Gold; Refining Gold with Oxidising and Chloridising Agents; Sulfur Refining; Refining by Cementation Process; Refining Gold Bullion by means of Oxygen; Miller’s Process; Parting with Nitric Acid; Parting by Electrolysis; the Treatment of Cyanide Precipitates etc etc.

First edition Australian Reference on Gold Refining 1909

$180.00

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History of the Wedderburn [Victoria] Goldfields – J R Gray

Discovery – Stories of Modern Mineral Exploration – Alan Trengove

Gold – The Romance of its Discovery in Australia – Barrett – 1944

Victoria’s Forgotten Goldfield – Christie and Gray – Signed by Christie – First Edition 1981

Mount Morgan Gold Mine – Queensland – Newton & Co – Original Magic Lantern Slide – c1910

Gold Refining – Donald Clark – First Edition Australian 1909

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