Mining/Geology

[Tasmania] The Zinc Works – Producing Zinc at Risden 1916-1991 – Alison Alexander

Commissioned by Pasminco and written by distinguished and thorough historian Alison Alexander.

Large octavo, perfect bound soft cover, 360 pages with about as many illustrations mainly from period photographs.

One of our favourites among our collection of industrial histories of Tasmania.

This a significant business employing many Tasmanians an enterprise of international scale. So much so it attracted the attention of the Japanese during WWII. The Japanese carried micro reconnaissance aircraft on their submarines, and one was launched to photograph the works. Hobart already had anti-aircraft guns on the go – but they did not fire because the didn’t want to expose their position.

Some very good content about the growth and investment and success of the business and some of the lighter side such as the “belching” competitions in the metallurgy department. Well people were easily amused back then

Zinc works – now that’s a real business.

$40.00

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Beaconsfield Gold [Tasmania] – Janet Kerrison

Published a few time by the local community Rotarians. This edition 1981. Card covers, unpaginated but 45 pages, illustrated nicely from historic images.

Set before the re-opening of the mine and the later terrible accident which culminated in maybe the greatest Australian mine survival story.

Starting with the gold rush in 1877 to the delightfully named Brandy Creek … by the 1890’s a substantial mine was in operation, with its enormous 180 foot chimney stack. The mining technology in place by the turn of the century was second to none.

As with many mines, reserves became depleted and the mine was wound down during WWI. Locals rumours abounded for years that there was a high grade parallel lode. So true that after this publication the mine was re-opened as mentioned above … and then again.

Mailing costs will be reduced on this item

Beaconsfield Gold – the back history and it’s significant

$30.00

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Gold Panning is Easy – Roy Lagal

An American standard but translates well for Australian’s with the gold bug.

A nice early one published in 1979. Softcover, 70 pages, illustrated throughout. Sticker removal mark on front otherwise a very good copy. Has the stamp of “Treasure Island Detectors” Sandy Bay Hobart on a blank at front a nice local touch.

The author a legendary panner from way back takes the reader through the choice of pans (crucial) the dry and wet panning, metal detecting, ore identification, dredging and super jets etc. we learned that it is important to learn to blow very gently … to get the last of the dust off the pan and leave the glitter behind. Images prove that all that is learned works.

Get the pans out today .. well the right ones.

$25.00

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Geology in Australia [Good Tasmanian Content] – Stillwell Anniversary Volume – The Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy – 1958.

This special volume was dedicated to one of Australia’s greatest geologists Frank Leslie Stillwell on his 70th birthday.

Hardbound octavo, 302 pages. After a brief biography of Stillwell … 16 discrete geological reports of substance most illustrated with fold out charts and diagrams. Rubbed and worn on spine edges, very clean inside and firmly bound, a pretty good copy

Includes the mineralisation of the Gondwana Shield. Tellurides and Selenides at the Great Boulder Mine Kalgoorlie.

Various Tasmanian reports .. The Mineralised Rift Valleys of Tasmania; Diamond drill deflection at Rosebery; Nickel Mineralisation in Western Tasmania and A History of Geological Thought at Mount Lyell.

Elsewhere includes Uranium in the Northern Territory; Galena in Western Australia and a super report on the geology of Cockatoo Island at Yampi Sound WA.

Special Geological Edition – Wide ranging content with good contribution re Tasmania.

$70.00

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Of Rascals and Rusty Relics [Introduction to North East Tasmania] – G & S Miller – Limited Editon 1979

Effectively self-published by the authors, Hobart in 1979. Only edition limited to 1,000 copies.

A really super history so specific to the North-East of Tasmania an area rather neglected by historical writers and it shouldn’t be …

Quarto, vii and 106 pages, end paper maps, loads of interesting illustrations mainly from period photographs. A nice production in very good condition.

Starts with early European exploration and the sealers. Settlers and the hostilities and then the “gold” and the numerous rushes and mines and false alarms .. super stuff. The Chinese involvement and then eventually the decline of some townships as mining prospects became more realistic.

One of our favourite Tasmanian historical accounts … the neglected North East

$60.00

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Mount Morgan – Centenary of First Gold Discovery in 1882 – Rockhampton 1982

A nice example of the interesting medal struck by the Rockhampton Coin Club and made in Brisbane by A.J. Parkes in 1982.

An uncirculated commemorative, 40 mm diameter, 40gms in copper alloy. Strong relief and a super example.

The obverse carries a design by artists Don Taylor of a miner / prospector on his knee observing his gold pan with some intensity, other mining accoutrements in the background. On the reverse we have an image taken from a 1908 photograph of the working mine … an image all too familiar to Voyager.

Still with its original information with its brief history of the Mine.

Mighty Mount Morgan commemorated in medal form, and it deserves it!

$70.00

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[Tasmania] The Zinc Works – Producing Zinc at Risden 1916-1991 – Alison Alexander

Beaconsfield Gold [Tasmania] – Janet Kerrison

Gold Panning is Easy – Roy Lagal

Geology in Australia [Good Tasmanian Content] – Stillwell Anniversary Volume – The Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy – 1958.

Of Rascals and Rusty Relics [Introduction to North East Tasmania] – G & S Miller – Limited Editon 1979

Mount Morgan – Centenary of First Gold Discovery in 1882 – Rockhampton 1982

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