Mining and Geology

Chrysocolla [Green Botryoidal Form] – Burra Burra Mine

A nice bright lump of the green chrysocolla from the historic Burra Burra Mine in South Australia. Distinctive botryoidal form.

Chrysocolla a hydrous copper phyllosilicate mineral of still debated structure.

The name ancient Greek and first recorded used by Voyager hero Theophrastus.

Chrysocolla can arise in a more blue form – we quite like the even underlying green tone of this sample.

It is of secondary origin and forms in the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies.

Weight 340 gm 9.0 cm by 8.0 cm x 7.0 cm matrix.

Burra Burra beauty

$85.00

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Otis King Calculator [Spiral Slide Rule] Mid 20thC

A very nice working example of the Otis King Calculator or spiral slide. Comes in its original box with retailer A Johnson, Tottenham Court Road, London.

Otis Crater Formy King [1876-1944] patented this spiral slide rule in the early 1900’s. In 1922 Carbic Ltd of London began to manufacture the instrument and continued to do so until 1970 when it became overtaken by modern day digital calculators.

The patent is really in our view stolen from the larger spiral slide rule invented by Fuller. Nevertheless, the handy nature of the Otis design made the instrument fairly popular.

This is a very good example of model K [there was a model L and that’s all] with two scales 414 at the bottom and 423 at the top. The original instructions are present although it doesn’t take Einstein to work out how to use it – part of the appeal.

There is a raft of information online including average youtube videos on how to use it … get the right one before you are put off. The guy who invented the computer mouse started a fanatics website which is fantastic and is building a database of information regarding existing instruments … even down to whether the instructions are stappled!

The retailer was founded by William Johnson [1837-1900] an optical and scientific instrument maker always at Tottenham Court Road – he had passed away before King got going with his calculator – the sons of Johnson continued in their fathers footsteps.

Collectable mathematical calculator by Otis King

$190.00

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Stilbite – Western India – ex Werner Hoch Collection

A sizeable and attractive lump of stilbite from Vaijapur, Aurangabad District, Maharashtra, India.

We are told from whence it came that it was originally part of the Verner Hoch collection, the main part of which is now in the Natural History Museum, Vienna.

Stilbite [after Greek – stilbein “to shine”] is a tectosilicate part of the zeolite group of minerals. Formed often in a basaltic volcanic environment.

This example is characteristic of it’s found location [it takes various forms in different parts of the World – Iceland, Scotland etc]. Here we have a peach/ pink hue and a translucent characteristic. The large form is often described as a “bow tie” and you can see why. This is a particularly good example with larger forms sitting on a bed of crystals on the host structure.

13cm by 8cm by 6cm weighing 330gm.

Super example of Stilbite with dominant bow-tie structure – nice hue

$95.00

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[Tasmania] Oddity and Elegance – Michael Sharland – First edition 1966

As mentioned on the front cover Michael Sharland had already issued the Tasmanian book “Stones of a Century”. This is by far a better book.

A very good copy in a complete dust jacket. Published by Fullers, Hobart in 1966. Squat quarto, 134 pages with many special images from photographs throughout.

About places, structures and their connection to key individuals. We particularly like the section on water driven mills [quite a few in the Huon valley]. And, the tidal powered mill [ahead of its time] in the North-west. Many and varied fences, the industrially scarred landscapes of the western mining regions and the naming of the peaks after a trove of Geological heroes.

Much more, entertaining and informative. Will make you a Tassie expert on its own!

Sharland on Tassie- his best and better than all the rest!

$50.00

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Kalgoorlie Golden Mile – Western Australia – Original Magic Lantern Slide – Newton & Co – 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 really broad view which magnifies to present incredible detail. Standard British size in fine condition. We believe this slide and image is pretty rare.

Kalgoorlie was discovered by Paddy Hannan and Tom Flanagan in 1893. There horse had thrown a shoe and when they stopped to sort it out they noticed gold …. Well … on the ground everywhere. Hannan staked a claim and the rush was on. By 1896 the rail had arrived and the area had taken over from Coolgardie as the primary WA goldfield.

As an aside the Newton & Co address is as you might suspect in sight of the British Museum in London and also opposite The Plough … a favourite Voyager pub.

Rare Australian Gold Mining Lantern Slide

$80.00

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The Gladstone Colony [An Unwritten Chapter of Australian History] – J F Hogan – First Edition 1898

Published in London by T. Fisher Unwin 1898. Octavo, 279 pages. Original plum coloured with gilt lettering to front and spine and top edge gilt. A very good copy. From the library of writer historian Harold L Sheard with his distinctive bookplate at front.

Much about the goings on associated with the establishment of Gladstone.

Where we find it interesting is in July 1858 when gold is discovered on the Fitzroy River and then at Calliope. Mayhem ensues as it usually did and within a short time over 400 men were working diggings and making better than a good living – one man 100 Pounds worth in a fortnight 16,000 Pounds in today’s money. Inevitably followed soon after by a chapter titles “a host of disappointed diggers”!

The book on the establishment of Gladstone – and the gold rush.

$140.00

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Chrysocolla [Green Botryoidal Form] – Burra Burra Mine

Otis King Calculator [Spiral Slide Rule] Mid 20thC

Stilbite – Western India – ex Werner Hoch Collection

[Tasmania] Oddity and Elegance – Michael Sharland – First edition 1966

Kalgoorlie Golden Mile – Western Australia – Original Magic Lantern Slide – Newton & Co – c1910

The Gladstone Colony [An Unwritten Chapter of Australian History] – J F Hogan – First Edition 1898

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