Mt. Bessemer Mine, Williamstown, South Mt Lofty Ranges (Adelaide Hills), Mt Lofty Ranges, South Australia, Australia

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Barossa SI 5409 6628I
Summary of mines - Record card No:120

States;
"Name: Mt. Bessemer."
"Location: 2 miles SW of Williamstown."
"Mineral: Iron."
"Geology: Country Rock. ferruginous sandstones (Adelaide series) Lode. Hematite - specularite, limonite."
"Workings: Many open cuts, short drives, shallow shafts."
"Production: 100,000 tons. 1935 - 1947 6742 tons."

"History: The iron deposit was discovered in 1870 and was first worked for flux. James Martin of the Phoenix Foundry at Gawler held the original lease and under him a total of 1 200 tons of iron ore was taken out and smelted. A British company associated with Broken Hill then took it over and a lucrative industry was established, the ore being transported to the Dry Creek Smelters. 28 000 tons of ore was produced during this period. The opening of the
Pt. Pirie Smelters in 1889 forced the mine to close. It was taken up in 1912 and a little work was done over the next few years. In 1918 a Melbourne company planned to rework it on a gigantic scale with thousands of men employed. A small amount of work was done after which the propety was sold. Between 1936 and 1940 the Adelaide Cement Co. worked the mine producing 20 to 30 tons per week in 1936-37. Much of this ore was used by local cement companies while the remainder was shipped to England. As from 1938 there was a decreased production rate which continued until all work ceased in 1940. The construction of the South Para Reservoir has completely inundated all workings of this mine.
1935 - 1952 Used in paint, cement & thermites."

Mineral List

Hematite

Quartz

2 entries listed. 2 valid minerals.

References