Central Deposit, Mt Riddock Station, Harts Range (Harts Ranges; Hartz Range; Hartz Ranges), Central Desert Region, Northern Territory, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Central Deposit	Deposit
Mt Riddock Station	Mountain
Harts Range (Harts Ranges; Hartz Range; Hartz Ranges)	Mountain Range
Central Desert Region	Region
Northern Territory	Territory
Australia	Country

One of numerous mines located near the Atitjere area.
The mine is however on Mt Riddock Station.
Originally leased by the Central Australian Gem & Mineral Club but relinquished in 2004 due to lack of mineral material that could be found.

An abandoned mica mine. The Central Mine is about 8 kilometres south-east of Atitjere. To reach travel along the road to the Spotted Tiger Campground. About 500 metres south of the Atitjere airstrip, head on a side track east. This was the old road into the Harts Ranges, bordering the base of the mountains, before the Plenty Highway was constructed. It quickly crosses the Watson Creek, and at the second valley, turn south onto a track, which leads up the valley. This valley ends sharply with another creek crossing, the track now winding south through hills east of this north-south trending creek. There is every indication the track is diabolical, and walking about 3 kilometres up the creek may have to be resorted to. Just before the mine, the track turns sharply south-west then south-east, the mine on a ridge immediately above the creek.

Thompson in the mid 1980's states access is by turning onto a track 3.8 kilometres south of the Atitjere racecourse, then following a complicated series of instructions, making no sense based on present satellite images seen.

Bonzle and Mindat place the mine about half a kilometre north-west of this location, and west of the creek. This needs confirmation as little can be seen at this location. There appears to be a number of small historic mica mines in the area, with no access, and almost nothing known about. The directions above lead to the largest mine, probably the Central.

Members of the Northern Districts Lapidary Club Sydney in 2015, walked for 2 hours into the mine, and found nothing worthwhile.

The mine is in amphibolite rock in which good examples of hornblende can be obtained. Thompson claims rose quartz, smoky quartz, and clear quartz is available on the slopes below the mine. Muscovite and graphic pegmatite is plentiful.

The mine was worked by G. Muratori in the early 1940s, with two other men. Over a two year period 7000 lbs of mica was produced from 200 feet of driving, some stoping, and from an 80 foot deep shaft, on this large pegmatite. Other history for the mine is at present unknown.

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