Ruby Gold Mine, Kookynie, Kookynie Goldfield, Menzies Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Ruby Gold Mine	Mine
Kookynie	- not defined -
Kookynie Goldfield	Ore Field
Menzies Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The Ruby Gold Mine, was hobby mining by the brothers L.J and P Fitzgerald, from 1941 to 1947. They were in their 70's, and the writer hopes he is this fit at that age.

They were working an alluvial lead for gold in kaolin, with two shafts. 110 tonnes of ore was extracted across the period for 75 ounces of gold, in half a dozen crushings. They had worked the lead for 60 feet in length, 30 feet wide, and only 20 feet in depth. The gold was found in a 4 foot layer of kaolin, which sat on top of decomposed granite. Some gold was also found in the granite. Gold grades were consistent throughout the deposit until the walls were reached. Gold was found as flakes or shotty pieces, but never larger than a pinhead. The gold was 98% pure.

The brothers had difficulty finding batteries locally willing to crush their small tonnages. Eventually the Owen brothers at the Champion Mine, who normally did not crush for the public, took pity on them, and was crushing the parcels as a public service.

The source states the Ruby was often confused with the Puzzle Gold Mine just a little west. It is unclear if the mine was swallowed by the 1997 open pit development at Puzzle, and/or its tailings heap. Less than 50 metres east of the tailings are minor workings, and two further workings just north of the Kookynie-Mount Remarkable Road, 500 metres further east. Any potentially could have been the Ruby. This is the eastern limit of the goldfield with no further workings to the east. The Ruby is 4 kilometres east north-east of Kookynie.

It is highly improbable rubies are found at the location, and was probably named after a person.

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References