McPhee's Reward Mine (Zephyr), Talga Talga Goldfield, Marble Bar, East Pilbara Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
McPhee's Reward Mine (Zephyr)	Mine (Abandoned)
Talga Talga Goldfield	Ore Field
Marble Bar	- not defined -
East Pilbara Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

Gold was discovered at this location in mid 1894, by brothers Angus, Charles and Rory McPhee, and they were given the reward lease. The lease is in a deep gorge north of the creek. They also pegged the Star of the North lease on a separate reef, one kilometre to the south, and south of the creek. McKenna (surname) was mine manager for both mines. They also had a brother called Alick, but the only mention of him was in Perth.

Reward Claim 55. 6 acres. Reef is along a fault line, said by a government geologist to be sheets of gold in the vicinity of vertical fractures. The workings were on the north-west side of a north-east trending narrow ridge, north of the creek, and hidden from view as access is from the south-east. The reef ran parallel to a quartzite dyke which ran along the ridge.

The reef was one foot wide, of quartz, with some pyrite, and rich gold patches in a series of vertical fractures. The brothers in 1895 displayed specimen stone of solid quartz, with lumps of gold sticking out from it.

Later in 1895, the lease was taken over by the McPhee's Reward Company, and a ten head battery erected. The company abandoned the lease in 1897. The company produced 367 tonnes of ore at 749 ounces of gold. Angus McPhee returned and soon discovered a new leader estimated at 500 ounces of gold.

George Cooper and Anderson held the lease, renaming it the Zephyr. They erected a windmill to power a small three head prospecting mill. They also uncovered several alluvial nuggets on the lease, including one at 120 ounces. Reports from them were heard from 1903 to 1908, although it may have extended longer. At the time, it was the only active mine on the goldfield, and little was being reported from it.

The area appears bulldozed, probably as a metal detecting exercise, and what remains of the historic workings (if anything) is unclear. There is a small dam just to the north.

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