Mount Alford, Mount Somers, Ashburton District, Canterbury Region, New Zealandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Mount Alford | Mountain |
| Mount Somers | Mountain |
| Ashburton District | District |
| Canterbury Region | Region |
| New Zealand | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
43° 35' 16'' South , 171° 29' 11'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Mindat Locality ID:
15436
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:15436:8
GUID (UUID V4):
257d8ec6-7749-4f42-9a0a-1a7aa31230d7
Mount Alford is 4 kilometres north-east of the geographic hill of Mount Somers and 10 kilometres north-east of the small town of Mount Somers, and just west of Alford Forest location on State Highway 72. It borders the west side of the Canterbury Plains.
Detrital cassiterite associated with rhyolite. Unusual as the species is normally found in grantitic rocks.
'Mount Alford Diamonds'- In 1883, Christchurch architect Isaac Jacobsen or J.S.M. Jacobsen found what he believed to be diamond crystals, which were then displayed in Christchurch. The crystals were sent overseas for testing, and meanwhile Jacobsen promoted the find leading to a diamond rush. Several companies including the Pioneer, Kohinoor, Caledonia, Albion, Regent and Canterbury companies were formed, with shareholders investing money. A town was laid out, and blocks sold. Prospecting licences were purchased.
A journalist from Timaru arrived and found 200 crystals, noting locations as Taylors Stream, Grevy Creek, and the base of Mount Alford near the beginning of the present day walking track. Some experts at the time confirmed the material to be diamonds only adding to the confusion, but further testing confirmed the crystals to be quartz. Smith (Smith 1994), indicates that the diamonds were identified as Quartz.
The rush died, prospectors left, shareholders lost their money, and the town was never built, although a small country road at Alford Forest remains named as the Alford Forest Settlement Road.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Cassiterite Formula: SnO2 |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Cassiterite | 4.DB.05 | SnO2 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| O | Oxygen | |
|---|---|---|
| O | ⓘ Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| Sn | Tin | |
| Sn | ⓘ Cassiterite | SnO2 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
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References
