Queen of the Hills Gold Mine (Prohibition; Tidal Wave), Meekatharra Goldfield, Meekatharra, Meekatharra Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Queen of the Hills Gold Mine (Prohibition; Tidal Wave)	Mine
Meekatharra Goldfield	Ore Field
Meekatharra	- not defined -
Meekatharra Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

(Map- the Meekatharra-Sandstone Road on Google Maps is incorrectly placed, and the road is actually located further east.)

Directly west of the Ingliston pit, and there is a large modern abandoned open pit by the Prohibition name here. The mine is on a parallel lode to the Paddy's Flat lode, 500 metres east of the town, and nearest mine to it in this section of the goldfield.

Like many gold mines in WA, its history is divided into three parts. An early part from 1901 to 1917 as Queen of the Hills; second part during the 1930's gold boom operating from 1928 to 1940 as Prohibition; and a third part where mining goes from underground shafts to large scale open pit mining in the 1990's onwards with the company accessing several low grade deposits processing via a central mill. GML 931N.

The Tidal Wave lease was the initial prospecting effort, and was held for a few months (GML 411N) in 1901 by W.C. Smith and others, and they produced 6 ounces from 20.75 tonnes of ore. In October 1907 it was purchased by W. Hazzard and re-named Queen of the Hills. Another source states it was M. Llod and Haggard. This lease covered former prospecting areas held by C.M. Roberts, G.M. Little and others. A shaft was sunk to 80 feet, and they take out 600 tonnes of ore. At the bottom of the shaft the lode had much sulphides as iron pyrites.

In 1910, the mine was let out on a twelve month option to Lakeview and Oroya Exploration Co from Kalgoorlie, and managed by London financiers Bewick Moreing and Co. (Another source states the option was 24 months). The lode at this time is 12 feet wide averaging 14 dwt/t. The shaft has reached 260 feet deep. Crushings begin in 1913. At this stage they control leases 507, 637, 933, 964, 1071 and 1142. Oroya also had an option over 1142 Queen of the Hills East lease.

After Oroya left the scene, the Queen of the Hills Gold Mining Company was formed to continue mining. Mine Manager in 1915 is Leslie William. The mine is let on tribute in 1916, after the company encountered poor grades at depth. In this same year Ottavio Battaiolo was killed in a fall of earth. At the time the only penalty due to mining companies for unsafe work practices, was if a wife or relative could prove they were financially dependent on the deceased miner. Ottavio's father took the company to court for 400 pounds stating he had been left penniless. The courts more often than not found in the mining companies favour, which it did in this case as well.

As the Prohibition mine run by the Prohibition Gold Mining Company, the first crushing was found in 1928. Activity is found by the company until 1933. Spencers Gold Mines Ltd are then operating the mine from the late 1930's. In 1937 it let the mine on a twelve month option to the Western Australian Mining and Exploration Company, which promptly went bankrupt. The company was then prevented from working the mine as the liquidator claimed the plant and machinery, which it is assumed Australian Mining and Exploration had installed on the lease. The mine re-opened in 1939 with twelve men employed. Interesting, the mine also produced small amounts of silver. The last crushing was found in 1940.

Rocks found here are greenstone chloritic slate types, flecked schist, jasper bars, the latter to which gold is closely associated at this mine. The gold is deposited in fissures where the faults strike north-south, and cut obliquely through and disclocate the jasper bars.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References