Golden Spinifex Gold Mine, Duketon Area, Duketon Goldfield, Laverton Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Golden Spinifex Gold Mine	Mine
Duketon Area	Area
Duketon Goldfield	Ore Field
Laverton Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

Spinifex is a spikey grass which covers much of the central Australian deserts. This historic mine can be found 500 metres along a faint track, north-west of the Urarey Warren Bore Road and Moolart Well Gold Mine Access Road intersection. It is a compact area of several piles of tailings/battery sands, and a couple of minor trenches. The Lauriston Gold Mine is only 100 metres or so further north-west.

The deposit was discovered by the Duke brothers around 1897, and the nearby town of Duketon is named after them. The town lasted only a few years just after 1900, before dis-appearing off the map. Near the mine was the Golden Spinifex Hotel, which shared a similar fate to the town.

A syndicate was formed to develop the mine, but with little success. The nature of the ground caused movement resulting in three shafts collapsing. The workings had only reached a depth of 60 feet. Regardless and being eternally optimistic, they erected a five head battery and cyanide plant. A.G. Ferguson was mine manager until 1903, when John Duke returned to the mine to replace him.

The nature of the ground made mining expensive. For example excessive timbering was needed to prevent the shafts caving in. By the beginning of 1905, things had ground to a halt. The syndicate looked at a reconstruction, then an Adelaide syndicate took out an option at the mine, but did very little. Later in 1905 they decided to amalgamate with the neighbouring Lauriston Gold Mine. This did not last long either before being abandoned.

By 1910, the mine is half owned by John Fox, the other half not mentioned in the source. A battery is on the lease, but owned by the West Australian Corporation.

Two years later in June 1912, The Patch gold rush broke out, several kilometres to the south of the mine. Fox being nearby at the Golden Spinifex was one of the first at the new find to peg a claim. The problem then arose as to what to do with the Golden Spinifex, which had to be seen to be constantly worked to avoid forfeiture. With Fox busy at The Patch, this was not possible. The Patch alluvial find sucked away all the men in the district who could possibly work the mine. Fox tried to find people he could let the mine on option to, searching as far as Adelaide without success.

Jack Dwyer in August 1912 applied for forfeiture of the lease and was successful in obtaining Fox's half. Dwyer was still in control of the mine in 1916, and formed a Kalgoorlie syndicate to re-develop it. They struggled to raise sufficient capital from local investors. A government subsidy was requested, and 750 pounds was provided, but to no avail and the project was abandoned by 1917. The mine was let on tribute but nothing more was found.

There is every indication gold still remains at depth, but is probably too small for any company to be concerned with. To 1906 the mine produced 3209 tonnes of ore for 2572 ounces of gold.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

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