Kurinelli Gold Mines (Kurinelli Alluvial Gold Areas), Kurundi Goldfield, Wauchope, Barkly Region, Northern Territory, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Kurinelli Gold Mines (Kurinelli Alluvial Gold Areas)	Group of Mines
Kurundi Goldfield	Ore Field
Wauchope	- not defined -
Barkly Region	Region
Northern Territory	Territory
Australia	Country

As opposed to much of the Kurundi Goldfield, the Kurinelli area has produced a substantial amount of alluvial gold nuggets in recent decades. In fact some say it is the best alluvial goldfield in the Northern Territory. Aggro established leaseholders and pastoral station owners, may make a misery out of any visit.

Since the late 1980's, prospectors have been bulldozing, then metal detecting patches, in a radius from what is labelled on maps as the Kurinelli Outstation, these days a water tank and cattle yards. Possibly the easiest access is to head south from the Epenarra Station towards Hatches Creek, then turning west south-west on a track just before the Frew River crossing. The countryside is largely flat, with minor ridges.

Production, including from metal detecting is not recorded. Suggestions have ranged from 2000 ounces, or several 100 to several 1000 ounces, or 150 kg, or 75 kg, or 25 kg. In other words no-one knows.

Gold was discovered in the area by an expedition led by Allan A. Davidson. Mining since has been sporadic, mainly by prospectors, and very little historic information was found. A small stamp mill operated at Demsey's Choice, or Kurinelli Main in the 1950's.

Modern exploration has been conducted by Gold and Mineral Exploration NL (1972-1974), Wellington Resources Pty Ltd (1987-1988), A.J. Shields (1993-1995), Hall and Halbert (1991-1992), BHP/Newcrest Operations Ltd (1991), Arafura Resources Ltd (2004-2011), Australia Mining and Gemstone Co. Pty Ltd (2011-2013).

This has been piecemeal due to the difficulty in drilling on very small scattered reefs. The indication is the area contains many widely spaced small quartz reefs, which have shed much of their gold, creating alluvial gold nugget patches.

(Dixon/Hussey) The auriferous quartz veins are found within interbedded siltstone and sandstone of the Kurinelli Formation. The basement is arenites and siltstone of the Rooney's Formation, with intrusive dolerites and gabbro sills. All gold is found in the 'Kurinelli Zone', 20 kilometres long, in a north-west to south-east direction, 10 kilometres wide at the northern end, and tapering to 2 kilometres wide at the southern end. (Ahmed et al.) Gold distribution is erratic, as fine to coarse gold, in places associated with chalcopyrite and pyrite. (Cullen Mackay & Schenellmann) The quartz is white, coarse, boxworks common, filled with hematite/limonite often also with visible gold, especially close to contact with the dolerite. Coarse and nugget gold is most commonly found in brecciation zones in gossanous sections.

Reef mining activity has been limited, but there are several named locations surrounding the cattle yards. Kurinelli Main is one kilometre south, on the road to the Great Davenport Gold Mine. The workings border the west side of the track, consisting of a small open cut, several costeans, and much bulldozing to the south. The quartz vein, in places iron rich, is 1.5 metres thick, forming the cap of a small hill, hosted by dolerite.

The next prospect is one kilometre south-east, however this could not be located. There is a small bulldozed area one kilometre to the south, and 100 metres west of the track. This is possibly named on maps as the Gem prospect. It consists of three costeans, exposing a saddle reef, one metre thick.

Two kilometres further south-east is an old shaft with minor secondary copper mineralisation, with several major costeans in the area. A possible location was found for this, about 200 metres west of the track, and again south, rather than south-east. It would be difficult to find on the ground, with only the faintest track to it. This could possibly be marked on maps as the Alfred prospect.

Closer to the 'Kurinelli Outstation', is Black Hills and Trevor prospects, one to two kilometres to the south-east, of several large east-west trending bulldozed areas, and two prospector camps. Dempsey's Choice is 200 meters east south-east of the outstation, bordering the track heading in the same direction. The Horse Paddock extends as bulldozed areas several hundred metres either side of the same track, about 500 metres from the outstation. Ditto for Hookers prospect, but about one kilometre from the outstation. This prospect has grades to 2.78 g/t. A large area has been bulldozed immediately north-west of the outstation.

The Mindat Map denotes the water tank, and cattle yards of the Kurinelli Outstation. See also ' Kurinelli Meteorites' Mindat locality.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References