Curlew Emerald Mine, Shaw River District, East Pilbara Shire, Western Australia, Australiai
Regional Level Types | |
---|---|
Curlew Emerald Mine | Mine |
Shaw River District | Mining District |
East Pilbara Shire | Shire |
Western Australia | State |
Australia | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
21° 34' 27'' South , 119° 17' 47'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
Place | Population | Distance |
---|---|---|
Marble Bar | 612 (2012) | 64.5km |
Mindat Locality ID:
245140
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:245140:7
GUID (UUID V4):
be6c6db2-7ac3-4ade-a735-3b1eeb2e06f8
The Curlew Emerald Mine is approximately 90 kilometres west of Marble Bar and 5 kilometres north of the Woodstock-Marble Bar Road, just east of the Mt Webber iron ore turn-off.
Oral history suggests the emerald location was discovered in the 1920's, but its history up to 1976 is unknown. It was mined actively between 1976-1981 by a group managed by Bill Moriarty, who is an active specimen miner in the Kalgoorlie area. The production per year was about 4.5 kilograms of facetable emerald and forty kilograms of non-facetable material. Further, each year on average 20 'king' stones were recovered, 15 to 20 carat in size in the rough. All the emerald was sold to an Indian dealer for the jewellery trade. Specimens are thought to be rare from this period as the material was sold into the jewellery and artisan trade, without provenance.
The mine was sold in 1981 to Warren and Strang (Aust.) Ltd, who mapped the deposit and conducted trial mining. In 1985, Elders Resources Ltd, purchased the mine, but found more beryl than emerald. With mining equipment at the site also in a state of disrepair, they concluded the mine would be suited more to an individual or small syndicate. No buyer was found by 1989, and the licence was given-up. The mine, and a large portion of the surrounding land appears at present (2012) to be under lease by an Australian mineral dealer.
The diggings at the mine run in a north-south direction approximately 500 metres, along the eastern flank of a valley. Small pegmatites and quartz veins with beryl mineralisation are sandwiched between splays of north-south faults, just west of the Shaw Batholith.
The eastern footwall is quartzite, and the western hanging wall is interbedded chloritic amphibolite and schist. Within the western section quartz and pegmatites, no more than 1.5 metres wide by 150 metres long, are enveloped by deformed biotite or phlogopite schists.
The dark mica schists within the quartz veins and pegmatites contain gem quality emerald crystals and green beryl. As is typical of Western Australian emerald, most of the stones are not world class, and often contain inclusions and are cloudy. Size ranges from less than a millimetre to several centimetres in diameter.
The pegmatites are composed of quartz-albite with accessory green beryl, scheelite, coarse molybdenite crystals, and fine-grained purple fluorite.
Alluvial cassiterite, monazite, formanite, and tauteuxenite has been found in the immediate area. The writer observed poor quality amazonite at the northern extremity of the deposit.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsMineral List
16 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
ⓘ Albite Formula: Na(AlSi3O8) |
ⓘ Beryl Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
ⓘ 'Biotite' Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
ⓘ Bismuth Formula: Bi |
ⓘ Cassiterite Formula: SnO2 |
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group' References: |
ⓘ Clinobisvanite Formula: Bi(VO4) |
ⓘ Fluorite Formula: CaF2 Colour: purple |
ⓘ Magnesite Formula: MgCO3 References: |
ⓘ Microcline Formula: K(AlSi3O8) |
ⓘ Microcline var. Amazonite Formula: K(AlSi3O8) |
ⓘ Molybdenite Formula: MoS2 |
ⓘ 'Monazite' Formula: REE(PO4) |
ⓘ Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 References: |
ⓘ Phlogopite Formula: KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
ⓘ Powellite Formula: Ca(MoO4) |
ⓘ Pucherite Formula: Bi(VO4) |
ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
ⓘ Scheelite Formula: Ca(WO4) |
ⓘ Topaz Formula: Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
ⓘ 'Xenotime' |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
Group 1 - Elements | |||
---|---|---|---|
ⓘ | Bismuth | 1.CA.05 | Bi |
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
ⓘ | Molybdenite | 2.EA.30 | MoS2 |
Group 3 - Halides | |||
ⓘ | Fluorite | 3.AB.25 | CaF2 |
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
ⓘ | Cassiterite | 4.DB.05 | SnO2 |
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
ⓘ | Magnesite | 5.AB.05 | MgCO3 |
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
ⓘ | Powellite | 7.GA.05 | Ca(MoO4) |
ⓘ | Scheelite | 7.GA.05 | Ca(WO4) |
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates | |||
ⓘ | Pucherite | 8.AD.40 | Bi(VO4) |
ⓘ | Clinobisvanite | 8.AD.65 | Bi(VO4) |
Group 9 - Silicates | |||
ⓘ | Topaz | 9.AF.35 | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
ⓘ | Beryl var. Emerald | 9.CJ.05 | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
ⓘ | 9.CJ.05 | Be3Al2(Si6O18) | |
ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
ⓘ | Phlogopite | 9.EC.20 | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
ⓘ | Microcline var. Amazonite | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) |
ⓘ | 9.FA.30 | K(AlSi3O8) | |
ⓘ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
Unclassified | |||
ⓘ | 'Monazite' | - | REE(PO4) |
ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
ⓘ | 'Biotite' | - | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
ⓘ | 'Xenotime' | - |
List of minerals for each chemical element
H | Hydrogen | |
---|---|---|
H | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
H | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
H | ⓘ Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
Be | Beryllium | |
Be | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
Be | ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
C | Carbon | |
C | ⓘ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
O | Oxygen | |
O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
O | ⓘ Microcline var. Amazonite | K(AlSi3O8) |
O | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
O | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
O | ⓘ Cassiterite | SnO2 |
O | ⓘ Clinobisvanite | Bi(VO4) |
O | ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
O | ⓘ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
O | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
O | ⓘ Monazite | REE(PO4) |
O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
O | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
O | ⓘ Powellite | Ca(MoO4) |
O | ⓘ Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
O | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
O | ⓘ Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
F | Fluorine | |
F | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
F | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
F | ⓘ Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
Na | Sodium | |
Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
Mg | Magnesium | |
Mg | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
Mg | ⓘ Magnesite | MgCO3 |
Mg | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Al | Aluminium | |
Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
Al | ⓘ Microcline var. Amazonite | K(AlSi3O8) |
Al | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
Al | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
Al | ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
Al | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Al | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Al | ⓘ Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
Si | Silicon | |
Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
Si | ⓘ Microcline var. Amazonite | K(AlSi3O8) |
Si | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
Si | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
Si | ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
Si | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Si | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
Si | ⓘ Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
P | Phosphorus | |
P | ⓘ Monazite | REE(PO4) |
S | Sulfur | |
S | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
K | Potassium | |
K | ⓘ Microcline var. Amazonite | K(AlSi3O8) |
K | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
K | ⓘ Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
K | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Ca | Calcium | |
Ca | ⓘ Fluorite | CaF2 |
Ca | ⓘ Powellite | Ca(MoO4) |
Ca | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
Ti | Titanium | |
Ti | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
V | Vanadium | |
V | ⓘ Clinobisvanite | Bi(VO4) |
V | ⓘ Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
Fe | Iron | |
Fe | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
Mo | Molybdenum | |
Mo | ⓘ Molybdenite | MoS2 |
Mo | ⓘ Powellite | Ca(MoO4) |
Sn | Tin | |
Sn | ⓘ Cassiterite | SnO2 |
W | Tungsten | |
W | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
Bi | Bismuth | |
Bi | ⓘ Bismuth | Bi |
Bi | ⓘ Clinobisvanite | Bi(VO4) |
Bi | ⓘ Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australia
- Western Australia
- Pilbara CratonCraton
- Warakurna Large Igneous ProvinceGeologic Province
- West Australian ElementCraton
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
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