Thunderbox Gold Mine, Leinster, Leonora Shire, Western Australia, Australiai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Thunderbox Gold Mine | Mine (Active) |
| Leinster | - not defined - |
| Leonora Shire | Shire |
| Western Australia | State |
| Australia | Country |
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
28° 11' 29'' South , 121° 0' 24'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Mine (Active) - last checked 2020
Deposit first discovered:
1999
Age:
At least 5000 Ma
Geologic Time:
: to Mesoarchean
Köppen climate type:
Mindat Locality ID:
248465
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:248465:8
GUID (UUID V4):
87e9058b-c64b-46aa-911b-b7dcb6f7aeea
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Thunderbox Zone C
A 2 Moz Archaean orogenic gold deposit located 45km south of Leinster. The deposit was blind, overlain by Tertiary sediments and alluvium and was discovered by drilling in 1999. Gold mineralisation is hosted by a strongly deformed, silicified and carbonate-altered albite-quartz porphyry in the immediate hanging wall of a major brittle-ductile shear zone.
The original owner was a joint venture between Lionore and Dalrymple, which merged into one company mid 2003. Production from an open cut mine commenced in November 2002. The company had a good first two years, then struck trouble in 2005. This included lower than expected production, water shortages, equipment failure, and write downs due to the short remaining life of the mine. This resulted in large financial losses. For almost two years Lionore sought a buyer. Eventually Russian nickel miner Norilsk took over the company and mine in June 2007.
The mine was operated until September 2007, when it was placed on care and maintenance by Norilsk Nickel Australia. The open cut produced 10.9Mt at 2.4 g/t Au for a total production of 805,000 oz Au.
Mark Bennett, who discovered the deposit mid 1999, said of the name for the mine: 'We named it Thunderbox as the only toilet facility at the outback exploration site was a 44 gallon drum over the top of an old drill hole. At that point our geologist decided to name every target after curries- we had Madras, Rogan Josh etc- anything that could lead to the toilet'.
The mine is 45 kilometres south of Leinster, and borders the west side of the Goldfields Highway. The mine was sold by Norilsk to Saracen Mineral Holdings in 2014 and re-opened in 2016.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.Mineral List
Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities23 valid minerals.
Rock Types Recorded
Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!
Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities
Select Rock List Type
Alphabetical List Tree DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Actinolite Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Albite Formula: Na(AlSi3O8) References: |
| ⓘ Ankerite Formula: Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ Arsenopyrite Formula: FeAsS References: |
| ⓘ 'Biotite' Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 References: |
| ⓘ Calcite Formula: CaCO3 |
| ⓘ Chalcopyrite Formula: CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ Chamosite Formula: (Fe2+)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| ⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite Formula: (Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| ⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite Formula: (Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| ⓘ 'Chlorite Group' References: |
| ⓘ Clinochlore Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| ⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite Formula: (Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| ⓘ Epidote Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| ⓘ Galena Formula: PbS |
| ⓘ Goethite Formula: α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ Gold Formula: Au References: |
| ⓘ 'Hornblende Root Name Group' Formula: ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| ⓘ Ilmenite Formula: Fe2+TiO3 |
| ⓘ Magnetite Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ 'Plagioclase' Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| ⓘ Pyrite Formula: FeS2 References: |
| ⓘ Pyrrhotite Formula: Fe1-xS References: |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 References: |
| ⓘ Rutile Formula: TiO2 |
| ⓘ Scheelite Formula: Ca(WO4) |
| ⓘ Sphalerite Formula: ZnS |
| ⓘ Talc Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Tremolite Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
| Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts | |||
| ⓘ | Sphalerite | 2.CB.05a | ZnS |
| ⓘ | Chalcopyrite | 2.CB.10a | CuFeS2 |
| ⓘ | Pyrrhotite | 2.CC.10 | Fe1-xS |
| ⓘ | Galena | 2.CD.10 | PbS |
| ⓘ | Pyrite | 2.EB.05a | FeS2 |
| ⓘ | Arsenopyrite | 2.EB.20 | FeAsS |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Goethite | 4.00. | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Ilmenite | 4.CB.05 | Fe2+TiO3 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| ⓘ | Rutile | 4.DB.05 | TiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Calcite | 5.AB.05 | CaCO3 |
| ⓘ | Ankerite | 5.AB.10 | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates | |||
| ⓘ | Scheelite | 7.GA.05 | Ca(WO4) |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Epidote | 9.BG.05a | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| ⓘ | Tremolite | 9.DE.10 | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Actinolite | 9.DE.10 | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Talc | 9.EC.05 | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | var. Sericite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Chamosite var. Daphnite | 9.EC.55 | (Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| ⓘ | Clinochlore var. Ripidolite | 9.EC.55 | (Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| ⓘ | 9.EC.55 | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 | |
| ⓘ | Chamosite | 9.EC.55 | (Fe2+)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| ⓘ | var. Brunsvigite | 9.EC.55 | (Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| ⓘ | Albite | 9.FA.35 | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Biotite' | - | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| ⓘ | 'Hornblende Root Name Group' | - | ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| ⓘ | 'Plagioclase' | - | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| H | ⓘ Chamosite | (Fe2+)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| H | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| H | ⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite | (Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| H | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| H | ⓘ Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite | (Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| H | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite | (Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| O | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| O | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| O | ⓘ Chamosite | (Fe2+)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| O | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| O | ⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite | (Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| O | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| O | ⓘ Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite | (Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| O | ⓘ Rutile | TiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| O | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| O | ⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite | (Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| F | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Na | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Mg | ⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite | (Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| Mg | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite | (Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| Mg | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite | (Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Al | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Chamosite | (Fe2+)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| Al | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Al | ⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite | (Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| Al | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite | (Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| Al | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Al | ⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite | (Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| Si | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Chamosite | (Fe2+)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite | (Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite | (Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Si | ⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite | (Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| S | Sulfur | |
| S | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| S | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
| S | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| S | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| S | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Calcite | CaCO3 |
| Ca | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Ca | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| Ca | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Hornblende Root Name Group | ◻Ca2(Z42+Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Plagioclase | (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8 |
| Ti | Titanium | |
| Ti | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Ti | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Ti | ⓘ Rutile | TiO2 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Ankerite | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| Fe | ⓘ Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chamosite | (Fe2+)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH,O)8 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chamosite var. Daphnite | (Fe,Mg)5Al(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| Fe | ⓘ Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| Fe | ⓘ Ilmenite | Fe2+TiO3 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrite | FeS2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Pyrrhotite | Fe1-xS |
| Fe | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Ripidolite | (Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| Fe | ⓘ Chamosite var. Brunsvigite | (Fe2+,Mg,Al)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8 |
| Cu | Copper | |
| Cu | ⓘ Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| Zn | Zinc | |
| Zn | ⓘ Sphalerite | ZnS |
| As | Arsenic | |
| As | ⓘ Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| W | Tungsten | |
| W | ⓘ Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
| Au | Gold | |
| Au | ⓘ Gold | Au |
| Pb | Lead | |
| Pb | ⓘ Galena | PbS |
Localities in this Region
- Western Australia
- Leonora Shire
- Leinster
- Thunderbox Gold Mine
- Leinster
- Leonora Shire
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australia
- Western Australia
- West Australian ElementCraton
- Yilgarn CratonCraton
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to
visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders
for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.
References
