Black Cat Mine, Mt Riddock Station, Harts Range (Harts Ranges; Hartz Range; Hartz Ranges), Central Desert Region, Northern Territory, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Black Cat Mine	Mine
Mt Riddock Station	Mountain
Harts Range (Harts Ranges; Hartz Range; Hartz Ranges)	Mountain Range
Central Desert Region	Region
Northern Territory	Territory
Australia	Country

Possibly an abandoned mica mine. One of the western most mica mines in this area. It was a small mine, which was last operational in the mid 1950's. It is about 2 kilometres west of Ongeva Creek. The Camp Hill Mine is 5 kilometres west, and Mount Johnstone Mine 5-10 (?) kilometres south-west.

The mine is on a low wide ridge, covered in thick mulga scrub. There is a circular pattern of separate small mine dumps, with possible minor mine infrastructure in the centre. Small amounts of rare earth minerals are reported from the location.

Access is difficult. Travel south along the Cattlewater Pass Road, leaving the Plenty Highway just after crossing the Ongeva Creek. Travel south a couple of kilometres until a minor track diverges south south-west. This ends at a cattle yard. Alternatively a further one kilometre down the Cattlewater Pass Road, another road leaves due west a short distance to the cattle yard (Blackfellow's Bones Bore).

Take a faint track north-west, which crosses the Ongeva Creek (boggy?), and continues west north-west then north-west, across about 2 kilometres. A very faint track can be seen heading north, just before the track turns north-west, with a minor creek crossing at the same point. This track may not be noticeable, and walking the only option. It is about one kilometre north of the track. Getting lost is likely, and there is no help nearby in the desert.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References