Golden Point Mine, Reefton, Buller District, West Coast Region, South Island, New Zealand
| Latitude & Longitude (WGS84): | 42° 8' 31'' South , 171° 50' 48'' East |
|---|---|
| Latitude & Longitude (decimal): | -42.14207,171.84669 |
| Köppen climate type: | Cfb : Temperate oceanic climate |
The historic Golden Point gold mine was an exercise in faith by Gerald Perotti, who persisted at this site from 1881 to 1911, convinced the 'mother lode' would be the next shovel away. Perotti was involved in several gold mines in the region during this time. While some gold was found at Golden Point, he ended up leaving disappointed.
Initially the mine was promoted as the next Welcome Mine, one of the richest mines in the Reefton district, but there was little to support the claim.
When mining warden, J.F. Watson states the mine is on excellent stone, of a permanent character, during early developments, there is little to doubt.
Gold was discovered here by Newth and party in 1878. A trial crushing takes place in 1878 yielding 26 ounces 17 dwt, from one tonne of specimen stone, and another tonne of picked stone. Perotti employs twenty men in 1881 to under-take development work. Perotti's company was registered on 01 July 1882. A tender was advertised to dig a tunnel in 1881, while the following year a winze is sunk. A number of very small leaders are found.
Meanwhile a 10 stamp battery is purchased from the Dauntless Mine near Blacks Point, to be transported and erected at Golden Point. A tramway is built from the mine to the battery. A crushing takes place in 1883 of 184 tonnes yielding 191 ounces, described as 'satisfactory', however after this the lease reverts to prospecting, with intermittent mining taking place.
The battery goes in 1886, purchased by the Big River Company. Only very occasional ore is crushed from Golden Point after this, with mining on a part-time basis.
Around 1911, a new shaft is sunk, the local media stating it is another Blackwater, one of the richest mines in the Reefton area. The District Court disagrees, cancelling Perotti's water race, and effectively ending mining at the location.
The mine is at the north-west end of a low ridge which juts into the Grey River valley, between Devils and Carton creeks, surrounded by flat farmland. The mine is only 3 kilometres south of Reefton, off Soldiers-Big River Road, then Harwood Road. The location is on private property. What remains is uncertain, although likely little.
Mineral List
1 valid mineral.
Regional Geology
This geological map and associated information on rock units at or nearby to the coordinates given for this locality is based on relatively small scale geological maps provided by various national Geological Surveys. This does not necessarily represent the complete geology at this locality but it gives a background for the region in which it is found.
Click on geological units on the map for more information. Click here to view full-screen map on Macrostrat.org
| Quaternary 0 - 2.588 Ma ID: 1309738 | Late Quaternary alluvium and colluvium Age: Pleistocene (0 - 2.588 Ma) Stratigraphic Name: Pakihi Supergroup Description: Unconsolidated to poorly consolidated mud, sand, gravel and peat of alluvial and colluvial origin. Comments: Zealandia Megasequence Terrestrial and Shallow Marine Sedimentary Rocks (Neogene) Lithology: Mud, sand, gravel, peat Reference: Edbrooke, S.W., Heron, D.W., Forsyth, P.J., Jongens, R. (compilers). Geology Map of New Zealand 1:1 000 000. GNS Science Geological Map 2. [12] |
| Middle Pleistocene 0.126 - 0.781 Ma ID: 1327801 | OIS6 (Middle Pleistocene) river deposits Age: Pleistocene (0.126 - 0.781 Ma) Description: River gravel and sand. Comments: Middle Pleistocene river deposits. Age based on Based on stratigraphic age range Lithology: Major:: {gravel},Minor:: {sand, silt} Reference: Heron, D.W. . Geology Map of New Zealand 1:250 000. GNS Science Geological Map 1. [13] |
Data and map coding provided by Macrostrat.org, used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
References
