Triple Chance Mine, Thackaringa district, Yancowinna Co., New South Wales, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Triple Chance Mine	Mine
Thackaringa district	District
Yancowinna Co.	County
New South Wales	State
Australia	Country

A feldspar-muscovite-beryl mine in pegmatite, 35 km South West of Broken Hill (42km by road via the Barrier Highway and then a private road to the mine), named after the three commodities mined, by the late famous lady miner Tess Alfonsi. The pegmatite was known for large yellowish beryl crystals often reaching over a metre in length and apparently used as a source of Beryllium metal for the NASA Apollo Space Program.

An almandine deposit occurs in a biotite and hornblende schist 1.5km east, at a location named Bailey's Tank, but is not strictly part of the mine. Garnet amphibolite occurs as a country rock.

The current owners (Unimin Co.) have begun the dismantling of the processing plant and the rehabilitation of the mine site, with the dumps being contoured and covered with topsoil. The mine is expected to close completely by the end of 2012. The open cut is to be left as a water supply for Thackaringa Station and the whole area will be under very restricted access.

NOTE: In the 1990s(?), the mining lease was not renewed due to safety reasons. Since then (beryl-free) pegmatite material from quarries nearby such as The Lady Beryl and Egebek as well as those in the Olary area of South Australia has been processed here for the high quality porcelain feldspar.

Between 1998 and 2004, Almandine garnet from satellite mines such as the Lady Margaret, Bailey's Tank and Staurolite Ridge quarry was also processed onsite.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References