Damon Mcknight
Fluorite, also known as fluorspar, is found in several locations across Australia. The mineral has been discovered in Queensland, Tasmania, and South Australia. In Queensland, fluorite is present in the Agate Creek fossicking area of Etheridge Shire and the Monakoff Mine in Cloncurry Shire. In Tasmania, fluorite deposits are located in the Princess Mine in the Kentish municipality and the Renison Bell Mine in the Zeehan mining district. Additionally, the Avondale Mine in Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia, is another source of fluorite in the country. Fluorite deposits have also been identified in Western Australia, with King River Copper conducting a study on the potential of its Windsor fluorite deposit in the East Kimberley region.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fluorite mines in Australia | Renison Bell Mine, North Dundas, West Coast municipality, Tasmania |
| Princess Mine, Middlesex District, Kentish municipality, Tasmania | |
| Avondale Mine, Mount Lyndhurst, Pastoral Unincorporated Area, South Australia | |
| Agate Creek fossicking area, Etheridge Shire, Queensland | |
| Monakoff Mine, Cloncurry, Cloncurry Shire, Queensland | |
| Windsor fluorite deposit, East Kimberley region, Western Australia |
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What You'll Learn
Agate Creek fossicking area, Queensland
The Agate Creek fossicking area in Queensland, Australia, is renowned for its colourful agates and is a popular destination for those looking to try their hand at fossicking. Located in the Etheridge Shire, the Agate Creek fossicking area was established in 1995 through a collaboration between the Department of Mines and Energy, landowners, and the Etheridge Shire Council.
Agate Creek is situated about 30 kilometres from Cobbold Village and 70 kilometres south of Forsayth, accessible via a gravel road that is passable by conventional vehicles during the dry season. The area boasts world-renowned agates with unique colours and patterns, making it a prime spot for fossicking enthusiasts.
The creeks in the region are typically dry, but water sources can be found at Black Rock Waterhole and Banyan Spring. The basin-shaped Agate Pocket, underlain by the Agate Creek Volcanic Group's volcanic rocks, is where the fossicking takes place. This area is characterised by formations such as the Big Surprise Tuff, Black Soil Andesite, and Thunder Egg Rhyolite.
Black Soil Creek, Crystal Hill, Bald Hill, and Blue Hills are some of the main areas of interest within the fossicking area. Agates can be manually separated from the decomposed lavas, and they can also be found in downslope colluvial deposits as they are resistant to weathering. Fossickers are advised to pay attention to the alluvium of black soil and gravel, especially after the wet season, as it can yield fruitful finds.
It is important to note that fossicking for gemstones in Queensland requires a licence, which can be purchased online. This licence grants access to the gazetted fossicking area without additional permission from the landholder. Camping is not permitted within the Agate Creek fossicking area, but nearby options are available adjacent to the creek outside the designated fossicking zone.
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Princess Mine, Tasmania
Princess Mine, originally known as Urquhart's Claim, is located in Moina, on the northeast slope of Dolcoath Hill in the Middlesex District, Kentish municipality, Tasmania, Australia. The mine overlooks the Cethana dam, which is part of the hydroelectric scheme on the Forth River. Princess Mine is one of several mines in the region that have been worked for tin, tungsten, and/or bismuth. Other minerals found at Princess Mine include fluorite and bismuthinite.
The deposit at Princess Mine was discovered by Warwick Castle in 1908, and mining activity ceased around 1918. Warwick Castle himself controlled the mine for a period and extracted wolframite and bismuthinite, which are the only two minerals from the mine noted in the Catalogue of the Minerals of Tasmania.
Seven exploratory trenches were originally cut at Princess Mine, but little of value was found. The mine is located near other mines in the region, including the Shepherd and Murphy mine (the largest), All Nations, Dolcoath, Sayers (known for its beryl), and Pig and Whistle.
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Renison Bell Mine, Tasmania
The Renison Bell Mine is located in North Dundas, Zeehan mining district, on the West Coast municipality of Tasmania, Australia. It is a large underground tin mine, considered one of the largest in the world. The mine was discovered in 1890 by George Renison Bell, and it has been in nearly continuous operation since then. The Renison tin lode is located about 12-15 km northeast of Zeehan and was found to be one of the world's largest known primary tin deposits, with a total resource of over 40 Mt of about 1% Sn.
The Renison Bell Mine has changed ownership several times over the years. In its early years, it was an alluvial field, and hard rock mining began around 1900. However, large-scale production did not begin until around 1965 when tin prices increased sharply, and the operation was taken over by Consolidated Goldfields Ltd. In 1996, a $34 million Rendeep project was implemented to access deeper ore reserves. The mine was then purchased by Murchison United in 1998, and its name was changed to Renison Goldfields Consolidated (RGC).
In 2004, Murchison United went into administration, and the mine was acquired by Bluestone Tin Limited, now known as Bluestone Mines Tasmania Pty Ltd. Bluestone Tin paused mining activities at Renison due to elevated maintenance costs and reduced tin prices. They resumed mining operations in 2008, and the first production commenced in August of that year. Bluestone Tin, now Metals X Limited, sold 50% of the Tasmanian assets, including the Renison Tin Mine, to the Yunnan Tin Group of China in 2009, forming the Bluestone Mines Tasmania JV.
The Renison Bell Mine is the biggest operating tin mine in Australia, with a production capacity of 680,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of tin. The processing of tin ore at the mine involves several stages, including crushing, grinding, and flotation processes. The Rentails project aims to further extract tin from the processed ore tailings of Renison. In addition to tin, the mine has also yielded other minerals such as ankerite, arsenopyrite, and calcite.
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Avondale Mine, South Australia
Fluorite, a mineral that is commonly found worldwide, can be discovered in Australia through the Avondale Mine in Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia. The mine is located in a pastoral unincorporated area. Fluorite, or calcium fluoride, is identified by its physical and chemical properties, including its density, colour, and crystallography.
The Avondale Mine in South Australia is one of several locations in the country where fluorite can be found. Other sites include the Agate Creek fossicking area in Etheridge Shire, Queensland, the Princess Mine in Moina, Tasmania, and the Renison Bell Mine in Zeehan, Tasmania.
The Avondale Mine in South Australia has a significant history, possibly marked by a major disaster. On September 6, 1869, a fire broke out at the Avondale Colliery, resulting in a devastating loss of life. The disaster is known to have caused the deaths of 110 people, including miners and young boys, with some sources citing a total of 118 deceased. The fire was believed to have originated from the furnace, travelling up the wood-reinforced shaft and engulfing the wooden structures.
The incident had far-reaching consequences, leading to increased safety legislation in the industry and the formation of unions to represent coal miners. The event's impact extended beyond the immediate community, with families of immigrant miners in their countries of origin also affected by the tragedy. The disaster highlighted the dangers of coal mining and the need for improved safety measures to protect workers.
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Monakoff Mine, Queensland
Fluorite is found in several locations across Australia, including Queensland, Tasmania, and South Australia. One notable location for the mineral in Queensland is the Monakoff Mine in Cloncurry, Cloncurry Shire.
The Monakoff Mine is located in the Cloncurry District of Northwest Queensland and is known for its copper-gold deposits. The mine is part of the Mount Margaret Mining Project, which also includes the E1 group of deposits located near Ernest Henry Mining (EHM) operations. The combined resources of the Monakoff and E1 deposits are estimated to be significant, with a high grade of copper and gold content.
The Mount Margaret Mining Project is owned and operated by Xstrata Copper and involves both open-pit and underground mining techniques. The open pits at Monakoff have a depth ranging from 60 to 210 meters and a width of 325 to 525 meters. The recovered ore from the Monakoff Mine is sent to the EHM for processing through their onsite concentrator, which has a substantial processing capacity.
In addition to fluorite, the Monakoff Mine is also known for yielding other minerals such as azurite and creedite. The mine has been operational for many years and has contributed to the mineralogy of the region. The surrounding area has benefited economically from the mining operations, with the project helping to maximise the utilisation of the concentrator's existing capacity.
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Frequently asked questions
Fluorite is found in various locations in Australia, including Queensland, Tasmania, and South Australia.
Some specific sites where fluorite is found in Australia include the Agate Creek fossicking area in Etheridge Shire, Queensland, the Princess Mine in Moina, Tasmania, and the Avondale Mine in Mount Lyndhurst, South Australia.
Yes, one notable fluorite deposit in Australia is the Windsor fluorite deposit in Western Australia's East Kimberley region, which has been explored by King River Copper for potential mining development.
In addition to fluorite, other common minerals found in Australia include sapphire, calcite, and quartz.
