Mining/Geology

Tasmania – Geology of the Dundas – Mt Lindsay and Mt Youngbuck Region. Geological Survey Bulletin 62 [Four Large Maps]

A.V. Brown, published by the Tasmanian Department of Mines in 1986.

Large octavo, soft covers. Perfect bound. A new condition. First Edition. Perfect bound, 222 pages. Illustrated with black and white photos, diagrams. Comes with a fine collection of four geological maps all printed on thick quality paper, coloured maps impressive and strongly coloured.

Colour map – Regional geology of the Dundas – Mt. Lindsay – Mt. Ramsay Area 90cm by 75cm.

Colour locality map showing area covered on Corinna and Zeehan 90cm x 75cm.

Black and white map 100cm x 60cm, Regional Geology of the Mt. Youngbuck – Magnet area by Brown 1984.

Black and white map 70cm x 60 cm Geololgical compilation of the Zeehan-Waratah area – Dundas Trough Brown 1984.

Everything nicely preserved in original clear wallet.

Superior Geological Report of this important mineral area in Western Tasmania

$80.00

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Beaconsfield Gold [Tasmania] – Janet Kerrison – First Edition 1963

Published a few time by the local community Rotarians. First edition 1963. Card covers, unpaginated but 45 pages, illustrated nicely from historic images. We have a copy of a later printing …

Set before the re-opening of the mine and the later terrible accident which culminated in maybe the greatest Australian mine survival story.

Starting with the gold rush in 1877 to the delightfully named Brandy Creek … by the 1890’s a substantial mine was in operation, with its enormous 180 foot chimney stack. The mining technology in place by the turn of the century was second to none.

As with many mines, reserves became depleted and the mine was wound down during WWI. Locals rumours abounded for years that there was a high grade parallel lode. So true that after this publication the mine was re-opened as mentioned above … and then again.

Mailing costs will be reduced on this item

Beaconsfield Gold – the back history and it’s significant – First printing

$25.00

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De Re Metallica – Georgius Agricola – the Hoover Translation.

This is the second printing of the famous Hoover translation of the equally famous 16th Century monumental publication by Georgius Agricola on all things then known in mining, metallurgy, geology etc. Published by Dover, New York in 1950.

Longer title … De re Metallica translated from the first Latin edition of 1556 with biographical introduction, annotations and appendices upon the development of mining methods, metallurgical processes, geology, mineralogy & mining law from the earliest times to the 16th century by Herbert Clark Hoover and Lou Henry Hoover.

This edition, large royal octavo blue cloth covered boards, 638 pages after xxxi preliminaries, illustrated throughout from the images of the original wood engravings, simply superb. Dust jacket closed tear at top front otherwise pretty good, a very good copy overall. Quite a heavy book which will require and Overseas postage supplement.

The series of books within the book (an early style) I Arguments against the art of mining II The miner and the mining of veins III Veins and stringers and seams in rocks IV The method of delimiting veins and the functions of the mining officials V The digging of ore and the Surveyor’s art VI The miner’s tools and machines VII The assaying of ore VIII Rules for the work of roasting, crushing, and washing the ore IX Methods of smelting ores X the work of separating silver from gold, and lead from gold and silver XI Separating silver from copper XII rules for manufacturing salt, soda, alum, vitriol, sulphur, bitumen, and glass … Agricola’s works – Ancient authors on mineralogy, mining, metallurgy- Nomenclature to be adopted for weights and measures etc.

There is so much to admire about this book … the date of the foundation work, its breadth and quality, the learning from the engravings. Strangely maybe we particularly like the section on pumps in mines – essential equipment for water bound mines and the ingenuity pre powered machines is very interesting. Regarding the translation – what a job done by Hoover(s). The difficulty must have been very challenging – for example Agricola struggled to find Latin equivalents for many mining terms so had to contrive them from everyday Latin words – Hoover then had to decipher these once and only Latin words – unsurprising that his hair was depleted.

De Re Metallica – The Foundation Work for all Mining and related – the readable version

$140.00

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Report on Iron Ore Deposits – Yampi Sound (Western Australia) – A Montgomery -1920

Original report of the Department of Mines of Western Australia dated 1920. Authored by A Montgomery State Mining Engineer.

Yampi Sound is in North Western Australia and the ore bodies investigated at Cockatoo Island and Koolan Island are not only impressive in terms of scale but in terms of grade (65% straight out the ground). Koolan was been and continues to be exploited, currently successfully by Mt Gibson Mines. Cockatoo is underway yet again but the path looks a little treacherous for the incumbent.

32 pages octavo, in thick card covers, Annotated at front as a gift from Alfred Jones, Queensland Minister for Mines in September 1921 to Jack Reid mining identity.

A super report and despite being ex library (cancelled stamp at front) is scarce and near impossible to come by – why do they let these things go. The charts / diagrams on separate loose sheet in the wallet at the back are of good quality and include a facsimile of the Admiralty Chart of the broader locale; A map from Campbell’s Report of 1908; Map of Koolan Island; Longitudinal and Cross Sections of the main bed at Cockatoo Island and Koolan Island Main Lode.

Not sure, but one can’t help thinking that the information gleamed from these reports which started with pencil and paper gets to the point quickly and more economically than today’s plethora of multiple dimensional graphic and seismic analysis … and the accommodation has definitely gone upmarket – at least at Cockatoo!

Yumpi sound almost all iron ore – still going.

$120.00

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The Mount Bischoff Tin Field [Tasmania] Geological Survey Bulletin No 34 – A McIntosh Reid – 1923

Appears to be a very scarce item. Comprehensive report by the then Government Geologist.

Printed in Hobart by John Vale. Card covered perfect bound vii, 171 pages then 5 folding coloured plates of maps, plans etc other illustrations in the text some from period photographs. Complete and in very good condition.

Carries the huge personal bookplate of Tasmanian tragic R H Green – we say that from the super Thylacine incorporated therein. Likely the well known author of numerous books on the fauna etc of Tasmania.

After a good Introduction and set of preliminary papers we have an excellent History in precis. Then the usual professional sequence – Geography, Geology, Economic Geology, Mining Properties – numerous and taking up the bulk of the report before summary descriptions of photographs, photomicrographs (minerals) and the list of plates.

The plates comprise … Geological Sketch Maps of the Waratah District and the Mt Bischoff Area, Plan of Underground Workings at Mt Bischoff, Geological Sketch Sections of same and a Flow Sheet of the Mill.

Special Report on the Mighty Mt Bischoff – Great Maps etc

$120.00

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Strahan and Macquarie Harbour – Tasmania’s Eldorado

Subtitled … The Commercial Port for the Western Mineral Fields and … the Gem of the States for Tourists and Travellers. Unsurpassed for Scenic Grandeur and as a Health Resort.

Originally published by John Ware of Strahan in 1908 and nigh impossible to get. This like for like facsimile was produced by the western Pioneers’ memorial Museum in 1981. Printed by Walch, Hobart.

Small format, staple bound card covered. Altogether 84 pages, heavily illustrated from period photographs. The last 24 pages with period advertisement as per the original – amazing in themselves.

Well what a vibrant area it was and Strahan was full steam go ahead just after the turn of the previous century. In those days the Union Line brought two stack steamers to Strahan from Hobart, Launceston and the Mainland … they also embarked on voyages connecting New Zealand the South Sea Islands and Vancouver, via Fiji. The Macquarie Harbour Hotel had sixty rooms available.

Mining booming … the previous years returns had show 20,548 oz gold, 1,810,559 oz of silver, 7,682 tons copper, 7,400 tons lead, 5,158 tons galena and zinc, tin etc

It was all go on the West Coast in 1908.

$40.00

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Tasmania – Geology of the Dundas – Mt Lindsay and Mt Youngbuck Region. Geological Survey Bulletin 62 [Four Large Maps]

Beaconsfield Gold [Tasmania] – Janet Kerrison – First Edition 1963

De Re Metallica – Georgius Agricola – the Hoover Translation.

Report on Iron Ore Deposits – Yampi Sound (Western Australia) – A Montgomery -1920

The Mount Bischoff Tin Field [Tasmania] Geological Survey Bulletin No 34 – A McIntosh Reid – 1923

Strahan and Macquarie Harbour – Tasmania’s Eldorado

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