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6a Tennant Creek - Nobles Nob Mine
Nobles Nob
Nobles Nob ranks amongst Australia's richest gold mines, having yielded almost 1.1 million ounces (34 tonnes) during 45 years of operation. The mine was located on the westernmost of four adjoining Gold Mining Leases pegged in November 1933 by the Rising Sun prospecting syndicate. The principal partners in the syndicate were Bill Weaber, a Kimberley cattleman, and Malachi 'Jack' Noble, prospector. Noble sold his interest in 1934, and purchased the Tennant Creek Hotel.
The first shaft was sunk at Nobles Nob in 1934 to a depth of 50 feet (15 metres). Shaft sinking resumed in 1939 and ore averaging 1-2 ounces per tonne was encountered at 55 feet (16 metres). However, a war-time embargo stopped production in 1943, after the mine had produced some 2,000 ounces (62 kg) of gold.
In 1947, following the death of Weaber and his eldest son, Nobles Nob was acquired by a small Adelaide company, Australian Development NL. The Company recommenced production in 1948, and sinking of a new shaft and level development progressed. In 1949, a bonanza-grade ore shoot, averaging more than 100 ounces (-3T1 kg) per tonne, was encountered. This marked the beginning of a golden period of dividends for shareholders which continued for 20 years.
Nobles Nob was the Northern Territory's leading gold producer during that time and, for a number of years, its premier mine. At its peak in 1955, Nobles Nob produced 72 percent of the Northern Territory's gold and 40 percent of the total value of mineral production.
The Nobles Nob orebody outcropped as 3 Quartz-hematite ironstone blows. Th largest extended east-west for about 100 metres was up to 30 metres wide. At depth, these ironstone lodes coalesced and gold concentrations approached 300 ounces (9 Kg) per tonne. Assays in excess of 50 ounces (1.5 Kg) per tonne were common.
The underground workings yielded 828,028 ounces (25.8 tonnes) of gold from 527,680 Tonnes of ore at an average grade of 48.8 grams per tonne. For 20 years, Nobles Nob was unchallenged as Australia’s richest gold mine.
A disastrous mine collapse occurred in August 1967 when Nobles Nob crown pillar collapsed resulting in a massive cave-in. Several buildings and the main shaft winder fell into the cavity but fortunately there was no loss of life. The main shaft became unstable above the 41 metre level and all underground mining operations ceased. As a result, open cut mining was introduced to enable complete extraction of the remaining economic orebody.
Open cut mining concluded in January 1985, after yielding a further 281,383 ounces (8.75 tonnes) of gold from 1.46 million tonnes of ore.
Nobles Nob ranks amongst Australia's richest gold mines, having yielded almost 1.1 million ounces (34 tonnes) during 45 years of operation. The mine was located on the westernmost of four adjoining Gold Mining Leases pegged in November 1933 by the Rising Sun prospecting syndicate. The principal partners in the syndicate were Bill Weaber, a Kimberley cattleman, and Malachi 'Jack' Noble, prospector. Noble sold his interest in 1934, and purchased the Tennant Creek Hotel.
The first shaft was sunk at Nobles Nob in 1934 to a depth of 50 feet (15 metres). Shaft sinking resumed in 1939 and ore averaging 1-2 ounces per tonne was encountered at 55 feet (16 metres). However, a war-time embargo stopped production in 1943, after the mine had produced some 2,000 ounces (62 kg) of gold.
In 1947, following the death of Weaber and his eldest son, Nobles Nob was acquired by a small Adelaide company, Australian Development NL. The Company recommenced production in 1948, and sinking of a new shaft and level development progressed. In 1949, a bonanza-grade ore shoot, averaging more than 100 ounces (-3T1 kg) per tonne, was encountered. This marked the beginning of a golden period of dividends for shareholders which continued for 20 years.
Nobles Nob was the Northern Territory's leading gold producer during that time and, for a number of years, its premier mine. At its peak in 1955, Nobles Nob produced 72 percent of the Northern Territory's gold and 40 percent of the total value of mineral production.
The Nobles Nob orebody outcropped as 3 Quartz-hematite ironstone blows. Th largest extended east-west for about 100 metres was up to 30 metres wide. At depth, these ironstone lodes coalesced and gold concentrations approached 300 ounces (9 Kg) per tonne. Assays in excess of 50 ounces (1.5 Kg) per tonne were common.
The underground workings yielded 828,028 ounces (25.8 tonnes) of gold from 527,680 Tonnes of ore at an average grade of 48.8 grams per tonne. For 20 years, Nobles Nob was unchallenged as Australia’s richest gold mine.
A disastrous mine collapse occurred in August 1967 when Nobles Nob crown pillar collapsed resulting in a massive cave-in. Several buildings and the main shaft winder fell into the cavity but fortunately there was no loss of life. The main shaft became unstable above the 41 metre level and all underground mining operations ceased. As a result, open cut mining was introduced to enable complete extraction of the remaining economic orebody.
Open cut mining concluded in January 1985, after yielding a further 281,383 ounces (8.75 tonnes) of gold from 1.46 million tonnes of ore.
Site of our picnic lunch.
Directly right Merrin and Owen having conquered the hill together with Corona, the dog!
Directly right Merrin and Owen having conquered the hill together with Corona, the dog!
Story taken from the signs at the abandoned Open cut pit site