Monal workings.

[Skiffed]

Does anyone have any info on the old Monal workings north of Monto?. Seems a fair bit of gold was produced there before the town was abandoned. I am keen to have look around up there with my rarely used Garretts. Not sure about permission though. Any advice will be gratefully received., This is a map of the area on Trove.nla https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2075455212/view?searchTerm=Monal#search/Monal

 

[user 4386]

https://travellingtwo.com.au/index.php/2020/12/30/a-gold-rush-tale-monal-mine-ruins/
https://montomagic.com.au/monal-goldfields/
THE MONTO 1:250 000 SHEET AREA (GSQ Report 46) The main centres of past production in the Monto Sheet area have been Glassford, Many Peaks and Mount Cannindah (copper); Calliope, Milton (Norton), Monal and Cania (gold). The deposits were worked during the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. Active mining in the area has virtually ceased, and the only recent production has been from the precipitation of copper from the mine waters at Mount Cannindah. Much of the sheet area has been investigated by mining companies, but, to date, no major mining developments have taken place. The more important deposits are described under the Gold and/or Mineral Field in which they are located. Minor gold and base-metal occurrences which have not been worked beyond the prospect stage are listed, but not described. Mineralization is restricted to the Palaeozoic rocks, and to the Upper Permian and Lower Triassic granitic rocks. Cold mineralization in both granitic and sedimentary units, occurs in narrow veins, composed of quartz, or quartz and calcite, and is accompanied by abundant sulphide mineralization (pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite). The relatively small size of the “reefs”, combined with their refractory nature, were, and still are, major difficulties in development. BARMUNDOO (TABLELANDS) GOLDFIELD The Barmundoo Goldfield. 253 square miles in area, was proclaimed in 1894, following the discovery of gold in the Tablelands area in 1887. Access to the area is by road from the Biloela-Gladstone road, by way of station tracks. The Tableland area lies between the headwaters of Dan Dan Creek and Crimean Creek. Gold was won from both alluvial and reef deposits. The reefs are narrow, and consist of sulphide-bearing quartz veins in a granodiorite stock. The oxidized and gossanous portions of the reefs were quickly worked out, and the refractory sulphide ores were not suitable for treating on the field. Transport difficulties further complicated the exploitation of the deposits since access roads to the area are subject to flooding in wet weather. The alluvial deposits derived from the reefs were of small size, and are considered to be worked out. The most recent period of activity was between 1930 and 1940. Several inspections were made by departmental geologists, but prospects were generally poor. Small gold occurrences are known elsewhere within the goldfield area, but are not of commercial importance. The rock in which the reefs occur is granodioritic in composition, and fresh material is difficult to obtain The mass is probably related to the Galloway Plains Tonalite. 78 The Barmundoo Goldfield is not considered to offer any potential for future development on a large scale. CANIA GOLDFIELD Gold was discovered near Cania in 1870 and the Cania Goldfield was first proclaimed in 1871. It now has an area of 85½ square miles. Both alluvial and lode deposits were worked, but most of the production was from the alluvial deposits. Access is by road from Monto to the site of the former township of Cania. The history of the Cania Goldfield was reviewed in 1934 by Illidge. The deposits were worked in a most desultory way; periods of intense activity alternated with periods of complete inactivity. Several attempts were made to work the alluvial deposits by dredging, the first in 1900. This venture was abandoned in 1901 because of operational difficulties and poor returns. The ‘wash’ contains large boulders, above the payable material, and cost of removing the boulders was excessive. Further dredging was attempted in 1934-1935, but was not successful. Since 1945, further attempts to work alluvials have met with little success, and the field was idle at the time of writing this report. Lode deposits were worked to shallow depths, since sulphides are present in the unoxidized portions of the reefs. Quartz is the principal gangue mineral. Gold occurred in small “patches” of rich ore, in barren material. The lodes are narrow, and are difficult to work because of these irregular values. The most recent underground work was carried out between 1933 and 1944, when several reefs were worked. Ore was crushed at batteries on the field, but no cyanidation plant was used. Considerable losses of gold occurred in tailings. Production details for the Cania Goldfield are incomplete, since much of the production of alluvial gold in the nineteenth century was not recorded. The field is not considered to offer any potential for future production on a large scale. A minor occurrence of galena at Mount Prospect is within the area of the Cania Goldfield. The galena occurs in veins in the Wingfield Adamellite. The occurrence is not considered to be of any commercial interest. MILTON (NORTON) GOLDFIELD Gold was discovered on Norton Creek by Williams and Lett in 1871. The Milton (Norton) Goldfield, 26 square miles in area, was proclaimed in 1879. The mines are situated near Norton Creek, approximately 5 miles upstream from its junction with the Boyne River. Access is by vehicle track from the Gladstone-Many Peaks road. 7

 

[user 22230]

W O T

 

[Skiffed]

https://travellingtwo.com.au/index.php/2020/12/30/a-gold-rush-tale-monal-mine-ruins/
https://montomagic.com.au/monal-goldfields/
THE MONTO 1:250 000 SHEET AREA (GSQ Report 46) The main centres of past production in the Monto Sheet area have been Glassford, Many Peaks and Mount Cannindah (copper); Calliope, Milton (Norton), Monal and Cania (gold). The deposits were worked during the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. Active mining in the area has virtually ceased, and the only recent production has been from the precipitation of copper from the mine waters at Mount Cannindah. Much of the sheet area has been investigated by mining companies, but, to date, no major mining developments have taken place. The more important deposits are described under the Gold and/or Mineral Field in which they are located. Minor gold and base-metal occurrences which have not been worked beyond the prospect stage are listed, but not described. Mineralization is restricted to the Palaeozoic rocks, and to the Upper Permian and Lower Triassic granitic rocks. Cold mineralization in both granitic and sedimentary units, occurs in narrow veins, composed of quartz, or quartz and calcite, and is accompanied by abundant sulphide mineralization (pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite). The relatively small size of the “reefs”, combined with their refractory nature, were, and still are, major difficulties in development. BARMUNDOO (TABLELANDS) GOLDFIELD The Barmundoo Goldfield. 253 square miles in area, was proclaimed in 1894, following the discovery of gold in the Tablelands area in 1887. Access to the area is by road from the Biloela-Gladstone road, by way of station tracks. The Tableland area lies between the headwaters of Dan Dan Creek and Crimean Creek. Gold was won from both alluvial and reef deposits. The reefs are narrow, and consist of sulphide-bearing quartz veins in a granodiorite stock. The oxidized and gossanous portions of the reefs were quickly worked out, and the refractory sulphide ores were not suitable for treating on the field. Transport difficulties further complicated the exploitation of the deposits since access roads to the area are subject to flooding in wet weather. The alluvial deposits derived from the reefs were of small size, and are considered to be worked out. The most recent period of activity was between 1930 and 1940. Several inspections were made by departmental geologists, but prospects were generally poor. Small gold occurrences are known elsewhere within the goldfield area, but are not of commercial importance. The rock in which the reefs occur is granodioritic in composition, and fresh material is difficult to obtain The mass is probably related to the Galloway Plains Tonalite. 78 The Barmundoo Goldfield is not considered to offer any potential for future development on a large scale. CANIA GOLDFIELD Gold was discovered near Cania in 1870 and the Cania Goldfield was first proclaimed in 1871. It now has an area of 85½ square miles. Both alluvial and lode deposits were worked, but most of the production was from the alluvial deposits. Access is by road from Monto to the site of the former township of Cania. The history of the Cania Goldfield was reviewed in 1934 by Illidge. The deposits were worked in a most desultory way; periods of intense activity alternated with periods of complete inactivity. Several attempts were made to work the alluvial deposits by dredging, the first in 1900. This venture was abandoned in 1901 because of operational difficulties and poor returns. The ‘wash’ contains large boulders, above the payable material, and cost of removing the boulders was excessive. Further dredging was attempted in 1934-1935, but was not successful. Since 1945, further attempts to work alluvials have met with little success, and the field was idle at the time of writing this report. Lode deposits were worked to shallow depths, since sulphides are present in the unoxidized portions of the reefs. Quartz is the principal gangue mineral. Gold occurred in small “patches” of rich ore, in barren material. The lodes are narrow, and are difficult to work because of these irregular values. The most recent underground work was carried out between 1933 and 1944, when several reefs were worked. Ore was crushed at batteries on the field, but no cyanidation plant was used. Considerable losses of gold occurred in tailings. Production details for the Cania Goldfield are incomplete, since much of the production of alluvial gold in the nineteenth century was not recorded. The field is not considered to offer any potential for future production on a large scale. A minor occurrence of galena at Mount Prospect is within the area of the Cania Goldfield. The galena occurs in veins in the Wingfield Adamellite. The occurrence is not considered to be of any commercial interest. MILTON (NORTON) GOLDFIELD Gold was discovered on Norton Creek by Williams and Lett in 1871. The Milton (Norton) Goldfield, 26 square miles in area, was proclaimed in 1879. The mines are situated near Norton Creek, approximately 5 miles upstream from its junction with the Boyne River. Access is by vehicle track from the Gladstone-Many Peaks road. 7

Thanks mate. Very interesting indeed. I really liked your video of Kroombit Tops. Happy travels. Cheers!! Dave.