Cyanide Works - Hand in Hand Company Mine, Part Lot 2 on LP 118771, Red Hill Road, DEEP LEAD
Red Hill Road DEEP LEAD, NORTHERN GRAMPIANS SHIRE
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
The Deep Lead was first worked in 1857, and during the 1860s the shallower sections of the lead were monopolised by Chinese miners who used cradles to treat the auriferous wash. In the late 1860s one deep lead mining company - the Standard Co. - attempted to work the lead at depth. In 1868, the company's efforts were thwarted when its shaft was flooded. In 1871 there was an attempt to find the continuation of the Deep Lead which had been lost when the Standard Company's shaft had been flooded. The Tregea Alluvial Company commenced work on the lease with an old steam-powered engine and were soon getting payable good. The company was then reformed into the Hand-in-Hand Company. The new company erected steam-powered machinery for winding and puddling in 1873 and mined with limited success until 1876. During this time the Hand-in-Hand produced 150.71 kg. of gold. Activity at this mine continued intermittently until the 1930s, when low grade tailings were treated by the cyanide process, as apart of a general trend occurring throughout the state in response to the high price of gold. The cyanide works are unusually intact, demonstrating important aspects of the mining industry.
The Hand in Hand Mine and cyaniding works are historically and scientifically important at a LOCAL level as a substantially intact example of an important gold mining technique. Gold mining sites are of crucial importance for the pivotal role they have played since 1851 in the development of Victoria.
Overall the Hand in Hand Mine and cyaniding works are of LOCAL significance.
-
-
Cyanide Works - Hand in Hand Company Mine, Part Lot 2 on LP 118771, Red Hill Road, DEEP LEAD - Physical Description 1
Cyanide works.- Most of the plant is located on top of a flattened tailings dump. Treatment plant consists of a row of five, 12 ft diameter, brick soakage vats; and a row of three, 17 ft diameter, brick soakage vats. The vats are rendered with concrete and set 4 ft apart. A raised 12 ft diameter, 3 ft deep, galvanised iron tank is located where the two rows of vats converge.
At the base of the heap is a brick trough, 12 ft x 3 ft; and 9 ft diameter, concrete-rendered, brick drainage vat. The brick trough is petitioned off into five compartments by thin concrete walls. This probably housed the zinc boxes. Iron pipes run from both ends of the trough to the drainage vat. Near the processing plant foundations are the footings of a small brick building, 9 ft x 8 ft, with a 2½ ft square fire place.
Mullock heap. Intact large mullock heap with 16 dumping lines and filled shaft. The heap is located to the west of the cyanide works.
Machinery site. Flattened machinery site with spread of rubble.
Dam. Large full dam.
In the 1930s, along with a general trend elsewhere in the State, the Hand-in-Hand tailings would have been treated by the cyanide process. The large scale cyaniding operations that took place in the 1930s was brought on by a rise in the price of gold, and the introduction of new filtration process which enable low grade tailings to be cyanided profitably.
CONDITION OF FEATURES: Mine site has an intact mullock heap; cyanide works are in good condition and site has high integrity.
Cyanide Works - Hand in Hand Company Mine, Part Lot 2 on LP 118771, Red Hill Road, DEEP LEAD - Physical Conditions
Mine site has an intact mullock heap; cyanide works are in good condition and site has high integrity.
Heritage Study and Grading
Northern Grampians - Shire of Northern Grampians - Stage 2 Heritage Study
Author: Wendy Jacobs, Vicki Johnson, David Rowe, Phil Taylor
Year: 2004
Grading:
-
-
-
-
-
HAND IN HAND CYANIDE WORKSVictorian Heritage Inventory
-
HAND IN HAND COVictorian Heritage Inventory
-
TREGAVictorian Heritage Inventory
-
-