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  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

Mt. Lyell

Plant in Tasmania, Australia with commodities Copper, Gold, Sulfur-Pyrite, Silver
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Nearby scientific data
  8. Ore body information
  9. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  10. Mining district
  11. Mineral rights holdings
  12. Ownership information
  13. Production statistics
  14. Reserves and resources
  15. Workings at the site
  16. Links to other databases
  17. Bibliographic references
  18. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10158692
MAS/MILS ID 6020450009
Record type Site
Current site name Mt. Lyell
Alternate or previous names Mount Lyell, Prince Lyell Mine, Cape Horn Mine, Crown Lyell No. 3

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: 145.58175, -42.57941 (WGS84)
Elevation 421
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Tasmania(province)

Australia(country)

Australia(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Australia Tasmania

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Sulfur-Pyrite Tertiary
Silver Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Unknown
Chalcocite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Enargite Unknown
Gold Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Silver Unknown
Tetrahedrite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) 145.58175, -42.57941
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 500M
    Length 450M
    Width 115M
    Depth to top 500M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 MASSIVE
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Primary Ore Control IGNEOUS
    Secondary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. INTENSE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 SERICITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 PROPYLITIC
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Date of Last Modification 810813

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Plant
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1883
Mining method Combined Methods
Year of first production 1893
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant subcategory Flotation
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Mount Lyell

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Fee Ownership

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner Gold Mines Of Australia Ltd.
    Interest 100
    Home office Australia
    Year 1995

Production statistics

  • Year 1971
    Description 1.03% Cu 2364100 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1972
    Description 1.04% Cu 2472800 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2472800mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1972
    Period 1935-1972
    Description Open Pit; 1935-1972; Annual Production Was 1.2 - 2.1 Million Mt Ore
  • Year 1973
    Description 1.19% Cu 2236000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2236000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1974
    Description 1.19% Cu 2330200 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2330200mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1975
    Description 1.24% Cu, 2.73 G Ag, 0.31 G Au 2319000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 3g/mt
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1976
    Description 1.09% Cu, 2.12 G Ag, 0.28 G Au 2215000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 2g/mt
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
  • Year 1977
    Description 1.12% Cu, 1.92 G Ag, 0.29 G Au 1821000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 2g/mt
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Description 1.25% Cu, 1.92 G Ag, 0.35 G Au 1615000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 2g/mt
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Description 1.34% Cu, 2.09 G Ag, 0.41 G Au 1621000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 2g/mt
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Description 1.31% Cu, 2.41 G Ag, 0.41 G Au 1396000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 2g/mt
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Description 1.35% Cu, 2.71 G Ag, 0.40 G Au 1683000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 3g/mt
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Description 1.16% Cu, 1.94 G Ag, 0.36 G Au 1667700 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 2g/mt
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Description 1.33% Cu, 2.45 G Ag, 0.40 G Au 1433000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 2g/mt
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Description 1.45% Cu, 3.22 G Ag, 0.46 G Au 1769400 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 3g/mt
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Description 1.37% Cu, 3.02 G Ag, 0.41 G Au 1773200 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 3g/mt
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Description 1.42% Cu, 2.3 G Ag, 0.44 G Au 1686500 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 2g/mt
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1987
    Description 1.59% Cu 1584000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2wt-pct
  • Year 1988
    Description 1.55% Cu 1503000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2wt-pct
  • Year 1989
    Description 1.24% Cu 1634000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1990
    Description 1.28% Cu 1347000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 1wt-pct
  • Year 1991
    Description 1.56% Cu 1391000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2wt-pct
  • Year 1992
    Description 1.52% Cu 1680000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2wt-pct
  • Year 1993
    Description 1.59% Cu 1729000 Mt Ore Mill Feed
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Copper Copper 2wt-pct

Comments on the production information

  • MINING ACTIVITY COMENCED IN 1883 WHEN A SMALL GOLD OPERATION BEGAN. ONE YEAR LATER, SULFIDE ORES WERE EXPOSED AND THE FIELD WAS RECOGNIZED AS A POTENTIAL COPPER PRODUCER.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Measured 3336000mt ore
    Demonstrated 3336000mt ore
    Total resources 3336000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.49 g/mt Gold Minor 1993
    Copper Cu 1.71 wt-pct Copper Major 1993
    Silver Ag 3.1 g/mt Silver Minor 1993
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Indicated 9170000mt ore
    Demonstrated 9170000mt ore
    Total resources 9170000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.49 g/mt Gold Minor 1993
    Copper Cu 1.54 wt-pct Copper Major 1993
    Silver Ag 2.2 g/mt Silver Minor 1993
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1990
    Indicated 6934000mt ore
    Demonstrated 6934000mt ore
    Total resources 6934000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.64 g/mt Gold Minor 1990
    Copper Cu 0.99 wt-pct Copper Major 1990
    Silver Ag 2.7 g/mt Silver Minor 1990
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Measured 2231000mt ore
    Demonstrated 2231000mt ore
    Total resources 2231000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.62 g/mt Gold Minor 1991
    Copper Cu 1.75 wt-pct Copper Major 1991
    Silver Ag 3.01 g/mt Silver Minor 1991
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Indicated 12923000mt ore
    Demonstrated 12923000mt ore
    Total resources 12923000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.58 g/mt Gold Minor 1991
    Copper Cu 1.64 wt-pct Copper Major 1991
    Silver Ag 2.52 g/mt Silver Minor 1991
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Indicated 4599000mt ore
    Demonstrated 4599000mt ore
    Total resources 4599000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.67 g/mt Gold Minor 1991
    Copper Cu 1.73 wt-pct Copper Major 1991
    Silver Ag 3.19 g/mt Silver Minor 1991
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Indicated 15154000mt ore
    Demonstrated 15154000mt ore
    Total resources 15154000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.59 g/mt Gold Minor 1991
    Copper Cu 1.66 wt-pct Copper Major 1991
    Silver Ag 2.59 g/mt Silver Minor 1991
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 33897000mt ore
    Total resources 33897000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.53 g/mt Gold Minor 1995
    Copper Cu 1.48 wt-pct Copper Major 1995
    Silver Ag 2.2 g/mt Silver Minor 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Demonstrated 12506000mt ore
    Total resources 12506000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.49 g/mt Gold Minor 1993
    Copper Cu 1.59 wt-pct Copper Major 1993
    Silver Ag 2.4 g/mt Silver Minor 1993

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • RENISON GOLDFIELDS CONSOLIDATED LTD., 1991 AR, P26. (6/30/91)

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 500M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method COMBINED METHODS
    Percent Waste Rock 11.6
    Percent Recovery 90
    Hardness of Rock UNKNOWN
    Rock Characteristics NO PLANES OF WEAKNESS
    Rock Support Chars. UNKNOWN
    Mine Support Chars. UNKNOWN
    Number of Shafts 4
    Slope of Inclines 9
    Number of Inclines 2
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 4735
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 340
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1980

Comments on other economic factors

  • THE MT LYELL OPERATIONS CONSIST OF THREE PRINCIPAL UNDERGROUND MINES; PRINCE LYELL, CAPE HORN, AND CROWN THREE. THEREFORE THIS ORE BODY IS BEING EVALUATED AS ONE DEPOSIT WITH ONLY ONE MINE OF COMBINED RESERVES AND AVERAGED GRADES.
  • IN 1980--1600000 MT ORE TREATED WITH AVERAGE CU ASSAY OF 1.3 PERCENT; 7383 MT CU CONC PRODUCED WITH ASSAY OF CONC BEING 26.2 PERCENT, MILL RECOVERY IS 93 PERCENT; TOTAL REALISABLE GOLD FOR 1980--153587 G; TOTAL REALISABLE SILVER FOR 1980--1439880 G.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    RENISON GOLDFIELDS CONSOLIDATED LTD., 1989 ANNUAL REPORT,P25

  • Reserve-Resource

    THE MINER, 12/90, P.18

  • Reserve-Resource

    RENISON GOLDFIELDS CONSOLIDATED LTD. 1991 AR, P. 26.

  • Reserve-Resource

    RENISON GOLDFIELDS CONSOLIDATED LTD., 1993 ANNUAL REPORT,

  • Reserve-Resource

    P.22.

  • Reserve-Resource

    GOLD MINES OF AUSTRALIA LTD., 12/20/94 PROSPECTUS, P.26,54,

  • Reserve-Resource

    55.

  • Deposit

    THE MT LYELL MINING AND RAIWAY COLTD 85TH ANNUAL REPORT AND

  • Deposit

    OF MEETING, A GOLD FIELDS' GROUP COMPANY

  • Deposit

    THE MT LYELL MINING AND RAILWAY CO LTD PRINTED BY MERCURY-WA

  • Deposit

    BART, TASMANIA

  • Deposit

    SOLOMON M AND ELMS R G 1965 COPPER ORE DEPOSITS OF MT LYELL

  • Deposit

    OGY OF AUSTRALIAN ORE DEPOSITS VOL I EDITED BY JOHN MCANDREW

  • Deposit

    MMONWEALTH MINING AND METALLURGICAL CONGRESS P 478-484

  • Deposit

    PAGE 28 OF ENCLOSURE TO CANBERRA A-086

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, 10-82, P 155,158

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIA'S MINING MONTHLY, 11-84, P2.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, WIRING UP TO CUT COSTS..., AUG.31-SEPT.13,

  • Deposit

    1981, P. 15.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, 5/87, P. 367.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, CLOSURE WILL HIT TASMANIA, NOV 19-DEC 2,

  • Deposit

    1984, VOL. 7, NO. 23, P. 5.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, MT. LYELL WINS REPRIEVE, APRIL 1-14, 1987,

  • Deposit

    P 3, V10N6.

  • Deposit

    E&MJ, 5/87, P 71

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 10/31/86, P. 325.

  • Deposit

    MINING ACTIVITY DIGEST, 5-29-87, P 7, V13/N12

  • Deposit

    MINERALS AND MATERIALS, APR/MAY, 1987, P 16.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 5/27/88, P 429, 431

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 3/20,87, P 212.

  • Deposit

    INTERNATIONAL MINING, TASMANIA'S WEST COAST, 7/88, P 55-58

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNA., 9/1/89, P 178.

  • Deposit

    E&MJ, 10/89, P 16.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER; CHALLENGE TAKEN UP, 8/31-9/13/81, P. 14.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIA'S MINING MONTHLY; GRAY WINS FIGHT FOR MT. LYELL,

  • Deposit

    4/87, P. 3.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 2/8/85, P. 100.

  • Deposit

    INTERNATIONAL MINING, 10/90, P. 42.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 11/2/90, P. 339.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 10/4/91, P. 246.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN MINING MONTHLY, 11/91, P. 28.

  • Deposit

    THE MINER, 11/91, P. 37, 53.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN BASE METALS REPORTS, 10/25/91, P. 9, 10.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 4/1/94, P. 235.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 5/94, P. 322.

  • Deposit

    REGISTER OF AUSTRALIAN MINING, 1994/95, P. 221.

  • Deposit

    MINING WEEKLY, 7/1/94, P. 3.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN MINING, 10/93, P. 19.

  • Deposit

    METALS WEEK, 12/19/94, P.5.

  • Deposit

    BALL, YVONNE, GMA EXPECTS POSITIVE JUNE QUARTER RESULT,

  • Deposit

    GOLD GAZETTE, 7/3/95, P.33,34.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, 06/95, P373, "REDEVELOPMENT OF MT LYELL,

  • Deposit

    TASMANIA, BEGINS".

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 07-MAR-97 Porter, Kenneth E. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

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