Dredging up the Past EarthCache
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In 1936 production with Cock's large bucket dredge began, and it worked the alluvial gold and tin until 1954. In its 18 years of operation the dredge produced 70,664 ounces of gold and 1,383 tons of tin concentrate.
The precious metal ore found in this area are known as Intrusive and is generally hosted in granites, porphyry or rarely dikes/dykes. Intrusive related gold usually also contains copper, and is often associated with tin and tungsten, and at times molybdenum, antimony and uranium. Intrusive-related gold deposits rely on gold existing in the fluids associated with the magma and the discharge of these hydrothermal fluids into the wall-rocks.
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mineralisation
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Intrusions
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When the site had been decommissioned it had dredged 30,000,000 cubic metres from the river flats of the Eldorado Plain. This sight graphically illustrates the extent of the mining operation in and around the town.
In a historical review of the Eldorado field, the point needs to be made that its deep mining attracted a better class of miner than in the Gold rush areas further up the creek. For example, in those first years there is no record of murder at Eldorado.
Higher along the creek, no less than 15 murders are documented during the initial six months.
The Gold Rush at Beechworth and down into the Woolshed Valley was for surface alluvial gold which could be accessed at the surface of the river bed. Thus very few tools were necessary, and therefore anybody could dig for gold.
But Eldorado was situated at the end of the valley where the gold was far deeper, up to 100 metres, and expensive machinery was needed to gain access to the gold. There was never a mad rush to El Dorado, as this new mining locality meant working for wages in the deep mines, in a regular and stable manner.
At the height of the gold rush in the 1870’s, almost 4,000 people live in Eldorado. Up until 1895 the main form of mining was via deep shafts being sunk to depths of 70 metres. Following the collapse of a shaft which killed six miners, open cut mining then became the norm and in 1936 Cock Eldorado Gold Dredging Company was commissioned remained one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Eldorado is a short 20 minute drive from Beechworth along the Wangaratta –Beechworth Road, turning off at the Eldorado - Tarrawingee Road sign. Or, you can drive through picturesque Woolshed Valley via Lavender Lady at Sebastopol while enjoying the bush scenery. The small village has, the smallest pub in Victoria “The McEvoy Tavern”; a general store and Post Office; a wonderful museum housed in the Old 1870s School House; Eldorado Pottery studio; play equipment, BBQ and toilet facilities at the Gunhouse Park in the centre of town; and the largest “Historical Gold and Tin Dredge” in the southern hemisphere.
There is a short 15 minute tourist walk that you can enjoy while in the area. Please make sure you pick up a copy of the brochure before beginning the walk.
Go to www.parkweb.vic.gov.au There are numbered posts along the way where this brochure will act as your tour guide.
Please send an email cache owner containing the answer to the following.
1. What is the overall length of the Dregde?
2. What is the length of the bucket ladder?
3. How deep was the Dredge able to dig down to?
4. The Dredge is secured by cables. What are the cables secured to?
5. On the main information board you will find a heading "For the technically minded" Explain the purpose of the diagram.
Please feel free to take photo's from around the site and post them so you can share your experience.
Once you have gained permission from the cache owner to log your find please do so.
Always remember Healthy Parks Healthy People.
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Additional Hints
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