Gold Crystal from the Telfer Mine

Article | Updated 6 months ago

Gold Crystal from the Telfer Mine
Gold Crystal from the Telfer Mine
WA Museum

This object comes from our Earth and Planetary Sciences department and is a gold crystal from the Telfer mine. 

Gold Crystal from the Telfer Mine

Gold Crystal from the Telfer Mine
Image copyright WA Museum 

This gold crystal was discovered by Dr Peter Downes, Curator of Minerals and Meteorites.

The Telfer gold-copper mine is about 485 kilometres southeast of Port Hedland. At the time of the mine's discovery there was speculation that it was the lost reef of Harold Lasseter.

It is one of Australia’s largest gold deposits producing almost 6 million ounces of gold from the start of mining operations in 1977 until 2000. It’s best known among collectors for its world class chalcocite specimens.