Ottery Mine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ottery Mine |
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| Location | 8km north-east of Emmaville, Glen Innes Severn, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1882–1939 |
| Owner | Department of Primary Industries |
| Official name: Ottery Mine; The Ottery Mine; Industrial Archaeological Site | |
| Type | state heritage (archaeological-terrestrial) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 392 |
| Type | Mine site |
| Category | Mining and Mineral Processing |
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The Ottery Mine is an old mine site in New South Wales, Australia. It is located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) northeast of Emmaville. This mine was active from 1882 to 1939. Today, it is protected as a heritage site. This means it is an important historical place. The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries owns the property. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
Contents
Discovering the Ottery Mine
The Ottery Mine is a former underground mine. It was used to dig for tin and arsenic. It is found in the northern part of New South Wales. This mine was one of the first underground mines in the Emmaville area. It is about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) north of the old mining village called Tent Hill.
The mine was found by Alexander Ottery in the late 1870s. It was named after him.
Early Tin Mining (1882-1905)
The mine was first used for tin from 1882 to 1905. The Glen Smelting Company operated it. They built a large machine called a 15-head stamper battery nearby at Tent Hill. This machine crushed the ore.
Miners dug many tunnels and shafts. Eight shafts were dug in total. About 2,500 tonnes of tin concentrate were produced. As the mine got deeper, the ore had more sulfur. So, a special furnace called a smelter was built at the mine site. It was used to "calcine" the ore. This means heating it to remove impurities. After heating, the ore was taken to Tent Hill for crushing. Mining stopped in 1906 after a serious accident.
Producing Arsenic (1920-1936)
Mining started again in 1920. A company from Sydney called William Cooper and Nephews (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. bought the mine. Their main goal was to produce arsenic. Arsenic was used to make pesticides, like dips for sheep and cattle.
A plant was built at the mine to process the ore. Mine manager A. C. Julius oversaw its construction. Production of very pure arsenic trioxide began in 1921.
How Arsenic Was Extracted
The process of getting arsenic was complex.
- First, large pieces of ore went into roasting kilns.
- Smaller pieces went into a mechanical furnace for heating.
- The heating created arsenic fumes (gases).
- These fumes passed into 66 special rooms called condensation chambers.
- In these chambers, the gases cooled down. They turned into solid crystals of crude arsenic trioxide on the brick walls.
- These crystals were heated again to make them even purer.
- The pure arsenic trioxide was then put into barrels. It was then shipped to Sydney.
Later Mining Attempts
From 1925 to 1927, more equipment was added. This included a ten-head stamper battery, grinding pans, and concentrating tables. A concrete weir and pump were also installed. This equipment helped extract tin that was also found in the arsenic ores. The plant processed old arsenic waste and some ores with high tin content.
Operations stopped in late 1929 because of the Great Depression. Mineral prices were very low. The mine reopened in 1931 but worked only a little. It closed again in 1936. This was because cheaper arsenic was being imported from other countries.
Burma Malay Tin Ltd. bought the Ottery Mine in June 1938. They brought in new flotation equipment. They also built a dam to store fresh water for their machines. No arsenic was produced at this time. The mine closed again in 1940 due to long dry weather. The company then moved the plant buildings and equipment to other sites.
From 1956 to 1957, the Guardian Trading and Investment Company Pty. Ltd. tried to restart the mill. They set up equipment to process the remains of the old waste piles. There were a few other small attempts to mine the site. However, no major mining operations were started again.
Site Rehabilitation (1993-2003)
In 1993, the Ottery Mine site was cleaned up and made safer. This was a joint project by two government departments. The work included:
- Reducing pollution from contaminated water and mud.
- Improving fences around the old buildings, which were unstable.
- Fencing off and covering open mine shafts.
- Building walkways and viewing platforms for visitors.
More safety and cleanup work was done in 2003. This included more signs, fencing, and ways to control erosion and drainage.
What the Ottery Mine Site Looks Like Today
The Ottery Mine site covers about 20 hectares (about 50 acres). The main mining area is on the side of a steep hill. A small creek flows from the gully below.
You can still see many old structures and pieces of machinery scattered around. These include:
- The primary and secondary kilns (furnaces).
- The rotary kiln.
- The refinery building.
- The cooperage (where barrels were made).
- Two sets of 66 condensation chambers. These lead up the hill to a shared flue and a tall chimney. The chimney stack is still in excellent condition. It stands tall on top of the hill.
Below the main mine shaft, you can see the burnt timber frames and concrete bases of the tin processing plant. Many bricks have been taken from the buildings, but the chimney and kilns are mostly complete.
The main mine shaft is open. It has a strong timber retaining wall around it. There is also a large pile of waste rock (called a mullock dump) nearby. Many small tunnels (adits), shafts, and holes are found in the bush around the main shaft. Some large circular open cuts are also seen higher up the hill. These are believed to be from the earliest tin mining days. Two dams for storing fresh water are located near the mine workings.
Two large piles of waste block the drainage line below the arsenic chambers. A five-head stamper and an old engine stand nearby. Much of the area is now covered with scrubby trees and plants.
Most of the old buildings are in ruins. However, work has been done to make them more stable. The site is very important for archaeologists. They can learn a lot about how mining was done here.
Changes Over Time
- 1882: A smelter was built.
- 1920-1922: The arsenic extraction plant was built.
- 1927: A tin extraction plant was added. This included a ten-head battery, a dam, and concentrating tables.
- 1939: Flotation tanks and a freshwater dam were built.
- 1940: Much of the equipment was removed, and buildings were taken apart.
- 1993: The site was cleaned up and made safer by government departments.
- 2003: More safety work was done due to ongoing hazards and pollution.
Why Ottery Mine is a Heritage Site
The Ottery Mine is very important to the history of New South Wales. It is the only arsenic refinery plant in New South Wales that is still in good condition. It is also the oldest main ore refinery in Australia.
Historical Importance
The Ottery Mine was one of the first underground mines in the Emmaville area. It played a big part in the growth of the town. The way the Ottery arsenic plant was designed is unique in Australia. It is the most complete and complex arsenic refinery site. It shows a great example of an old way of industrial processing.
The mine also has links to the wool industry. Arsenic was a key ingredient in "sheep dip," which was used to protect sheep.
Arsenic mining stopped in Australia in 1952. In New South Wales, it ended in 1936 when the Ottery Mine closed. It is unlikely that arsenic mining will happen again in Australia. This is because a copper mine in Sweden produces enough arsenic as a byproduct for the whole world.
Learning from the Site
The site can teach us a lot about mining and extracting arsenic. It is valuable for students of geology (the study of rocks and earth), archaeology (the study of old human history), and industrial processes. There are no detailed plans of the site or its buildings. So, the site itself is the only source of this information.
Rarity and Uniqueness
The Ottery arsenic refinery is the oldest main ore refinery in Australia. It is one of only four arsenic mines in Australia. The other three are the Mole River mine in New South Wales and two mines in Queensland. Only the Ottery and Mole River mines had their own refining plants to make the final product.
The arsenic refinery at Ottery is the best-preserved example of its kind. It is believed to be one of the last remaining arsenic refinery relics of this type anywhere in the world. This makes it important not just for Australia, but for the whole world.
