Talisman Mine, Karangahake, Hauraki District, Waikato Region, New Zealandi

Regional Level Types
Talisman Mine	Mine
Karangahake	- not defined -
Hauraki District	District
Waikato Region	Region
New Zealand	Country

Closed gold mine, prospecting for gold and silver.

The Talisman Gold Mining Company was registered in 1894, its purpose to accumulate several small claims. By 1905, the original 30 acres had expanded to controlling 506 acres by taking over the Bonanza, Talisman Extended, Royal Mail, Victor-Waihou, and Woodstock leases.

Mining occurred high on the sides of Mount Karangahake, from several adits accessing sixteen levels. Later shafts were used to access the deposit, including the Talisman and Woodstock shafts. Production levels gradually increased from 4194 tonnes of ore processed in 1898 to 52 210 tonnes of ore in 1914. The mine closed in 1919, with the company liquidated the following year. It had produced 3 510 691 ounces of gold.

The Talisman Mine accessed the Maria Reef. The Crown/Welcome, and Mystery Reefs are to the east. The Mystery Reef was only discovered in the late 1980's. The Maria Vein is 1-3 metres wide, at historic grades of 28 g/t Au, and 128 g/t Ag. The ore veins dip 70 degrees to vertical.

The veins are hosted by the Waipupu Formation Miocene plagioclase pyroxene andesites and dacites, with volcanic breccia, overlain by 200 metres of rhyolite of the Maratoto Rhyolite and Rahu Formation to the north. It is all underlain by greywacke. Historic mining has occurred on four ore shoots named Woodstock, Talisman, Bonanza, and Dubbo, within the veins.

The deposit was explored by Southern Cross Minerals from 1971 to 1992, sometimes as joint ventures, including with Homestake New Zealand Exploration Ltd, New Zealand Goldfields, and Cyprus Gold New Zealand Ltd. From 2004, New Talisman Gold Mines has explored the deposit, including from 2015-2018 taking out test batches of ore.

There is a 2012 JORC compliant resource published of 28 800 ounces Au, and 127 800 ounces Ag. Some un-mined rich patches have been found. The share price of the company has spiked in recent years, however hand picked small amounts of ore do not make a gold mine, and caution should be exercised. The area is of outstanding natural beauty, and has been promoted with cycleways and paths, along cliff faces, and swing bridges across the gorge. The possibility of a mine here has drawn some protest from locals.

The Talisman battery ruins can be seen along the Waitawheta Windows Walkway. The Woodstock and Crown battery ruins are nearby, as well as pumphouse ruins, mining adits, ore carts, railway tunnels, and interpretive signs.

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References