Former 'Almanda Mine' ruins
Description
The main elements remaining at the former Almanda Mine site are the western workings, the mine ruins, Ey's tunnel and the open cut at the eastern workings. Both the eastern and western workings have been fenced, cleared of rubbish and sign posted. The mine ruins consist of a circular stone chimney connected by underground flue to the former boiler house, with its mountings and foundations, and the remains of the crushing and treatment plant and engine house.
History
The Almanda Mine (first known as Wheal Maria) was opened in 1850 and worked as a copper mine, however work was soon ceased, as the mine was not productive. In 1862 the Wheal Mary Anne Shaft was sunk on the eastern side of the property but work again ceased. In 1866 the site was examined, and from the assays made of some stone left on the surface it was found to be poor in copper and rich in silver. The formation of the Almanda Silver Mining Association in August 1868 by Messers Beck, Levi, Gawen, Bagot, Hughes, Ey and Hallet stimulated a silver rush (the only one in SA) and several adjoining claims were made. In the eastern workings (across the road from the chimney to the hill slope) ore was raised from the 'old' Wheal Mary Anne Shaft and Ey's Tunnel was driven into the hill to meet the lode. On the western side of the claim, the ore was extracted by an 'open-cut' method. In 1869 a new treatment plant was erected and a 60 horsepower steam engine powered a 15 head stamp battery, which crushed ore prior to its concentration. The Almanda Silver Mining Association was dissolved in 1871 and the mine closed. In 1893, the majority of mine machinery and plant was sold.
Photo(s) courtesy of: Bruce Harry and Associates (2007).