Vatukoula: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Tellurium-89043.jpg|thumb|Native [[tellurium]] crystal on [[sylvanite]] from the Emperor Mine, Vatukoula, Tavua Gold Field (image width 2 mm)]] |
[[File:Tellurium-89043.jpg|thumb|Native [[tellurium]] crystal on [[sylvanite]] from the Emperor Mine, Vatukoula, Tavua Gold Field (image width 2 mm)]] |
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'''Vatukoula''' (meaning "gold rock" in Fijian), is a [[gold]] [[mining]] settlement in [[Fiji]], 9 kilometers inland from the [[Local government |
'''Vatukoula''' (meaning "gold rock" in Fijian), is a [[gold]] [[mining]] settlement in [[Fiji]], 9 kilometers inland from the [[Local government in Fiji|Town]] of [[Tavua, Fiji|Tavua]] on [[Viti Levu]], the main Fiji island (home to the national capital [[Suva]] and its international airport [[Nadi]]). |
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Vatukoula may be viewed historically as the cradle of the modern gold [[mining]] industry in Fiji. In 1934, a Mining Ordinance to regulate the fledgling industry was introduced by the British colonial administration. In the same year, the Emperor Gold Mining Company Ltd. established its operations in Vatukoula, followed in 1935 by the Loloma (Fiji) Gold Mines, N.L., and then by Fiji Mines Development Ltd. (later to become Dolphin Mines.Ltd.). These developments ushered in a "mining boom"for Fiji, with gold production rising more than a hundred-fold, from 931.4 oz in 1934 to 107,788.5 oz in 1939, an order of magnitude then comparable to the output of New Zealand and the eastern Australian states.<ref>White FTM. Prospecting in Fiji. Read 12th August, 1940. Transactions and Proceedings of the Fiji Society of Science and Industry. (11 pages) Vol 2 - 1940-1944. Suva, Fiji.</ref> The Ordinance also gave rise to a Mines [[Inspectorate]], His Majesty's Colonial Mines Service recruiting Australian Frank TM White to set up a Mines Department in Suva. By 1939 White (as Inspector of Mines) initiated a [[geological survey]] of Viti Levu, resulting in Fiji's first geological survey map, published in 1943. Citing and building on this work, the [[mineralization (geology)]] of Fiji was systematically reviewed by a successor, Mines Inspector James FA Taylor, in 1953.<ref>Taylor JFA. Notes on Geology and Mineralization in Fiji. Proceedings Nos 168-169, pages 1-11. 31st March-30th June, 1953. [[Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy]] (inc). Melbourne, Australia.</ref> And in the same year, a more detailed review of the geology of the Vatukoula Goldfield (also known as the Tavua Goldfield) was published by A Blatchford, geologist for the Emperor Gold Mining Company Ltd.;<ref>Blatchford A. Geology of the Tavua Goldfield, Viti Levu, Fiji. Proceedings Nos 168-169, pages 13-51. 31st March-30th June, 1953. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (inc). Melbourne, Australia.</ref> mining and milling operations were also reviewed in detail by their respective company superintendents.<ref>Mitchell DT. A General Description of Mining Operations at Vatukoula, Fiji. Proceedings Nos 168-169, pages 53-93. 31st March-30th June, 1953. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (inc). Melbourne, Australia.</ref><ref>Steel AJ. Milling Practice at Emperor Combined Mill. Proceedings Nos 168-169, pages 95-159. 31st March-30th June, 1953. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (inc). Melbourne, Australia.</ref> Both [[open-pit]] and [[underground mining]] were carried out in Vatukoula. |
Vatukoula may be viewed historically as the cradle of the modern gold [[mining]] industry in Fiji. In 1934, a Mining Ordinance to regulate the fledgling industry was introduced by the British colonial administration. In the same year, the Emperor Gold Mining Company Ltd. established its operations in Vatukoula, followed in 1935 by the Loloma (Fiji) Gold Mines, N.L., and then by Fiji Mines Development Ltd. (later to become Dolphin Mines.Ltd.). These developments ushered in a "mining boom"for Fiji, with gold production rising more than a hundred-fold, from 931.4 oz in 1934 to 107,788.5 oz in 1939, an order of magnitude then comparable to the output of New Zealand and the eastern Australian states.<ref>White FTM. Prospecting in Fiji. Read 12th August, 1940. Transactions and Proceedings of the Fiji Society of Science and Industry. (11 pages) Vol 2 - 1940-1944. Suva, Fiji.</ref> The Ordinance also gave rise to a Mines [[Inspectorate]], His Majesty's Colonial Mines Service recruiting Australian Frank TM White to set up a Mines Department in Suva. By 1939 White (as Inspector of Mines) initiated a [[geological survey]] of Viti Levu, resulting in Fiji's first geological survey map, published in 1943. Citing and building on this work, the [[mineralization (geology)]] of Fiji was systematically reviewed by a successor, Mines Inspector James FA Taylor, in 1953.<ref>Taylor JFA. Notes on Geology and Mineralization in Fiji. Proceedings Nos 168-169, pages 1-11. 31st March-30th June, 1953. [[Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy]] (inc). Melbourne, Australia.</ref> And in the same year, a more detailed review of the geology of the Vatukoula Goldfield (also known as the Tavua Goldfield) was published by A Blatchford, geologist for the Emperor Gold Mining Company Ltd.;<ref>Blatchford A. Geology of the Tavua Goldfield, Viti Levu, Fiji. Proceedings Nos 168-169, pages 13-51. 31st March-30th June, 1953. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (inc). Melbourne, Australia.</ref> mining and milling operations were also reviewed in detail by their respective company superintendents.<ref>Mitchell DT. A General Description of Mining Operations at Vatukoula, Fiji. Proceedings Nos 168-169, pages 53-93. 31st March-30th June, 1953. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (inc). Melbourne, Australia.</ref><ref>Steel AJ. Milling Practice at Emperor Combined Mill. Proceedings Nos 168-169, pages 95-159. 31st March-30th June, 1953. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (inc). Melbourne, Australia.</ref> Both [[open-pit]] and [[underground mining]] were carried out in Vatukoula. |
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[[Category:Gold mining]] |
[[Category:Gold mining]] |
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[[Category:Mining]] |
[[Category:Mining]] |
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Revision as of 08:37, 23 July 2015
Vatukoula (meaning "gold rock" in Fijian), is a gold mining settlement in Fiji, 9 kilometers inland from the Town of Tavua on Viti Levu, the main Fiji island (home to the national capital Suva and its international airport Nadi).
Vatukoula may be viewed historically as the cradle of the modern gold mining industry in Fiji. In 1934, a Mining Ordinance to regulate the fledgling industry was introduced by the British colonial administration. In the same year, the Emperor Gold Mining Company Ltd. established its operations in Vatukoula, followed in 1935 by the Loloma (Fiji) Gold Mines, N.L., and then by Fiji Mines Development Ltd. (later to become Dolphin Mines.Ltd.). These developments ushered in a "mining boom"for Fiji, with gold production rising more than a hundred-fold, from 931.4 oz in 1934 to 107,788.5 oz in 1939, an order of magnitude then comparable to the output of New Zealand and the eastern Australian states.[1] The Ordinance also gave rise to a Mines Inspectorate, His Majesty's Colonial Mines Service recruiting Australian Frank TM White to set up a Mines Department in Suva. By 1939 White (as Inspector of Mines) initiated a geological survey of Viti Levu, resulting in Fiji's first geological survey map, published in 1943. Citing and building on this work, the mineralization (geology) of Fiji was systematically reviewed by a successor, Mines Inspector James FA Taylor, in 1953.[2] And in the same year, a more detailed review of the geology of the Vatukoula Goldfield (also known as the Tavua Goldfield) was published by A Blatchford, geologist for the Emperor Gold Mining Company Ltd.;[3] mining and milling operations were also reviewed in detail by their respective company superintendents.[4][5] Both open-pit and underground mining were carried out in Vatukoula.
The Emperor Mines Limited (EML) shut down in December 2006 due to low price of gold and the high level of capital required to sustain the mining operation. It sold its operations to Westech International, a private company based in Australia. Westech International, in turn, sold the mine to River Diamonds Plc (later renamed Vatukoula Gold Mines Plc).[6] The mine re-opened in April 2008 and is currently producing gold.
References
- ^ White FTM. Prospecting in Fiji. Read 12th August, 1940. Transactions and Proceedings of the Fiji Society of Science and Industry. (11 pages) Vol 2 - 1940-1944. Suva, Fiji.
- ^ Taylor JFA. Notes on Geology and Mineralization in Fiji. Proceedings Nos 168-169, pages 1-11. 31st March-30th June, 1953. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (inc). Melbourne, Australia.
- ^ Blatchford A. Geology of the Tavua Goldfield, Viti Levu, Fiji. Proceedings Nos 168-169, pages 13-51. 31st March-30th June, 1953. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (inc). Melbourne, Australia.
- ^ Mitchell DT. A General Description of Mining Operations at Vatukoula, Fiji. Proceedings Nos 168-169, pages 53-93. 31st March-30th June, 1953. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (inc). Melbourne, Australia.
- ^ Steel AJ. Milling Practice at Emperor Combined Mill. Proceedings Nos 168-169, pages 95-159. 31st March-30th June, 1953. Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (inc). Melbourne, Australia.
- ^ Vatukoula Mine