Tony 'Bomber' Bower-Miles was a young sapper in the Australian Army when he first went to Vietnam in 1969. landmines were one of the biggest threats faced by troops on both sides, and much of Bomber's work involved the dangerous task of clearing them.vietnam war, 1961 - 1975 -- veterans -- biography, land mines - detection - vietnam

In 1967, Brigadier Stuart Graham issued the calamitous order: First Australian Task Force would construct an 11 kilometre 'barrier fence and minefield' containing over 20,000 powerful M16 landmines in Phuoc Tuy Province, Southern Vietnam. The purpose of the 'barrier' was to separate and to shield the majority of the population in the south-west province from his enemy's regular forces in the north and east.australia. army. australian task force (vietnam), land mines -- phuoc tuy (vietnam : province), m16 landmines, brigadier stuart graham, phuoc tuy province, operation leeton, operation pinaroo, first australian task force

In 1967, Brigadier Stuart Graham issued the calamitous order: First Australian Task Force would construct an 11 kilometre 'barrier fence and minefield' containing over 20,000 powerful M16 landmines in Phuoc Tuy Province, Southern Vietnam. The purpose of the 'barrier' was to separate and to shield the majority of the population in the south-west province from his enemy's regular forces in the north and east.australia. army. australian task force (vietnam), land mines -- phuoc tuy (vietnam : province), first australian task force, m16 landmines, phuoc tuy province, brigadier stuart graham, operation leeton, operation pinaroo

In 1967, Brigadier Stuart Graham issued the calamitous order: First Australian Task Force would construct an 11 kilometre 'barrier fence and minefield' containing over 20,000 powerful M16 landmines in Phuoc Tuy Province, Southern Vietnam. The purpose of the 'barrier' was to separate and to shield the majority of the population in the south-west province from his enemy's regular forces in the north and east.australia. army. australian task force (vietnam), land mines -- phuoc tuy (vietnam : province), 8rar, 8 rar, operation hammersley, m16 landmines, brigadier stuart graham, operation pinaroo, operation leeton

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of an Australian Engineers crawls around a road block constructed by VietCong across the National Highway North West of the Province capital Baria. Once the charges and mines were isolated, the Engineer cleared the obstruction and reopened the roadphotograph, nva/vc, engineers, baria, gibbons collection catalogue, viet cong, national highway, province, land mines, denis gibbons

Photograph of 2 soldiers in jungle greens sweeping for land mines. 1 solider is drouching with an SLR. The other solider carries a mine sweeper and is wearing head phonesphotograph, mine sweeping, slr

Framed coloured photo of what appears to be captured weapons including a rocket launcher, serveral rockets and land mines. civilian men, women and children can be seen in the background.photograph, weapons

Colour photograph Bowls Club Manager Geoff Rhodes presenting cheque to John Couzens, Land Mine Amputees Fundraiser. Bill Aitkens and Jenny Dowie behind the bar. Lakes Entrance Victoriabowls club, donation, fundraising

An Poster, Information Board of a Schematic drawing and two colour photos with description of Battle of Binh Ba 1969. Two other photos of other actions of 2nd tour. Tiger emblem on black V. Black text on white background Under the bottom black and white photograph reads: Survivors of a land mine disaster on the 15th of June 1969. D comapny 12 Platoon 5 RAR suffered heavy casualties due a land mine detonation at Dat Do. Pictured are the six survivors. Rear Private W Morgan, Private A Tuckfield, Front B Savige, Lance Corporal R Chaplin, Lance Corporal R Knapp, Private A Van Hulst.dat do, 5 rar, pte w.morgan, pte a. tuckfield, pte b. savage, pte a van hulet, l/cpl r. chaplin, l/cpl r knapp, poster, information board, battle of binh ba, 12 platoon, 33 nva regiment, viet cong, battle honour, 1 atf

Items in the collection re Lt. Col. Swatton, refer Cat No 6719.2P for his service details.This is a handmade folder holding foolscap sheets. The sheets are printed on both sides. Some of the sheets have drawings of patrol formations, maps and how to make booby traps. It has several pages of Japanese Battle procedures. The book is bound with 2 metal clips. It has R.T. Procedures, Land Mines and barbed wire entanglements.Written on front is "MAJ. Priddle". Inside front cover, on a sticky label is "On loan from the estate of Colonel J. W. Swatton Ref No. JWS M36". passchendaele barracks trust, battle procedures

Recorded inside -: Pte AB Bishop ux37033 2/2nd Info Bn.Small Booklet containing Photographs and Characteristics of Basic weapons Encounted In SWPA. It is a pocket book 14cm x10cm of 50 pages detailing many items including -: flags and badges, pistols ,rifles grenades,various guns, bombs, land mines, flame thrower, tanks, tanks and mortars. Dated June 1943. Book belonged to VX37033 Andrew Bishop.GS(INT). ADV HQ ALLIED LAND FORCES SWPA NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection A black and white photograph of An armoured Engineer D8 bulldozer 'Miss Fit' involved in land and mine clearing operations up to the foothills of the Long Hai Mountains supported by Centurian Tanks and APCs out of Firebase Thrust photograph, centurion tank, armoured personnel carrier, long hai hills, firebase thrust, gibbons collection catalogue, d8 bulldozer, long hai mountains, "miss fit", denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of an armoured Engineer D8 bulldozer 'Miss Fit' involved in land and mine clearing operations up to the foothills of the Long Hai Mountains. The Engineer on the front of the D8 was directed. The driver, who could not see, because of the thicknss of the jungle.photograph, d8 bulldozer, long hai hills, engineers, gibbons collection catalogue, engineer, mine clearing, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of an Engineer 'Tunnel Rat' wearing a flack jacket enters a tunnel found leading into the Long Hai Hills during land and mine clearance operations in July 1969. The Engineers were under the protection of D coy 6 RAR/NZ (ANZAC), artillery, Mortar and Naval gunfire.photograph, tunnel rats, d coy, long hai hills, gibbons collection catalogue, artillery, mortars, gunfire, engineers, 6 rar/nz (anzac), denis gibbons

A recording of music at the annual Anzac Eve Commemoration Ceremonies in late 1950s. Legacy has held annual "Anzac Commemoration Ceremony for Students" events, usually held just prior to ANZAC Day. It was a recording of the Australian Boys Choir singing 'Land of Mine' and 'Recessional'A record for ceremony at the Shrine. This recording was a means of providing words and music at ceremonies for Legacy or recording the proceedings. Plastic vinyl disc 45 RPM.Paper label giving details of the recording (both sides).anzac commemoration for students, songs

Higher education in east Gippsland dates back to 1890, and the opening of the Bairnsdale District School of Mines, In 1986 the Bairnsdale School of Mines and the Sale and Bairnsdale Technical schools amalgamated to form the East Gippsland Community College of TAFE. In 1995 it became the East Gippsland Institute of Technology, and in 2011 changed its name to Advance TAFE. The Bairnsdale District School of Mines Prospectus includes the members of council, a photographic image of the school, teaching staff, rules relating to students and instructors, Constitution, and a prospectus of subjects including Mining and Science Subjects, Diploma Courses, Preliminary Training, Metallurgy Course, Mining Engineering Course, Battery Manager's Certificate, Assayer's Certificate. It also includes a scale of fees, information on the Metallurgical Plant, Chemistry, Assaying and Metallurgy, Geology, Mining Geology, Mining, Petrology, Dynamics and Heat, Magnetism & Electricity, Mechanics Applied to Mining, Land Surveying, Mine Surveying, Algebra, Euclid, Trigonometry, Mechanical Drawing, Practical Plane Geometry, Practical Solid Geometry, Engineering Drawing, Art Subjects, and a list of certificates issued by the school since 1892.Grey soft covered book of 68 pages. The Bairsndale District School of Mines Prospectus includes the members of council, an photographic image of the school, teaching staff, rules relating to students and instructors, Constitution, and a prospectus of subjects including Mining and Science Subjects, Diploma Courses, Preliminary Training, Metallurgy Course, Mining Engineering Course, Battery Manager's Certificate, Assayer's Certificate. It also includes a scale of fees, information on the Metallurgical Plant and its chares, Chemistry, Assaying and Metallurgy, Geology, Mining Geology, Mining, Petrology, Dynamics and Heat, Magnetism & Electricity, Mechanics Applied to Mining, Land Surveying, Mine Surveying, Algebra, Euclid, Trigonometry, Mechanical Drawing, Practical Plane Geometry, Practical Solid Geometry, Engineering Drawing, Art Subjects, and a list of certificates issued by the school since 1892.bairnsdale district school of mines, bairnsdale, school of mines, donald clark, francis w. sewell, j.v.r. anderson, a.d. pleydell, walter seehusen, director, mining engineering, metallurgy, academy of arts, municipal surveyor, 1914

A person wanting to dig for Gold or any other precious metal were required to register a claim on the land to be mined, the claim had to be measured & pegged to be specific as to its size and shape.Certificate Miners Claim No 058gold, document, certificate, miners claim

Four pages typewritten history of Fortuna Villa from Mr. Ballerstedt purchasing the mine and land from the Wittscheibe Brothers to the subsequent sale to George Lansell and the various developments.place, fortuna, fortuna villa

The map maker, Ferdinand M. Krause, was a professor at the Ballarat School of Mines. This land was printed form the Crown Lands Department, Melbourne. Coloured map of the County of Grenville. The edge has been taped. The scale is 40 chains to 1 inch. The map is accompanied with a foolscap sheet printed by the Mines Department in 1898. It is a Report on the Parish of Smythesdale by F.M. Krause and includes information on the water reserve, worked quartz veins, Watson's Hill, Surface Hill and Sugarloaf Hill, Haddon, Trunk Lead and the Crucible Shaft. smythesdale, krause, f.m. krause, ferdinand krause, nitingbool, watson's hill, surface hill, sugarloaf hill, haddon

An audio recording from 24 April 1956. The tape has not been played. From the date it could be a recording of the annual "Anzac Commemoration Ceremony for Students" event, usually held just prior to Anzac Day. The ceremony provides a valuable opportunity for students to gain an appreciation of the Anzac spirit, the significance of the Shrine and the meaning of Anzac Day. Inscription starts with 'Shrine Ceremony', 'Commentator L/ W Scott', also 'Governor Sir Dallas Brooks', 'Land of mine', 'Pres L/ R Gaylard'. Legatee Gaylard was president in 1956. The Governor of Victoria was patron of Legacy at the time and attended many ceremonies and events.A record of a ceremony at the Shrine run by Legacy for students.An audio tape, 90 mins, on a clear plastic spool in a red cardboard box.Box, Recording tape for magictape recorders,Pyrox LTD. 14-36 Queensberry St. Melbourne 18 Albion St. Sydney Sound- recording Tape 60 minutes twin track. For use with magictape recorders.All in blue print The Official Magictape in white print on a dark blue background. Title Melbourne Legacy,speed 7 1/2" per sec, in blue biro. Various recordings listed with times in blue ink. Spool. Side no1, side no 2, Magictape made in Australia. Tape. anzac commemoration for students, governor of victoria

Typed letter from C . D. Sheumack, President of the Rotary Club of Bendigo South to The Town Clerk, City of Bendigo. Dated 14th July 1971. He is seeking approval and financial support to develop the vacant land opposite the Gold Mines Hotel for a park area. The Club desires to to erect a toilet block and Gas Barbeque provisions.document, memo, victoria hill, victoria hill, letter to the town clerk from c d sheumack, the bendigo tourist and development association, rotary club of bendigo south, gold mines hotel, c d sheumack

Document prepared by the Electric Supply Co of Victoria, as part of an order under the Electric Light and Power Act 1896, section 5 of order No. 17 granted to company. Dated 19/2/1901 and signed by the Postmaster-General. Shows the order area being parts of the City of Ballaarat, Sebastopol and Ballarat East. Shows the street names, boundaries, principal power line routes, land reserves, parks, mine locations, railways and Lake Wendouree. Signed by R L Williams Town Clerk City of Ballarat, J R Hall for the Borough of Sebastopol, and John Gent for the Town of Ballarat EastYields information about the power supply to the Ballarat area.Cloth backed paper map, coloured and marked up as exhibit 17.Notes in ink including the signature of Benjamin Deakin 24/9/00 and certified by the three involved municipal Town Clerks.ballarat power supply, esco, electric supply co of victoria, city of ballaarat, east ballarat, sebastopol, orders, power lines, power supply

6 page document plus map : Gold mining lease No. 11145 between Crown ( King George VI) and North Deborah Mining Company, Parish of Sandhurst, dated 14th February, 1941. Map: Lease No. 11145 'Mining District of Bendigo, County of Bendigo, Parish of Sandhurst. Total area 48 acres, 3 roods, 22 perches. Map has extensive colour key indicating depths below surface that will be mined. Crown land and surface excised shown in orange cross-hatching. Lease holdings on map: 10753, 11020, 1363 T.L., 1115 T.L., 11013, 11062, 11033, 9988. Dam shown on 11013. Railway line marked through centre of map. Map refers to central area of Bendigo and includes reference to Hargreaves Street, Violet Street, Lily Street, Breen Street and Sullivan Street.bendigo, mining, north deborah mining company, breen street, lilly street, hargreaves street, voilet street, sullivan street.

The largest gold mine in the area originated from a find in 1862. The mine was closed January 20, 1915 when a fire destroyed nearly all the above ground plant. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p75 Beneath Mine Hill, as locals call it, runs a network of tunnels once of central importance to the fledgling township of Diamond Creek. These are relics of gold mines, which transformed early Diamond Creek.1 The tiny settlement of about 20 families soared to more than 200 because of gold. For around 50 years, from 1862, gold mining was Diamond Creek’s major source of employment. On September 7, 1854 The Argus newspaper reported a find of a four pound (1.8kg) gold nugget in Nillumbik (an early name for Diamond Creek). Exactly where, is not known.2 The largest mine in the district, the Diamond Creek Gold Mine, apparently originated from a find in 1862. It is said Joe and Dave Wilson were visiting former tailor then cook, Charles Orme, at the southern end of Fraser Street. Sitting on a stump outside the front gate on land belonging to Dr A. E. Phipps the Wilsons found a vein of gold-bearing quartz, which led to the discovery of four quartz reefs varying in width to eight inches (20cm), running north and south. A reef found at the foot of the hill opposite Challenger Street became the Union Mine. This reef was traced south to Allendale Road where a small mine began operations.3 Other smaller mines later operated as well. Dr Phipps immediately began to mine and also built the Diamond Reef Hotel as a boarding house for miners. But Charles Orme, who owned the land alongside, leased his mine to Dr Phipps probably because of insufficient funds and business skills. By mid 1865 the mine had produced 2530 ounces of gold – a 100% profit on the original outlay. Of course there were problems. When the local dam dried up a Blake pump was installed to draw water from the creek. The Union Mine operated under the Diamond Creek Gold Mine management except when disputes sometimes resulted in separate management. However disagreements had to be resolved as the Union Mine depended on Diamond Creek Gold Mine pumps to remove underground water from common reefs. In 1912 the main shaft of about 380 yards (350m) employed 200 men recovering an average of 5000 ounces (141.7kg) of gold a year. But not everyone did well out of gold. Records of failed mining companies in the Victorian Public Record Office, reveal that owner Dr Phipps leased his Right to others. Companies came and went over the next 40 years, most sponsored by Melbourne businessmen who sold shares to gullible locals and then became insolvent. Although there were some good profits, financial returns were haphazard until 1905. Some local residents, who were share holders in short- term companies, became well-known names in modern Diamond Creek such as Scott, Haley, Butler, Alder, Ryan, Wadeson, Reeves, Alston, Paul and Edwards. Gold mining was brought to a disastrous end on January 20, 1915 at 3 pm, when fire destroyed nearly all the above-ground plant. Fortunately no lives were lost. But reopening the mine was almost impossible because of the increasing depth of water in the main shaft. The closed mine destroyed the livelihood of 200 families and the debris took many years to clear.4 In 1946 the Diamond Creek Gold Mine was reopened by the Golden Hind Mining Company, but money ran out before the 600 feet (182.8m) or so of water could be removed. Gold remains in the mine but enormous capital would be needed to buy the land, equipment and to remove the water. Today 12 known sealed shafts along the ridge of the hills on private property extend west for around one kilometre from the corner of Fraser and Haley Streets, crossing Norma and Fyffe to Dering Streets. As recently as 1987, heavy rains revealed a former Union Mine shaft in the Georgiadis family Fyffe Street back yard.5 Allendale Mine, south of Allendale Road, is still open and one of the Union Mine’s main drives (horizontal excavation) remains unsealed, on the Creek Reserve.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, diamond creek, diamond creek mine, fraser street, gold mining, james cook drive, mine hill

The Sulieman Pasha is possibly named after the most important Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Suleiman One, or Suleiman the Magnificent, when the Ottoman Empire was at its peak. Or potentially a number of Ottoman governors, statesmen and military commanders with the same name after, however the spelling is slightly different to the mine name. No Turkish connection was found relating to the formation of the company, and remains unconfirmed. The mine operated from two shafts; No. 1 near the corner of Humffray and Mair streets, and also near where the Welcome Nugget (2217 ounces) was found years earlier; and the controversial No. 2 shaft several blocks south bordering the northern side of the main highway through Ballarat. The company produced 62 666 ounces of gold, the twelfth highest quartz reef gold production for any mine on the Ballarat goldfield. Some crushing figure examples are January-June 1881: 3674 tonnes 1085 ounces; January-June 1885: 2949 tonnes 1281 ounces; July-December 1885: 4459 tonnes 1119 ounces; January-June 1887: 1869 tonnes 730 ounces; July-December 1892: 1450 tonnes 771 ounces; July-December 1896: 4365 tonnes 1372 ounces. Like many mines in the area, gold grades were low. John Watson was noted as mine manager in the 1880s, and John Williams 1890s. The company was re-organised twice increasing the number of shares from 4000 to 24 000, and increasing the capital available. The Sulieman Pasha Company was formed in 1878. David Fitzpatrick was given the honour of turning the first sod of both the No.1 and later No. 2 shafts. The first dividend was given to shareholders in July 1881. The company obtained a prospecting vote (government grant) to start, and was very proud to be the first Victorian gold mining company to pay the funds back to the government. The event was marked by a lavish banquet laid out for ministers and government officials by the company. Leases were purchased to the south in 1885 to the Llanberris Mine boundary, after poor results began accumulating from the small No. 1 shaft. To take advantage of this new land the company planned to sink a second shaft. Initially this was to take place on government land, but the uproar from nearby residents caused the company to purchase land along the Main Road (now Western Highway), and the old Yarrowee Hotel which had occupied the site since the alluvial digger days of the 1850's was demolished. The area had since those days become heavily occupied with a number of shops, houses, a post office, church and two schools in the immediate area. The thought of an underground mine next door drew considerable opposition. The company (before the days of public relations departments) wrote 'most people would have thought that progress as vital as mining would be supported by tradesmen whose business rely on the mining industry. It seems when it comes to mining they are bereft of their senses, and considering the low ebb of mining in Ballarat East, the action of our opponents are unaccountable. (Sarcastically) There are certain engineering difficulties in moving the quartz reefs to a new location, but if we could to appease our opponents we would'. The company also wanted to take over 4 acres of the St Paul's school oval for machinery, but accused the St Paul's Church of wanting extortionate amounts of money upfront, and on a yearly basis for the privilege. It stated the church could not be opposed to mining when several years earlier it had formed its own company to mine the land, only for shareholders to lose their money. In 1886, the company approached the Minister for Mines, and attended heated public meetings on the matter. The local residents, shop owners, and church submitted a 60 person petition to the local council and government authorities. They stated the shaft contravened the mining statutes, which stating no mining could take place within 150 yards of a public building or church. A speech by a resident stated 'mining always comes with glorious pictures of the great benefits which would accrue all parties concerned if their request is granted, but if property is destroyed or depreciated in value, no-one then comes forward and compensates them'. The No. 2 shaft was approved including taking over part of the school oval. In 1888, workers at the company's No. 2 shaft went on strike to try and bring their wages in line with other mines in the district (the No. 1 shaft was operated by tributers). William Madden (26) was killed from a fall of earth underground the same year, while a year later his father John Madden (70) was similarly killed in the Madame Berry Mine elsewhere in the district. In 1897 as the amount of gold being found fell away, it came to light part of the deal to purchase the Yarrowee Hotel site was a 5% royalty on gold found. Shareholders could not understand why they were paying a royalty to the former owners of the property. The mine closed in 1898 due to a lack of gold. In 1902 a boy (age unknown) called Charles Lee was killed from a fractured skull while working to dismantle the Sulieman Pasha plant. The fuss over the No. 2 shaft had a sequel. On the company winding up, the land was purchased by J.S. Trethowan who built a house next to the shaft. In 1907, the shaft caved-in creating a sinkhole immediately at the back of the house. A Mr Chamberlain heard a deep rumbling sound at 5am, and looked out the window to see his fowl house and thirteen chickens disappear down an expanding hole. He then went back to bed, and called the police later in the day. The shaft was 1050 feet deep, and the hole at the surface that developed was 20 feet by 17 feet across, and 20 feet depth. In 1930 it is reported a syndicate had been formed to clean out the old shaft, and re-open the mine. It is assumed this was the No. 1 shaft but no more was found. (https://www.mindat.org/loc-304239.html, accessed 07/08/2019) A transverse section plan of the Sulieman Pasha Mine.sulieman pasha company, plan, mining, united black hill mine, victoria united mine, victoria street, britannia united mine, last chance mine, llanberris mine, ottoman empire, john watson, john williams, david fitzpatrick

This specimen originated from Mount Lyell on the west coast of Tasmania, where a large group of open cut and underground copper-silver-gold mines began operating in 1883. Between 1893-1994, the Mt Lyell Mining and Railway Company were responsible for operations. The Mt Lyell copper-gold mines produce some excellent crystallised specimens of chalcopyrite and other minerals. The deposits are generally considered to be of Cambrian volcanic origin, but there are indications of Devonian granitic influence on the ores, plus local remobilisation during Devonian deformation. Over 120 million tonnes of ore was produced from several workings, including the main Prince Lyell mine and the North Lyell mine, which was also of great importance. The Mount Lyell mines have a long history of human and environmental disasters, including the 1912 North Lyell fire that killed 42 miners, and two separate incidents in 2013 in which three people lost their lives. The environmental impacts from this complex of mines are extensive, with waste tailings and heavy metal contamination flowing directly into the King and Queen River catchments. In 1954, the eminent Australian historian, Geoffrey Blainey, published 'The Peaks of Lyell' which delves into the history of the 1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster.Chalcopyrite does not contain the most copper in its structure relative to other minerals, but it is the most important copper ore since it can be found in many localities and occurs in a variety of ore types. The brassy-yellow colours in Chalcopyrite mean it is often confused with pyrites and gold, leading to use of the term, "fool's gold." Chalcopyrite has been the primary ore of copper since smelting began five thousand years ago. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.This hand sized solid mineral specimen has shades of brass-yellow with spots of iridescent green-black tarnish. Chalcopyrite is a copper iron sulphide mineral and a major ore of copper common in sulphide veins and disseminated in igneous rocks. Chalcopyrite has a hardness of 3.5-4 on the Mohs Scale. It is a member of the tetragonal crystal system and has metallic lustre and opaque transparency.burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geology, geological specimen, chalcopyrite, copper pyrites, copper mining, tasmanian geology, mount lyell, mount lyell mines, fools gold, mohs scale, crystals, minerals, historical geological collection, victorian geological survey, a.r.c selwyn, gold rush, van diemans land