In the early 1900's, Bendigo had at least four companies treating parcels of gold ores containing mineral sulphides (pyrites). They were the United Pyrites Co., Spargo's, Liddell's and Leggo's Treatment Works. Many banks also had their own assay equipment with a single furnace and a brick chimney n a small building in the yard behind the bank, for example, the Bank of New South Wales in View Street, Bendigo. The assay teaching facility at the Bendigo School of Mines was built in the 1880's and extended, to include a chemical laboratory in 1892. The building was brick with a round brick chimney to a height of about 7 metres above the ground. Two page document on the assay chimneys of the Bendigo goldfield and, specifically, the purpose built laboratory at the Bendigo School of Mines used to teach assaying. Copy of photo attached of the United Pyrites Gold Extraction Company Work c 1887-8. dr. ralph birrell, assay, assay chimneys, united pyrites co., spargo's, liddell's, bendigo school of mines

Typed notes mentioning industries of mining. Items mentioned are: Chief burners or pyrites works chlorination and cyaniding and gives a description of each process. Also mentioned in the notes is the Obelisk at Golden Square as a memorial to the pioneers and Mrs Kennedy and Mrs Farrell who found gold on the Bendigo Creek. Two Copiesdocument, gold, industries, lucy hill collection - incidental industires of mining, pyrites works, cyaniding, obelisk at golden square, united pyrites co, edwards and co, cook and co, spargo and co, j deeble, liddle bros, the jackass flat burner, a victor leggo, cr j e holland, mrs polglais, mrs kennedy, mrssrs fenton and gibson, mount alexander run, mrs farrell, bendigo advertiser