Hi Fellow Listers
I am helping to compile a History of Mining on Boolcoomatta Station, This is a huge 63,000 Hct Sheep station now to become a nature reserve, in South Australia.
I spent many days camping in the 1990's on the station recording what I discovered, photographing, drawing plans etc, so hence I'm helping in the mining side of the area.
Now my quire is_ Is there a crude wood-fired way to smelt Copper Ore, I did not find any trace of any sort of structure that could be a smelter, save a circular mound that looks like there was a fire on top, no slag was visible at the base of the mound, could copper be smelted in a simple big wood fire? the mound is in a gully and I wonder if that would help with the draft I.e. drawing of the fire.
Another possible clue in the Newspaper Reports, it said that the Miners took turns at the weekend to go out and gather firewood? [Did not say weather for cook fires or smelting?]
Lastly in the Company Prospectus in the 1872's is this brief info:
Boolcoomatta Copper Mining & Smelting Company.
"There are good supplies of timber for smelting, and Good clean drinking water on the property" [Neither is true]
In fact the wood is scarce, the area being semi arid 'Salt Bush Country'.
Can any one please help me? I can send a photo of the site if required?
Take Care
Roger B Bradford, Of Elizabeth,South Australia
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