Roger Baden Bradford wrote:
>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
>
>
>
Dear Roger B Bradford,
If you could send me a photograph of the site, it would be useful. The
major problem is of course the presents of slag. Is there any slag
anywhere about ? Any ore samples at the circular mound ?
Beno Rothenberg
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