On this day - 19 October 1872 - what was found ?

[Wally69]

On this day a German born miner found something that everyone on this forum would love to show off to their friends.

Who, what and where was it ?

 

[5ftfossicker]

Ahhhh holtermann ... how we can only wish

 

[GypsyGoldAu]

I'm gonna go for this.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhardt_Holtermann

What'd i win?

 

[5ftfossicker]

Holtermann , gold lots of gold (15000 ish oz matrix? ) , and hill end im pretty sure .. and i only know this cos i read the story about a month ago ..

 

[GypsyGoldAu]

Holtermann , gold lots of gold (15000 ish oz matrix? ) , and hill end im pretty sure .. and i only know this cos i read the story about a month ago ..

:8 :8 errmm, it was 5000 Oz's of gold.. (and further~wrongly~ quoted as 57 kg), but your number closely resembles the 155,500 (gms) when converted down.

The entire matrix weighed on the surface @ 286kg (630 lbs), was 1.5mtr (59") long/tall/high....

An even LARGER bit was found the same week by the same company, yet it was broken down on the surface before any pics were taken (the story goes...).

Cheers

 

[user 4485]

Heres some more trivia:
- it was estimated @ 3000 ounces. It was crushed with 272 tonnes of other ore from the mine for a total yield of 15,488 ounces & 11dwt's of gold.
- Holtermann didn't find it. It was unearthed after underground blasting by his workers. As the mine manager at the time he was photographed with it. Truth be known it is thought that a former partner (Hammond) in the mine, who despite protests from the other mine owners including Holtermann, sealed the old shaft & started a new one in a different direction striking rich vein gold. He sold his share in the mine before the "Beyers & Holtermann" specimen find.
- a larger piece was later found (recorded in the mines day book) but was broken up before being removed to the surface. It was estimated at 5,000 ounces & was displayed for a short time before being crushed. It wasn't photographed as Beaufoy Merlin was elsewhere at the time.
- History Hill purchased from Holtermann's great grandson, Harry Holtermann, much of Holtermann's personal artifacts. Day books from the mine, collectibles and most important a treasured souvenir. Holtermann chipped the tip off the World's Largest piece of gold. All that remains is now in The Holtermann Room, History Hill museum @ Hill End.

 

[GypsyGoldAu]

...funny how the info. from different sources reveal the differences in the reporting of the day....our info. seems at odds with themselves.

:/ 8)

Gypsy

 

[user 4485]

My info comes from History Hill mostly & is based on the mines day book + other Holtermann artifacts held by History Hill. Better source than Wikipedia I reckon
http://www.historyhill.com.au/gold_bigandbest.html

 

[GypsyGoldAu]

Oh i agree, as i meant to note in that post with a touch of sarcasm was mine was from a "public" editable site....and also highlight that what the newspaper wrote, isn't always what the real case is/was. The basic tenents of the info. is there, just jumbled to make it confusing, and i agree, the "company" records would be the more trustworthy (if from a 'reputable' company & not a FBN scam) as a source of info.

Gypsy

 

[Wally69]

Got to get me one of them one day

 

[GypsyGoldAu]

Yup....(in Croc Dundee's voice)...now THAT"S a specie.... :lol:

 

[SCROUNGER]

Got to get me one of them one day

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/1916/1445215373_image.jpg

There's a similarity between that bloke in the pic and your avatar Wally. All you need now is the 'McNugget' to go with it :lol: :lol:
Now that would be happy days finding something that ginormous.

 

[Redfin]

As featured on Landline
http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2013/s3722536.htm

and the photo collection
http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/society_art/photography/holtermann/

the detail in these photo plates is amazing - make sure you view fullscreen and zoom in

 

[Wally69]

I have spent hours looking at that collection, the clarity of detail captured is truely amazing.

If anyone wants to know why they find so many boot tacks, or wants to solve other mysteries, it is a great place to look.

 

[SCROUNGER]

Try detecting in a pair of those boots :lol:

 

[GypsyGoldAu]

Try detecting in a pair of those boots :lol:

Sounds like a lead-in to an "Otto Shafts" ad......lol

Don't forget the shetland pony horse shoe heels when working on hard rock mines.

Cheers