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Irish Times – Gold found but no rush expected to surveyed Irish rivers – IMC Exploration
Geological study finds higher than anticipated metal levels in Wicklow’s Goldmines river – by Dick Ahlstrom – Irish Times
High gold levels were found in the aptly named Goldmines river in Co Wicklow. These are where the 5 gold prospecting licenses owned by IMC Exploration (IMCP) are situated.
A geological survey has revealed higher than expected levels of gold and platinum in the streams and rivers of the southeast of Ireland.
The discovery is hardly likely to trigger a gold rush, however, given it is illegal to sell anything extracted from riverbed grit.
The potential hotspots were identified in an ongoing national survey called Tellus run by the Geological Survey of Ireland. It is mapping Ireland’s entire geology using aerial and ground studies.
The survey decided to reassess river grit samples using the latest technology and confirmed high gold levels in a number of streams and rivers, including the aptly named Goldmines river and Avoca regions of Co Wicklow. These are where the 5 gold prospecting licenses owned by IMC Exploration (IMCP) are situated.
There is another zone of gold in Wicklow north of the Sugar Loaf region and also along the “gold coast” in the Dungarvan to Stradbally areas of Co Waterford.
Platinum was found mainly to the southeast of Aughrim and Tinahely on the Wicklow-Wexford border, the study found.
People could try using the traditional “panning” method to harvest some of this gold, but it is not a “get rich quick” scheme.
Link here for full article.
The Prospect of Large Gold Nuggets! – IMC Exploration
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wicklow’s gold – An excerpt from the book by Dr Peadar McArdle.
Dr McArdle, who recently retired as Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, has had a long term interest in the history and origin of the Goldmine River gold deposits.
Text copyright Dr Peadar McArdle 2011.
Pt 13 – The Prospect of Large Gold Nuggets!
What made Goldmine River so distinctive and important was the prospect of coming upon large gold nuggets which could provide the finder with an instant fortune. No wonder there has been such confusion over the weight, constitution and even location of the more spectacular examples. Here are some candidates for the role of largest nugget:
- “The Wicklow Nugget, found in Ballin Stream in County Wicklow, 1795.” It was owned by King George III and weighs 682g.
- Mr Atkinson, Lord Carysfoot’s agent, refused 80 guineas for a gold-encrusted quartz specimen, according to newspapers of 1795.
- “The largest specimen of native gold found in Europe as yet known, is that discovered in the County of Wicklow. It weighs 22 ounces.”
- 22oz nugget bought by Turner Camac for £80 12 shillings and presented to George III, who had it made into a snuff box.
There will always be fascination about the largest gold nugget and what happened to it. The information above is from authoritative accounts – which shows the level of confusion! So it is time to turn to Valentine Ball (1843-1895), a tall bearded man who spent 17 years with the Geological Survey of India in the search for economic minerals. He had notable success in finding coal deposits in West Bengal which are still being mined. Following a short stint in the Chair of Geology and Mineralogy at Trinity College Dublin, he became in 1883 the Director to the precursor to the Natural Museum of Ireland. He oversaw its relocation to the Leinster House premises it still occupies but was forced to resign through ill health at age 51 and died shortly after. He was clearly motivated in his new post. His interest in the gold nuggets arose from his need to label accurately any material held by the museum.
After much careful consideration, Ball concluded that the two gentlemen, Abraham Coates and Turner Camac, were the probable donors of the largest nugget to King George III and that the latter received it by early 1796. The allegation that the monarch had it made into something as trivial as a snuff box elicits the following comment from Ball, a most loyal subject of His Majesty. “That a snuff-box was made of a 22oz nugget may seem incredible, but possibly in some other form, and with an inscription, the metal may have been preserved, and this record of fact and dissipation of myth, will I trust, aid in its ultimate identification.”
With the passage of a century since its donation, it seems overly optimistic to think that it might then be found, but earnest Ball does not entirely subscribe to this view: “Although I have not been able to obtain information from Windsor Castle as to the existence of any trace of this transaction, I by no means despair of such ultimately being found.”
Nevertheless the fame of the largest nugget, 22 ounces in reputed weight, did not diminish with time. In fact several models of it were made soon after its discovery and examples are now in the possession of the National Museum of Ireland, the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Natural History Museum, London....
To be continued…
Other books by Dr Peadar McArdle can be viewed on Amazon here
Where is the Gold in Wicklow’s Goldmine River district? – IMC Exploration
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wicklow’s gold – An excerpt from the book by Dr Peadar McArdle.
Dr McArdle, who recently retired as Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, has had a long term interest in the history and origin of the Goldmine River gold deposits.
Text copyright Dr Peadar McArdle 2011.
Pt 12 – Where is the Gold in Wicklow’s Goldmine River district?
Where is the gold in the Goldmine River district? This was well illustrated on a map published in 1971 by Tom Reeves, a professional geologist by training, but better known to Irish consumers, until his recent retirement, as the Commissioner for Energy Regulation. The main focus of placer gold was along the Goldmine River itself, downstream of Ballinagore Bridge and there are additional occurrences reported from the stream at Knockmiller further east, here called the Eastern Goldmine River. These occur both east and ESE of the Ballycoog-Moneyteige ridge. There are further showings along the Coolbawn River wich flows northwest from Croghan Kinshelagh towards Annacurragh as well as along the Aughrim River and its tributaries immediately north and ENE of the Ballycoog-Moneyteige ridge. Further away, and less directly relevant to our story, are gold placer occurrences along the Avoca and Ow Rivers. The occurrences, as well as bedrock gold, all occur in close association with the outline of the zone of volcanic rocks which extends from Avoca district. Yes, even in 1801 Fraser really did get it right: there is indeed a link between volcanic bedrock and placer gold in this area.
We have an accurate knowledge of the extent of the original gold workings in the Goldmine River area because Thomas Harding, Surveyor, and his assistant undertook an arduous survey of the river, its tributaries and surrounding mountainous terrain. Harding was an accomplished and successful surveyor, residing on Prussia Street in Dublin, but he had to share the credit for his labours with several others. The resulting Mineralogical Map, published in December 1801, gives a fascinating insight into the extent of alluvial gold and workings, as well as the old (even then!) mine workings on Ballycoog-Moneyteige ridge. But then this was no ordinary map, being executed by command of His Excellency, Philip Earl of Hardwicke, Lord Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland. It was done under the direction of Richard Kirwan, who was Inspector General of Mines, and the Directors of His Majesty’s Goldmine: Abraham Mills, Thomas King and Thomas Weaver. Kirwan had visited its location back in 1796 and now, five years later, it was being published. It was certainly a good basis for presenting the new exploration strategy being proposed by the directors. It may have been intended for official eyes only – uneducated peasants could not be expected to glean much information from such a technical document. But then they wouldn’t have desired it either, all they would have wanted was free access to the workings again!
In the aftermath of any gold rush there is an understandable concentration on finding the bedrock source of the alluvial wealth. There will be references to the ‘Mother Lode’, suggesting that the bedrock source may be even more bountiful than the daughter alluvium. However in many cases this is not the case at all. The bedrock source may have been entirely eroded during the placer formation so that no bedrock ore remains. Alternatively, the main bedrock source may be buried below surface in a position that remains inaccessible – and undiscovered. For example, the placers of the Klondyke yielded over 12 million fine ounces of gold but the bedrock there has only produced 1,000 fine ounces. This has led, and not only in the Klondyke, to a frantic search for a myriad of alternative bedrock sources: a similar situation quickly developed in the Goldmine River valley....
To be continued…
Other books by Dr Peadar McArdle can be viewed on Amazon here
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wicklow’s gold pt 9 – IMC Exploration
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wicklow’s gold – An excerpt from the book by Dr Peadar McArdle.
Dr McArdle, who recently retired as Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, has had a long term interest in the history and origin of the Goldmine River gold deposits.
Text copyright Dr Peadar McArdle 2011.
Pt 9 – Born of Fire & Frost
Within a few short years of its discovery, the public reputation of the Goldmine River had been brought into line with a harsh reality. Yes there certainly was alluvial gold there, and it could be spectacular, but its quantity was limited and no local bedrock source – no Mother Lode – had materialised. Its workings were abandoned, apart from the periodic patrols of the militia stationed there. Perhaps only the surreptitious attention of nocturnal neighbours would preserve its memory for future generations. Would this be the end of the matter or could there yet be other twists to the story? A pessimistic outcome seemed inevitable and would perhaps be in keeping with the depressing disappointment of recent political and military events throughout Ireland.
Yet there had to be a good geological reason to explain the exuberant workings in the first place. At this very time, Robert Fraser was finalising the first geological map of the County of Wicklow, illustrating the distribution of its varied rock types with a variety of colours. Fraser had already prepared reports on agriculture and related aspects of Devon and Cornwall and now he would report to the (Royal) Dublin Society on the current state of County Wicklow. And there in the southwest corner of the county, including the district around the Goldmine River and Avoca, was a distinctive group of rocks for which Fraser had reserved a uniquely golden colour. What could this mean? He was certainly aware of the area’s copper and gold resources, stating that it was “abounding in metallic (sic) productions to an extent not by any means ascertained, but which will in all probability be capable of employing the most extensive capital and an indefinite number of hands.”
To understand the distribution and origin of gold in the sediment of the Goldmine River valley we must first consider its geological context. Many visitors to Dublin will take the time to explore the scenic landscape of the neighbouring Wicklow region, a landscape that many residents may take for granted and which is sculpted from its diversity of rock types. The most extensive rock group, called the Ribband Group from its striped appearance in outcrop, comprises mudstones and siltstones which have been converted to slaty rocks. They form the lower ground, mainly farmland, of eastern Wicklow as well as many of the lower hills, along many of whose forest roads it is exposed. The mountainous spine of Wicklow is formed of a very different rock – Leinster Granite, which extends to the southern suburbs of Dublin City. In the past it was extensively quarried for building stone. Among its most celebrated exposures, between Blackrock and Whiterock Beach are those at Joyce’s Sandycove Martello Tower.
The green muddy sandstones of the Bray Group are well known to travellers on the M11 / N11 route where they are splendidly exposed between Newtownmountkennedy and Rathnew. Thick creamy-coloured quartzite beds also make their appearance here, but they are best exposed in the surrounding hills where they form ridges with serrated skylines, not to mention the isolated cone of the Sugarloaf Mountain which causes it to be misidentified as a volcano on occasion. Additional impure green sandstones form the Kilcullen Group in west Wicklow and extend into adjoining County Kildare. These can be inspected at the roadside in Glending, west of Blessington town, and also further south, along the N81 near Dunlavin. The final group of rocks, the Duncannon Group is among the most restricted in extent, and forms a relatively narrow zone that extends from the Waterford-Wexford coastline northeastwards to terminate around Arklow Head. It consists of volcanic rocks, the products of lavas and ashes ejected from ancient volcanos whose outlines have long since vanished. There is a second parallel, but subsidiary, zone of these rocks which is very important for our story. It extends from Croghan Kinshelagh area to Avoca, and further northeast to Rathdrum and beyond. Yes, this is Fraser’s golden zone.
To be continued…
Other books by Dr Peadar McArdle can be viewed on Amazon here
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wicklow’s gold pt 8 – IMC Exploration
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wicklow’s gold – An excerpt from the book by Dr Peadar McArdle.
Dr McArdle, who recently retired as Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, has had a long term interest in the history and origin of the Goldmine River gold deposits.
Text copyright Dr Peadar McArdle 2011.
Pt 8 – A total of just over 944 ounces of gold recovered
Notwithstanding Weaver’s failure to secure funding for the tunnel, he did open 12.8km of trenches down to bedrock, quite an extensive undertaking. The depth of overburden gradually thins upwards towards along the valley slope and at the point where it almost disappears in Ballinvalley (upslope from the Red Hole) and adit was driven into the mountain, but only for 320m. Additional adits and shafts were also opened in the district. The evidence of all these workings still remain in the valley and the occasional radial trench forms the basis of its modern drainage. However it was all to no avail. None of the quartz veins had any gold particles, despite thorough sampling and rigorous chemical analysis, and this suggested there was no local source for the alluvial gold.
Weaver’s efforts were terminated in 1803, with another 12kg of gold recovered since 1800, but the military barracks remained occupied with a party of troops for some years afterwards just in case the neighbours were distracted once more. In 1819 Weaver summarised the outcome of Government operations from 1796 to 1803. A total of just over 944 ounces of gold was recovered. Just 6.3 percent (almost 59 ounces) was sold as specimens at £4 per ounce, melted and cast into ingots by Weaver. The vast bulk, 93.7 percent, or 885 ounces, was sold to the Bank of Ireland, but at a slight premium. Weaver notes that there was a loss of 4.25 percent gold in the process. The total aggregate value of native and ingot gold was over £3,675.
Eminent scientist Richard Kirwan claimed that little or no gold is replenished by modern stream action. He considered that, even where replenishment was taking place, based on eighteenth century European experience, it would be limited to minor quantities of tiny flakes. Accordingly he considered it could “be advantageous to none but the poorest people.” It is unusual for persons to be disdainful of small amounts when they relate to commodities such as gold and in this attitude I suspect that Kirwan was quite different from the neighbours.
So a dichotomy of views arose and surprisingly would persist to modern times. On the one hand, officialdom saw no potential for a viable operation in Wicklow and, anyway, would not countenance investing taxpayers’ money in a speculative venture involving gold. Feelings towards Goldmine River in Dublin or London would always be ambivalent. On the other hand, local residents and prospectors did not share these opinions. They were not appalled by unruly assemblies and workings, nor were they discouraged by the risk of poor returns. So the interweaving of these opposing views would form the historical tapestry for these gold workings.
To be continued…
Other books by Dr Peadar McArdle can be viewed on Amazon here
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wicklow’s gold pt 7 – IMC Exploration
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wicklow’s gold – An excerpt from the book by Dr Peadar McArdle.
Dr McArdle, who recently retired as Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, has had a long term interest in the history and origin of the Goldmine River gold deposits.
Text copyright Dr Peadar McArdle 2011.
Pt 7 – The likely source of gold lies in the mountain’s quartz vein.
When work resumed in September 1800, First Lt Weaver came into his own. The Commissioners now recommended to the Government that work be extended beyond the simple collection of alluvial gold to include a search for any gold bearing veins in the bedrock. The Government, like any government might do, had finally abandoned any pretence that it was focussed only on preventing the assembly of mobs. Let’s go for gold! Weaver worked on the assumption that the alluvial gold would be sourced in quartz veins on the higher ground surrounding Croghan Kinshelagh Mountain.
In their report, the Commissioners described the progress of the workings and the weight and value of gold recovered in considerable detail. They also investigated reports of gold occurrences in all neighbouring streams and recorded their relative success. Because gold sometimes adhered to quartz, they concluded that quartz veins were the source of the gold – and very likely some of the many such veins occurring on Croghan Kinshelagh mountain itself. The workings were not without their own tribulations, for the authors reported that their utensils (at Monaglogh): “were destroyed by some persons unknown, for the discovery of whom a reward of 20 guineas was offered without producing the desired effect and the trial was not resumed.” While minor compared to the events of May 1798, clearly the neighbours had not entirely acquiesced in their imposed state of inactivity.
Convinced that a viable bedrock gold source lay in quartz veins on the higher slopes of Croghan Kinshelagh, the Commissioners proposed to continue working the river bed, opening trenches and even tunnelling until this idea had been fully tested. Indeed they had one daring if risky idea: to open a tunnel, at right angles to the principal direction of the veins, straight through the mountain at the highest level where gold had been discovered in the river bed. While the other proposed workings could be relied upon to produce a profit, this new concept was much more risky.
In considering the programme of work recommended by Abraham Mills and co-workers, the Government had the weighty views of eminent scientist and President of the Royal Irish Academy, Richard Kirwan. In his report, published as an appendix to that of Mills and co-workers, he was complimentary about the operations themselves: “As to the method of extracting gold from the sand, none, I believe, can be more ingeniously contrived nor more successfully applied, than that employed by Mr Mills. The real interest, however, would have been his views on the source of the gold, the future of the operation and especially in the proposed tunnel. He did not disappoint.
He agreed the likely source of gold lay in the mountain’s quartz veins but concluded that the gold was derived not by modern river action but “by ancient inundations; I say ancient, because modern inundations convey none, as Mr Mills (at my request) having tried has experienced.” Modern rivers, in his view, did not have the power to move downstream nuggets of the sizes known from Goldmine River. He was not averse to prospecting on a limited scale being undertaken in the upper reaches of the various streams and ravines. But as to the idea of driving a tunnel straight through the mountain to the other side, well he was very cautious.
This must have been sweet music to the economical ears of those in HM Treasury! Nowadays a cost-efficient set of boreholes would be attempted, but that option was not available to Weaver and tunnelling techniques were primitive, slow and expensive. Kirwan appended a later note (dated 1 October 1801), after the mountain had been surveyed, indicating the proposed tunnel would be 8,862ft (2.72km) in length. He concluded, “The expense I cannot estimate” – another damning uncertainty in the eyes of HM Treasury. The tunnel was never driven.
To be continued…
Other books by Dr Peadar McArdle can be viewed on Amazon here
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wicklow’s gold pt 6 – IMC Exploration
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wicklow’s gold – An excerpt from the book by Dr Peadar McArdle.
Dr McArdle, who recently retired as Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, has had a long term interest in the history and origin of the Goldmine River gold deposits.
Text copyright Dr Peadar McArdle 2011.
Pt 6- Start of official gold mining operations.
The first technical report of the gold workings below the bridge at Ballinvalley was published by Abraham Mills Esq., manager of the Cronebane Copper Mines at Avoca, Thomas King and Thomas Weaver, in the prestigious Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London for the year 1796 and subsequently reprinted in the Transactions of the Dublin Society for 1801. The account describes the extent of the workings and the nature of the bedrock and overburden of Croghan Kinshelagh and its ravines. Particular attention was paid to the distribution of quartz veins, all of which were reported as barren of gold.
Operations were started on 12 August 1796 and it is reported that a gold particle was recovered on that very day. Thomas Weaver, as one of three Commissioners (including Abraham Mills) appointed to manager the venture, was a key figure and he would in time gain a considerable reputation as a geologist. However at this time he was a relatively recent graduate of the University of Freiburg, aged only 23, and he had been in charge of the copper mines at Cronebane and Tigroney since 1793. The Goldmines Act received the Royal Assent in April 1797 and the first ingot of gold was sold to the Bank of Ireland two months later. The purpose of the operation, according to G.A. Kinahan, was “endeavour to collect all the gold deposited, and thereby to remove every temptation for the assembling of mobs, whose numbers had before that time increased to a very alarming degree.” A most noble motivation! There was no question that the Government, whether British or not, might be interested in any gold recovered!
The workings were carried out efficiently and thoroughly, using riffles and similar equipment. However in Cornwall, the tin ore was not confined to linear stream courses nor was it covered by barren subsoil. Instead it was scattered throughout granite bedrock that, by means of chemical alteration, now had the appearance of soft disaggregated subsoil from which the durable pieces of ore could be easily washed. In Goldmine River the gold was preferentially found to occur at the base of the subsoil (as Camden had originally reported to London) and so the overburden right down to bedrock was thoroughly worked and all gold particles extracted. Only when the overburden exceeded 9 metres in thickness did this not happen. By the time of the May 1798 Rebellion, when the workings ceased, another 17 kg gold had been profitably recovered. A decent amount of production but nothing compared with the 80kg recovered by the neighbours in just six weeks. Weaver states in 1819. “Government had fully reimbursed its advances, the produce of the undertaking having defrayed its own expenses, and left a surplus in hand.”
A party of militia went to the workings at the end of May 1798, when the disaffected workforce had apparently gone off to join the rebels, and transported all the timber and materials back to Rathdrum where they were used in fitting out a barracks. The militia were only just in time, for shortly afterwards the rebels arrived and destroyed any buildings or workings remaining at Goldmine River. The Commissioners of the company served as military officers themselves and were rewarded by the company when the rebellion ended, with First Lt Weaver receiving silver plate worth30 guineas, a handsome reward.
To be continued…
Other books by Dr Peadar McArdle can be viewed on Amazon here
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wicklow’s gold pt 5 – IMC Exploration
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wickow’s gold – An excerpt from the book by Dr Peadar McArdle.
Dr McArdle, who recently retired as Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, has had a long term interest in the history and origin of the Goldmine River gold deposits.
Text copyright Dr Peadar McArdle 2011.
Pt 5- Wicklow Gold Mine Bill ends glorious gold rush
Back in the valleys surrounding Croghan Mountain, residents would have become less interested in the machinations of Dublin Castle and no doubt allowed themselves to reflect with quiet satisfaction on recent events in their own neighbourhood. In the space of four weeks they had enthusiastically recovered as much as 80kg of the precious metal – perhaps more than a quarter of all the gold that would eventually be found here. Nevertheless it must be conceded that the glorious gold rush was at an end.
All falls silent now for some time regarding gold mining events. The Dublin authorities had apparently made a submission to Hi Majesty’s ministers in London. By early December 1795 Finn’s Leinster Journal indicated that now decisive answer had been received, the Cabinet being evidently distracted with more serious matters elsewhere. “In the meantime our Irish Potosi remains unexplored to the great disappointment of many.” The next reference in this newspaper is more prosaic, a report from the House of Commons of the Irish Parliament for Tuesday 14 March 1797. The Chancellor of the Exchequer presented a Bill to enable the Lords of the Treasury to regulate the working of gold mines. He said that the Wicklow gold mine had been productive but expensive to work. Accordingly, it was intended to commit its management to the landowners who would be obliged to return to the Treasury “a quantity of ore equal to what had been found to be the average.”
The Bill sailed through the Irish House of Commons in March-April 1797 without any controversy or dissent. The Bill was read a third time on 23 March and then sent to the Lords for their concurrence. Finally on 24 April the Lord Lieutenant summoned the Commons to the House of Peers where it pleased His Excellency to give the Royal Assent to a series of Bills, including that on the Wicklow old Mine. A good day’s work was recorded and their Lordships adjourned to the next day.
It is clear from the Chancellor’s remarks that the workings had not lain idle since the diggers were banished by the militia in October 1795. Gold operations on behalf of the Government were operated by the engineers from Avoca. In fact these workings began on 12 August 1796 close to the Red Hole below the bridge at Ballinvalley. The lithograph prepared by Thomas Sautell Roberts for the information of members of the Irish House of Commons shows workings on a scale and with a degree of order that could not have been achieved in the circumstances of the 1795 gold rush. So preparations for the next phase of operations had already been underway for some time in the Goldmine valley itself.
The coverage of the gold rush in the various media shows a remarkable degree of consistency and this no doubt reflects that they tended to use the same information sources. The Wicklow events clearly made an impression in the wider world, as reflected, for example, in the contemporary London play, The Lads of the Hills, or, The Wicklow Gold Mine.
To be continued…
Other books by Dr Peadar McArdle can be viewed on Amazon here
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wicklow’s gold pt 4 – IMC Exploration
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wickow’s gold – An excerpt from the book by Dr Peadar McArdle.
Dr McArdle, who recently retired as Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, has had a long term interest in the history and origin of the Goldmine River gold deposits.
Text copyright Dr Peadar McArdle 2011.
Pt 4- The mania of gold finding
In the midst of all this optimism, the thought must have struck many, not least those in authority, that whatever gold resources existed could not have been extracted to maximum effect by the unruly and unregulated mass of people who currently occupied the valley of the Goldmine River. It is hardly surprising that rumours of an imminent takeover were commonly heard. A Col. Craddock was reported to have visited the workings on Sunday 11 October. Given the reported presence of 4,000 persons, he must have been startled by what he saw that day, and particularly in the context of the uncertain security situation which faced the country at that time. He must have felt that it was only a small further step to open revolt and his report to Dublin Castle was likely to have been unambiguous. The Castle’s response was rapid and strong. Finn’s Leinster Journal reported that on Friday 16th October, a party of soldiers left Dublin to take possession of the gold workings in His Majesty’s name and force workers to return to their former occupations. The ruins of the small barracks they built and occupied are still visible in the valley. It seems there was genuine concern about public disorder, given the numbers present and the sale on-site of alcohol. This general unease can only have been heightened by rivalries among diggers over possession of the more rewarding stretches of the river. The Freeman’s Journal stated that by the following Tuesday, 200 military personnel were in position. Fifteen of them were on guard at any given time, patrolling the ground and ensuring the “peasantry” were excluded. The purpose of this exercise was explicitly “as well to put an end to the mania of gold finding, and confusion and idleness among the people, as to secure the wealth therein for his majesty, to whom all such so discovered, of right belongs.”
“Idleness” is a curious term, given the frenzy of activity in the workings, but “confusion” even more so – who was confused in the frantic search for what might amount to instant wealth? Not the peasant gold-diggers for sure! Goldmine River was widely seen as a valuable prospect at the time, and the real motivation of the Government must surely have been to secure its perceived wealth for the realm.
The account in Saunder’s News-Letter is both entertaining and authoritative, and indicates that the military took possession of the gold workings on Thursday 15 October 1795, precisely one month after the discovery came to public notice.
“The mines at Little Peru, otherwise Croghan Mountain, were taken possession of on Thursday last, on behalf of his Majesty. Major Browne, of the Royal Engineer, attended by Mr Coates, Port Surveyor of Wicklow, marched two companies of the Kildare militia from the Barrack of Arklow, towards the place where the gold is got; but with great judgement and propriety, on consultation with that active and spirited Magistrate, Thomas King Esq, it was judged proper to send a constable before them to read a proclamation and advise the crowd to disperse and leave the ground. In an hour afterwards, the Major, accompanied by Mr King, Mr Hayes, Sub-Sheriff, who readily attended, and Mr Coates, marched the army, about 68 men rank and file, to the place, when the crowd, without riot or resistance, dispersed. When men, who conduct themselves with such coolness, judgement and spirit, as those gentlemen did, support the law, there is no danger of opposition. It is much to the credit of the peasantry of the county of Wicklow, that not the slightest opposition had been given to the execution of the law; that country is not cursed with disloyal Defenders.”
To be continued…
Other books by Dr Peadar McArdle can be viewed on Amazon here
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wickow’s gold Pt 3 – IMC Exploration
Gold Frenzy, the story of Wickow’s gold – An excerpt from the book by Dr Peadar McArdle.
Dr McArdle, who recently retired as Director of the Geological Survey of Ireland, has had a long term interest in the history and origin of the Goldmine River gold deposits.
Text copyright Dr Peadar McArdle 2011.
Pt 3- Gold rush carnival
Nowadays it is hard to envisage the chaotic activity that persisted on the Goldmine River. The gold digging activity was centred on the bridge over the river at Ballinagore, right at the head of the valley. This is just upstream from the Red Hole, the locality where many nuggets were found. The area above the bridge is now forested while below it is a pattern of small, somewhat overgrown meadows, It must have looked very different on the 8th October 1795: over 1000 people were present, 250-300 of them actively digging – and with some success. Gold was still being recovered in considerable quantities. There are many anecdotes of nuggets weighing several ounces being sold and “a single purchaser bought £184 worth” over two days (equivalent to 46 ounces at £4 per ounce). Women were engaged in reworking the gravel using bowls. This was no idle tactic and they were rewarded with small gold grains in plenty – “in general the size of snipe shot”. It would be found profitable to rework the same sediment over again for some years to come.
The men were now digging into the earthen banks flanking the stream and exposing new sections of gravel and subsoil. Interestingly, the gold here was becoming richer in silver – probably 20 karat gold in comparison with the more typical 22 karat gold of earlier finds in the stream bed itself. It is possible that the gold, as released from the bedrock, would have been 20 karat and that subsequently some of its silver would have been preferentially dissolved out in the stream, thus increasing its purity to 22 karats.
By Sunday 11 October 1795 over 4000 persons had assembled, the majority seeking diversion. While the “gold-finders” continued to work in earnest groups by day and night, the majority of those present were less determined. They wished to be entertained on their single day off and “an irregular encampment has been erected” for their “reception and entertainment”. There must have been a real carnival atmosphere, probably with many entertainers soliciting contributions from onlookers. Sellers of food and drink must have done a roaring trade: it is not uncommon in a gold rush for such traders to do at least as well as the gold workers themselves.
Wicklow was no stranger to mining operations. Ireland’s most extensive mining operation – and it would remain so until 1960 – was only 10km away, on both sides of the Vale of Avoca. Saunders News-Letter tells us: “Vast numbers of the miners of Ballymurtagh have quit their work for the golden prospects of Ballynavally.” And the Ballymurtagh mine, being worked by Camac and Company, and regarded as among Europe’s richest copper mines, survived to thrive at various other times in the future.
To be continued…
Other books by Dr Peadar McArdle can be viewed on Amazon here