Visiting Lecture Tour Waihi: Golden Cross revisited

Join the New Zealand Branch in Waihi for their visiting lecture tour: Golden Cross revisited presented by Peter Keall from Zedex Gold.

About this event

The Golden Cross Mine was located approximately 10 kilometres northwest of Waihi. It was in operation from 1991 to 1997 and is recognised as a classic example of an epithermal gold deposit. During its years of activity, ore extraction was accomplished through a combination of open pit and underground mining methods. This period coincided with a decline in gold prices, which presented significant operational challenges.

The Golden Cross deposit attracted considerable study due to several factors, including its complex geology and the difficulties associated with mining a deposit that was not fully understood at the time. It serves as an excellent case study illustrating the challenges faced when extracting resources from such deposits.

In 1995, movement was detected in the mine's tailings dam, which ultimately led to the premature closure of Golden Cross. This occurred despite the presence of significant remaining gold resources, highlighting the impact that environmental and safety concerns can have on mining operations.

This talk is presented by Peter Keall, who served as a senior underground mine geologist for much of Golden Cross’s operating life and later as the geological superintendent during its final stages.