Marble Bar
Gold Prospecting Location around Marble Bar
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Marble Bar, officially gazetted in 1893 following Francis Jenkins' gold discovery in 1890, is located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The town gained international fame as 'Australia's hottest town' but its gold mining heritage is equally impressive. Charles Kopeke's 1897 discovery of a major gold reef that ran for miles over the hills marked the peak of the area's gold rush.
Initial discoveries along the Warrawoona reef were spectacular, with 60 to 100 tonnes of gold outcropping over about 6 kilometers. Today, Marble Bar maintains its frontier character and remains a destination for prospectors seeking gold in the Pilbara's harsh but rewarding landscape.
Gold was discovered in the Marble Bar area in 1890 by prospector Francis Jenkins. This initial discovery led to further exploration in the region, and the town was officially gazetted in 1893 as miners established a permanent settlement.
The major breakthrough came in 1897 when Charles Kopeke discovered a spectacular gold reef that ran for miles over the hills. Initial reports described the whole region from Marble Bar to Nullagine as 'The Salgash Belt,' and the Warrawoona goldfield near Marble Bar became a significant mining area.
The scale of Kopeke's discovery was remarkable - the reef outcropped for about 6 kilometers with an estimated 60 to 100 tonnes of gold visible on the surface. This rich surface gold attracted hundreds of miners to the area despite the Pilbara's extreme heat and remote location.
Multiple mines operated in the Warrawoona goldfield throughout the early 1900s, producing substantial quantities of gold. While Marble Bar is now famous as one of Australia's hottest towns, its gold mining heritage remains important. The area continues to be popular with modern prospectors, and both commercial and recreational gold seeking activities persist in the Pilbara region.
Common Questions
When was gold discovered in Marble Bar? ▼
Gold was first discovered in the Marble Bar area in 1890 by Francis Jenkins. The major discovery came in 1897 when Charles Kopeke found a spectacular reef that outcropped for about 6 kilometers with an estimated 60 to 100 tonnes of gold visible on the surface.
What is the Warrawoona goldfield? ▼
The Warrawoona goldfield is located near Marble Bar and became a significant mining area following the 1897 discovery. The spectacular gold reef discovered by Charles Kopeke was part of this goldfield, which supported multiple operating mines during the early 1900s.
Is Marble Bar still Australia's hottest town? ▼
Yes, Marble Bar holds the reputation as one of Australia's hottest towns, with extreme summer temperatures. Despite the harsh climate, the area continues to attract prospectors and maintains its gold mining heritage alongside its fame for heat.
Can you still find gold around Marble Bar? ▼
Yes, the Marble Bar area remains prospective for gold. The region continues to attract recreational prospectors, though the extreme Pilbara heat requires careful preparation. Both detector work and modern mining operations continue in the region.