Story: Gold and gold mining

Mining batteries

Mining batteries

Gold processing plants were known as batteries, as the quartz was battered into powder by massive stampers. This released the gold particles so they could be chemically recovered using cyanide. This plant was in an area known as Crushington, near Reefton, on the West Coast.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, James Cowan Collection (PAColl-3033)
Reference: 1/2-054256; F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Carl Walrond, 'Gold and gold mining - West Coast', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/8614/mining-batteries (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Carl Walrond, published 12 Jun 2006