Quartz reef mining

In the shallow, oxidized zones of quartz reef deposits, the gold occurs in its metallic state, and is easily recovered with simple equipment.

Quartz reef mining played an important role in 19th century gold-mining districts such as Bendigo, Victoria in Australia, Central Otago in New Zealand, and the California mother lode.

Horizontal tunnels called drifts were dug out from the shaft at different levels to find the gold-bearing rock.

Wheeled buckets then carried the rock along elevated tracks to waste dumps or processing works.

The gold was brought to the surface as small particles embedded in lumps of quartz.