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Mining Industries on the Monaro

DARTMOOR.

Copper was found at Dartmoor, four miles South Easterly from Cooma Railway Station. Between January, 1897, and February, 1898, about 36 tons of ore were sent to Smelting Works, giving a return for copper and silver of 278 pounds. The highest copper percentage was 14.70, and silver yield 49 oz. per ton.

In 1896 a proposal was submitted for the flotation of Dartmoor into a company with a capital of 27,500. Pounds. Amongst the Directors were John Howell, General Manager of the Smelting Co. of Australasia, and C. L. Garland, a Director of Broken Hill Junction North. When the prospectus was issued the shares were fully subscribed, but the death of the option holder and a following dispute as to extension of the option brought about an abandonment of the ground.

Hetholm is a continuation of the Dartmoor lode, and from this property bulk samples yielded up to 29 per cent. copper and 21.38 oz. of silver per ton. Picked samples assayed up to 41 per cent. copper and 33 oz. silver.

Transcribed by Pattrick Mould in 2003, from the book "Back to Cooma' Celebrations" page 51