Historical investigations - what could have transpired

Discussion specifically about the Overland Track should be posted in this subforum, including side trips and the Cradle Mountain day walk area. Alternative access routes and connecting routes belong in the parent forum.
Forum rules
Overland Track App
An electronic guidebook for planning and walking the Overland Track.
Download this app for loads of information about planning, gear, food, accommodation and much more about the Overland Track.
You will also find topo maps, terrain profiles and track notes for offline use.
$10 -- Discount to $3 until December 15
Image

Historical investigations - what could have transpired

Postby taswegian » Sat 30 Sep, 2017 11:07 am

I've been browsing old plans, surveys etc and found this fascinating.
Many are aware of the mining past in the central reserve.

This report right in its heart is probably responsible for no action in regards to mining activity there.
One can only imagine the impact on Pelion East, Paddy's Nut, Acropolis, Thetis if development had proceeded
It would have had a huge impact on the whole central reserve.
Not to mention the build or no build of a railway through there.
UR1958_016.pdf
Coal outcrops in the Du Cane quadrangle
(297.56 KiB) Downloaded 387 times


I took a screen shot for easier viewing. Well that's a subjective comment :)
Du Cane Quadrangle.png
Coal outcrops in the Du Cane quadrangle
User avatar
taswegian
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 888
Joined: Tue 27 Jul, 2010 8:34 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Historical investigations - what could have transpired

Postby Nuts » Sun 01 Oct, 2017 4:40 pm

Yes, thankfully the park has very likely survived the age of coal and consequent roads tracks and rail.
I'd imagine things would look very different now if easy(cheap) access was available out of Lemonthyme.
Circumstances are not easily foreseeable but some of the other mineral resources will always be a potential burden, at worst with only the scale of the deposits holding 'us' back.
So too, the tourism resource is only really acceptable by nature of it's current scale and lack of tangible foresight. There's no stopping 'progress'.
User avatar
Nuts
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 8632
Joined: Sat 05 Apr, 2008 12:22 pm
Region: Tasmania

Re: Historical investigations - what could have transpired

Postby Mark F » Wed 04 Oct, 2017 9:46 am

The coal would have been well placed to service the railway to the West Coast that was planned though the Pelion area. :roll: We have it to thank for the excellent graded path around the flanks of Pelion West.
"Perfection is attained not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to remove".
User avatar
Mark F
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 2332
Joined: Mon 19 Sep, 2011 8:14 pm
Region: Australian Capital Territory
Gender: Male

Re: Historical investigations - what could have transpired

Postby Nuts » Wed 04 Oct, 2017 10:25 am

Simon/ via Peter Brown has an interesting background to the trackworks here: http://www.simoncubit.com.au/Innes-Track

I understand the coal deposits were all of low grade and (as seen by the sample in TW's list) the known prospects were widespread. No doubt there would be a bunch of tracks leading off to get at some of them. And then fully exploited, regardless of grade.

The P.West track is an easy climb and thanks to the track cutters.. but i'm sure major works would have been needed to stabilize it for rail use. And it could do with some further works (or re-routing) in places where it crosses such shallow soils, even now for foot traffic.

PS. It's a good find, and interesting question, and more broadly any number of historical mining events. Ultimately stubborn Zinc may be the saviour here :) or the rush to Mt. Lyell?
User avatar
Nuts
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 8632
Joined: Sat 05 Apr, 2008 12:22 pm
Region: Tasmania

Re: Historical investigations - what could have transpired

Postby Swifty » Tue 10 Oct, 2017 1:00 pm

A 21 inch thick seam is never of economic interest, let alone up in the mountains. I don't think there was any danger of exploitation.
Swifty
Ossua vetera
User avatar
Swifty
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 370
Joined: Wed 10 Dec, 2008 3:56 pm
Location: Perth
Region: Western Australia
Gender: Male


Return to Overland Track and Cradle Mountain

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests