Kapunda+Copper+Mines

Please click here to return to Year 2 Topics The Kapunda copper mine was the first open cut mine in Australia. Francis Dutton and John Bagot discovered the rich copper deposit there in 1842, when they noticed that the rocks looked very green.They had to have the soil tested, buy the land and then quickly register their claim. Immigrants from Ireland, Cornwall (in England), Wales and Germany all came to work in the mines. The copper ore had to be smelted (heated to a high temperature) to make copper.

The copper was used to make copper kettles, copper ladles, candlesticks, bread-making equipment, copper coins, copper sheeting for ships and also taps and pipes. It was also used to produce brass.

This the hill where the boys discovered copper.
 * [[image:kapundamineshillofdiscovery.JPG width="276" height="365"]]

Now the mine buildings are gone but you can still see the green colour in the stone,. || || When water seeped into the mine, they had to pump it out. Special signs tell you how the mine once looked. || || Money from selling the copper helped the colony of South Australia and gave many people jobs. But as the mines grew deeper, water started to creep in. Then more copper was discovered at Burra, and the Kapunda mines closed in 1878, although some mining continued to take place until 1912.
 * [[image:kapundamineswater.JPG width="212" height="242"]]

Please click here to return to Year 2 Topics