Ireland's Garnet Mine

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Thackaringa District, Yancowinna Co., New South Wales, Australia

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Key Information

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  • Ireland's Garnet Mine is located 25 km west-southwest of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, in the Thackaringa District.

  • The mine is known for almandine garnets, with crystals up to 100 mm, and also produces goethite, magnetite, and siderite.

  • It sits in a chloritic schist, a metamorphic rock from a mid-Proterozoic shear zone, ideal for garnet formation.

  • Mining began in the 1960s by Alan Ireland, continued by his family, and was sold in 2010 to Tom Kapitany, who later closed it.

  • Nearby Broken Hill offers cultural attractions like art galleries and the Broken Heel Festival, with a cold semi-arid climate and low rainfall.

Location and Access

Ireland's Garnet Mine is nestled in the remote Thackaringa District, 25 km west-southwest of Broken Hill, a historic mining town in New South Wales, Australia. It's accessible via the Barrier Highway, 1 km south of the road and 2.4 km from the Triple Chance access road intersection. Broken Hill, with a population of about 18,430 in 2015, is the nearest significant settlement, offering amenities and the Broken Hill Mineral Club, 24 km away, for enthusiasts.

Minerals and Geology

The mine is famous for its almandine garnets, with some crystals reaching 100 mm and featuring gemmy zones, alongside goethite, magnetite (octahedral crystals up to 6 mm), and siderite. Geologically, it's set in chloritic schist, a metamorphic rock from a mid-Proterozoic retrograde shear zone, which has created ideal conditions for large garnet formation.

Mining History

Mining started in the 1960s by Alan Ireland, with a small pit yielding specimens for over 40 years. After his death in the 1980s, his daughter continued, and in 2010, Tom Kapitany of Crystal World, Melbourne, bought and later closed it, covering the pit with dump material. It's also known as Ireland's quarry, Tomkap Garnet Mine, and Tomkap Giant Garnet Mine.

Cultural and Environmental Context

Nearby Broken Hill is a cultural hub, known for art galleries, museums, and events like the Broken Heel Festival, celebrating The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The region has a cold semi-arid climate, with an average rainfall of 265 mm (10.4 in), supporting sparse, hardy vegetation typical of the outback.

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