Abandoned Copper Mine and Smelter - Stockfoto

A cluster of copper deposits at OK, north of Chillagoe, Queensland, Australia were discovered in 1901. The deposits were mined by open-cut and underground methods in that decade before being abandoned in 1912. Production was 80,260 tons of ore, yielding 7,685 tons of copper, 3,265 oz of silver and 390 oz of gold. A copper smelter was constructed on the site at OK Mine in 1904 and large scale production was attained in 1906. During its heyday, the OK was the chief copper-producing mine in the Chillagoe field and was the first copper mine in North Queensland to pay dividends. The abandoned site, comprising a slag heap, smelter chimney and mining area, is now a Queensland State Heritage Place.