The Strange Geology of Victoria’s Last Great Gold Rush

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#grampians #goldprospecting #golddiscovery
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Unearth the remarkable and often overlooked history of the gold rushes that took place deep within Victoria’s Grampians mountain range—one of the most geologically unusual goldfields in Australia. This in-depth video explores the final wave of Victorian gold fever that gripped the region in 1900 during the Mafeking rush, a rush not driven by traditional quartz reef mining but by gold weathered out of granodiorite and buried within ancient alluvial gravels. Unlike the more famous goldfields of Ballarat, Bendigo, or Stawell, the Grampians' geology presented a radically different story—one shaped by granitic intrusions, weathered dykes, and fault-controlled mineralisation in a landscape previously dismissed as barren.

In this episode, we investigate how gold came to exist in such an unusual setting. We break down the Devonian tectonic forces that deformed and uplifted the Grampians, and how post-orogenic I-type granodiorite intrusions at Mount William contributed to small-scale gold-bearing quartz veining. These veins, often just centimetres thick, were too low-grade to support reef mining, but over millions of years, tropical weathering liberated the gold from the rock. This freed gold was then transported downslope into gullies and depressions during the Tertiary period, concentrating in shallow gravel beds and clay-rich ancient surfaces. These paylayers would later form the heart of the Mafeking field—the last major goldfield to be discovered in Victoria.

We take you directly to the locations where history was made, visiting the exact gullies and diggings that exploded into life when gold was confirmed at Masons Falls. Using geological cross-sections, field visuals, and historical records, we show how miners raced to exploit both modern surface gold and the deeper, ancient leads buried under layers of sediment. You'll also see how some hopeful diggers tried—and ultimately abandoned—reef mining into the granodiorite itself, only to find that the gold veins were too patchy and low-grade to be profitable. This unique geological challenge shaped the fate of the Mafeking rush, setting it apart from every other gold rush in the state.

Link to the video that explores the Grampians Geology in more depth:


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OzGeology is an Australian-based YouTube channel that specializes in creating high-quality documentaries on Earth sciences and natural disasters. The content is designed to be easy to digest and covers a wide range of topics, not only focusing on geology but occasionally exploring other scientific areas as well.

00:00-01:03 - Overview of The Grampians Gold Rushes
01:04-05:29 - Why Gold Exists in The Grampians (The Geology)
05:30-06:57 - Geologie
06:58-13:54 - The Mafeking Gold Field
13:55-16:44 - The Halls Gap Gold Rush
16:45-17:51- Dredging in The Grampians
17:52-19:24 - In Hindsight & Other Areas Worked
19:25-21:15 - Conclusion & Patreon / Youtube Member Thank You!