Cliefden Springs Barite Deposit Cliefden Springs Barite Deposit Report on the Bendithera Caves

Abstract

Three steeply-dipping barite veins occur in andesite near Cliefden Springs, 140 miles west of Sydney, New South Wales. Surface prospecting indicates that the deposits will be economically minable only if cheap beneficiation methods can be applied to up-grade the product.

The Bendithera Caves lie 32 miles by track to the west of Moruya and adjacent to the Deua River. One main cave, the Bendithera Cave, is approximately 250 yards long with ceiling heights up to 80 feet. It was a tourist cave between 1899 and 1903, though the decorations are only mediocre at present. Of the other caves in the area none are of any significance. The area cannot be considered suitable for tourist development because of the lack of large cavern's and the extremely high cost necessary to develop the road and associated tourist facilities.

The Glass Cave at Wombeyan Caves is situated within the boundaries of ML 3, parish of Bouverie, county of Westmoreland. While not warranting development at the moment it offers positive tourist potential in future years and as such, should be preserved from damage by mining activity