This 1915 report gives reasons for the cessation of mining at...

This 1915 report gives reasons for the cessation of mining at Liontown due to the gold grades getting lower with depth and the copper continuing and increasing at depth but the copper price crashing (this was a period when other copper mines around Cloncurry also closed because because of poor copper prices which were halved). The rich gold near surface was probably oxide gold although records show reasonable gold values in the sulphide lode but clearly reducing at depth compared to the oxide zone (many copper mines had gold rich caps, e.g. Mount Morgan, Mount Lyall, OK Tedi and Lady Fanny being drilled by Carnaby Resources at present near Cloncurry). The first world war was the end of many mines due to lack of labour to work the mines. At Charters Towers the deeper mines ceased pumping and the whole field flooded such that one company could not alone keep up with the water, the mines at Chaters Towers were considerably deeper than Liontown.

More Carrington historical reports, underlining is my interpretation:

The Brisbane Courier 7th Jan 1910 - At Liontown the Carrington United Mines are looking well and it is believed that a dividend will be declared shortly. The deepest level at 680ft (207m) shows a strong body of heavy mineral ore. The other workings show fair to good quality ore up to number 3 level at a vertical depth of 264 ft (80m). For the past fortnight they have crushed 250 tons for a yield of 215 oz 16 grains valued at £840 and saved 23 tons of concentrate for future treatment (this tends to average about 50-56% copper based upon other reports). The total returns since the beginning of the year are 7692 tons crushed for 5361 oz 15dwt and 6 grains of gold and 888 tons of saved concentrate (this shows an approximate recovered head grade of 21.6g/t gold and 5.8% copper).

The Carrington Lion 1 and 2 East mine showed good prospects when work underground ceased a few weeks ago for the purposes of erecting a crushing mill at the mine. This work is nearing completion and they have a large heap of nearly 2000 tons of quartz on the surface awaiting treatment.

The Brisbane Courier 11th June 1915 - The Carrington United Mines have been purchased by a syndicate promoted by Mr A.Bowry. In this syndicate there are shareholders from Charters Towers, Townsville, Ravenswood, Brisbane and Sydney and they have acquired the whole of the property of the Carrington United Mines Limited. The mine is situated about 30 miles from town (Charters Towers) and is well equipped with machinery and smelters. The surface plant and buildings cost the company over £30,000 and the main shaft is down 750ft (229m) on a large vertical copper and gold bearing lode.

The lode was discovered by Mr Carrington about 10 years ago, and near the surface gave exceedingly rich gold returns. As they went deeper the character of the lode changed, the gold contents diminished and the copper content increased. A fall in the price of copper made the mine unprofitable and very little work has been done for 4 or 5 years. With the present price of copper it is believed the lode will pay well to work. For the present they intend only crushing the ore and selling the concentrates not doing any smelting. If the venture proves successful the mine will again find employment for a large number of men and increase the output from this goldfield.

The Evening Telegraph Charters Towers 29th June 1917 - Note the statement that 20,000 tons @ 7% copper and 7dwt (11g/t) gold is blocked out awaiting mining. Also that the current processing plant cannot treat the oxide or part oxidised material from surface to 300ft depth. The installation of four large reverbatory furnaces was not successful and must have drained capital and investor confidence.