Wilgie Mia, also called Thuwarri Thaa (‘red ochre hole’)[1] is an ochre mine in the Weld Range of Western Australia. It has been in use for 27,000-40,000 years, during which an estimated 14,000 cubic metres (490,000 cu ft) of ochre and rock was mined.[2] This has led to suggestions that Wilgie Mia is the world's oldest continuing mining operation.[2]

The Mine

Wilgie Mia is the largest and deepest historic Aboriginal ochre mine in Australia.[1] It is located in a hillside of the Weld Range, near the northwest town of Cue. Worked to a depth of 20 metres, scaffolds had lined the seam face beyond an opening 30 metres across. Archaeological excavations have recovered tools and equipment used in the exploitation of the resource.

Wilgie Mia and its surrounding area are of major and ongoing cultural significance and sacredness to the Wajarri Yamatji people and their neighbours. The local creation story tells that the red ochre at Wilgie Mia was formed by the blood of a red kangaroo who died there.[3]

Use of Ochre from Wilgie Mia

Ochre has been an important commodity in the history of Australia, and Wilgie Mia produced large amounts of both red and yellow pigments. A range of colours and high durability are found in the constituent clays of the ochre mined at Wilgie Mia. These are residual to a geological process involving haematite (Fe2O3) and other iron rich compounds.

Scientific analysis of ochre reveals the extensive use of Wilgie Mia ochre throughout Western Australia. Wilgie Mia ochre has been used in the production of rock art and other painting practices throughout many regions of Australia.[4]

Recent History

Between the 1940s and the 1970s, Aboriginal miners were temporarily dispersed by miners of European heritage.[5] The mine continues to export ochre as a commercial pigment. Aboriginal miners also continue to extract ochre for use in ceremonies, art and healing practices.[6]

Wilgie Mia was added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2011. In 2018 the Wajarri Yamatji people obtained exclusive possession native title of the site.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Wilgie Mia Aboriginal Ochre Mine, Wilgie Mia Rd, Wilgie Mia Aboriginal Reserve via Cue, WA, Australia". Australian Heritage Database (Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy). Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  2. 1 2 Williams, Cheryll. (2013). Medicinal plants in Australia. an antipodean apothecary. Rosenberg Publishing. p. 252. OCLC 980318019.
  3. 1 2 "Mining & Energy WA: Ochre". State Library of Western Australia. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  4. ↑ Scadding, Rachel; Winton, Vicky; Brown, Viviene (2015). "An LA-ICP-MS trace element classification of ochres in the Weld Range environ, Mid West region, Western Australia". Journal of Archaeological Science. 54: 300–312 (p. 300). doi:10.1016/j.jas.2014.11.017. ISSN 0305-4403.
  5. ↑ Clarke, John (1976). "Two Aboriginal Rock Art Pigments from Western Australia: Their Properties, Use, and Durability". Studies in Conservation. 21 (3): 134–42 (p. 134). doi:10.2307/1505696. ISSN 0039-3630. JSTOR 1505696.
  6. ↑ Paolo Davide Farah, Elena Herausgeber., Valentina Sara Vadi. "Law, Culture, and the Policies of Chinese Outward Foreign Investment". China's influence on non trade concerns in international economic law. ISBN 9781409448488. OCLC 967895045.
  • Serventy, Vincent; Serventy, Carol (1981). "Western Australia". Australian landforms. Adelaide: Rigby. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-7270-1501-3. The Aboriginal explanation of this rock structure was that 'in the Dreamtime, Mondong, a great spirit, fought and speared a giant kangaroo. His blood soaked into the ground and became red ochre'.
  • Hirst, K. Kris. "Wilgie Mia (Australia)". Dictionary of Archaeology. About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. Retrieved 17 March 2007. Wilgie Mia is an immense prehistoric ochre mine, located ... an important site for aboriginal peoples of Australia.

26°58′S 117°39′E / 26.967°S 117.650°E / -26.967; 117.650

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