Jean-Paul Turcaud
Jean-Paul Turcaud (c. 1940–2020) was a French
Early life
Jean-Paul Turcaud arrived in Australia as a young immigrant from France in the late 1960s. He had served in the
Turcaud's claim
There are many prospectors who claim to have discovered the mine. However, in this case, the officially recognised claimants do not deny that Jean-Paul Turcaud, after having spent a considerable amount of time searching
Counter claim
The counter claim by Newmont Mining, the project was later spun off into Newcrest Mining, was that discovery of a mineral deposit does not, in and of itself, constitute recognition of that discovery. They argue that discovery of a prospect usually goes to those who physically peg the area and correctly identify the mineable minerals in the deposit.
Jean-Paul Turcaud, for various reasons and in contradiction to the Mining Act, failed to do either of these.[1] Whilst there is little argument that Turcaud was prospecting in the area and that he did find and identify mineralised gossans, he failed to identify the project as being prospective for gold.[1] On several occasions he attempted to interest local mining companies, like WMC Resources and Anglo American, in the tenements based on its base metal (primarily copper) potential.[1]
David Tyrwhitt, the recognised discoverer of Telfer, stated in an interview that while he did not think Turcaud deserved any credit for his claimed discovery, he did admire the man's pioneering spirit, going out into the desert alone. Tyrwhitt eventually rose to the position of a director of Newmont.[1]
Later life
Turcaud continued to sign posts to newspapers in regards to
Turcaud operated an Internet website called, in reference to Telfer,[1] The Greatest Australian Mining Covered up Swindle of the 20th Century. He died at home at La Rochelle in south-western France on 20 August 2020.[6][7]
References
- ^ ABC Radio National, produced by Bronwyn Adcock, broadcast: 6 June 1999, accessed: 27 January 2010
- ^ Newcrest's Great Sandy speculation The Intelligent Investor, published: 13 April 2005, accessed: 27 January 2010
- ISBN 0-85905-311-3, accessed: 27 January 2010
- ^ Davos must deal with the water crisis Article in The Telegraph with comment from Jean-Paul Turcaud, published: 21 January 2008, accessed: 27 January 2010
- ^ Parched: Australia faces collapse as climate change kicks in Article in The Independent with comment from Jean-Paul Turcaud, published: 1 February 2009, accessed: 27 January 2010
- ^ Gudgeon, Kelly (20 August 2020). "Pilbara prospector Jean-Paul Turcaud dies aged 80 taking another gold discovery to his grave". ABC Pilbara. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ Bridge, Peter J. (2020). "Jean-Paul Turcaud, one of our most adventurous prospectors has joined the immortals of the Prospectors Hall of Fame" (PDF). Perth, WA: Hesperian Press. Retrieved 7 November 2021.