Who is Turcaud

Jean-Paul Turcaud (born 1940) is a French mining pioneer, and one of many claimants to the discovery of the Telfer Mine in Western Australia, Australia's largest gold mine. The discovery of this prospect is officially attributed to David Tyrwhitt for Newcrest Mining in 1973.

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 Australia's Great Sandy Desert, was the first prospector to find the mineral deposit that eventually became the Telfer Mine.

Counter claim

The counter claim by Newmont Mining (the project was later spun off into Newcrest) 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 (1) physically peg the area and (2) correctly identify the mineable minerals in the deposit. They point out that Jean-Paul Turcaud, for various reasons, failed to do either of these. 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. On several occasions he attempted to interest local mining companies in the tenements based on its base metal (primarily copper) potential.

Contribition (or lack therof) to Usenet

Turcaud, more often referred to as Turdcard, is a frog of the Celtic order. After Turcaud's brother came to Australia to summon him back to France in the late 1970s (at his father's request), his mental health slowly eroded over time due to his apparent bitter experience with the Telfer mine group and the Australian government - particulary that of Western Australia. Although he conceeds that he has given up hope of formal recognition for discovery of certain WA mines, he continues his bitter, pointless and insane crusade to seek revenge on a nation that he claims failed him.

Turcaud posts incessant, often incoherent, ramblings on a number of Australian newsgroups promising natural disasters, droughts and misfortune on the country by order of his Celtic God for our crimes against humanity.

Is Turcaud a legitimate claim to the Telfer discovery?

Turcaud's contribution to early exploration of outback Western Australia is undisputed.

One thing is for certain. Turcaud's ramblings on Usenet and web forums does little to give his argument any credibility. If he is entitled to any claim, his efforts on Usenet and clear hatred for Australia robs him of any sympathy or support he could expect from anybody on Usenet.

Links

Australia's Largest Gold Mine
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Background Briefing Report
The Golden Rule, a book about the discovery of the Telfer Mine