Blue Spur, Otago

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Blue Spur is a locality in Otago, New Zealand.

Description[]

Blue Spur is the area of the historic Otago Gold Rush town and gold mining fields north of the town of Lawrence in the Clutha District.[1]

Name[]

The etymology of the term "blue spur" not well known. The gold diggers of the 1860s gold rush went after the gold "on the spur", i.e. in a great hurry/rush. Alluvial gold may often be found close to a layer of blueish clay. Miners frequently talk about mining down to the "blue clay", thus a "blue spur" could somehow elucidate the hasty process of digging for the gold pursuing a blueish layer of clay. Other potential meanings could refer to a blueish colour of mountains ("blue mountains") as it can be spotted in certain light at distant mountains at this location. Besides these gold rush-related connotations we know about a "blue spur flower" (Plectranthus ciliatus), and the "blue spur" in coats of arms.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ Lawrence Archived 24 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Red Flag Archived 9 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine

Coordinates: 45°54′46.25″S 169°41′12.1″E / 45.9128472°S 169.686694°E / -45.9128472; 169.686694

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