Blue Spur, Otago

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Blue Spur is a locality in Otago, New Zealand.

Description

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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

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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 (of the moment)", 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, combined with the geological meaning of a spur, i.e., a secondary mountain ridge. Besides these gold rush-related connotations there is a "blue spur flower" (Plectranthus ciliatus), and the "blue spur" in coats of arms.[2]

References

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

45°53′00″S 169°40′40″E / 45.88333°S 169.67778°E / -45.88333; 169.67778