 However, the large sums committed to infrastructure, falling prices and problems with ore quality caused the mine to close as the company admitted it was unable to meet its interest and redemption commitments.The smelter opened again in June 1902, but Willcocks and Overend, the contractors for the railway which opened on 22 February 1902, foreclosed on 1 October 1902.A new company was floated but in 1903 it was found that the main shaft, down , tapped a sizeable body, which proved to be refractory, having high zinc content and thus being uneconomic to treat by conventional means on site.