Antimony
Antimony is a lustrous grey coloured metalloid, or chemical element, that mainly occurs in nature as the sulfide mineral stibnite.
Antimony can most accurately be described as being a semi-metallic chemical element that is able to exist in two forms; (1) a non-metallic form that is essentially a grey coloured powder and (2) a metallic form that is quite brittle, hard and of a bright silvery colour. It is prized as a poor conductor of both electricity and heat. It is quite stable in dry conditions and is not effected by alkalis or dilute acids. Antimony and some of its alloys expand when cooled.
Antimony is Important to the World Economy
The ancient world was aware of antimony, as it is sometimes appears free in nature, but it is most likely to be found within an ore body of either valentinite or stibnite. The first person known to have studied antimony in a scientific manner was a French chemist Nicolas Lemery who published his discoveries in 1707. Antimony has become an important metal throughout the world because of its many applications with 50,000 tonnes being produced a year.
Australia is a Small Producer of Antimony
There are known reserves of antimony totalling five million tonnes around the world with most of the worlds production coming from China, Bolivia and South Africa. An elemental antimony deposit exists in Finland. Australia is a small producer but there are deposits containing antimony such as at the Costerfield Mine in Victoria, the Wattle Creek deposit near Dorrigo and the Hillgrove Mine near Armidale in New South Wales.
Antimony has Many Uses
Pure antimony is used in many semi-conductor devices such as infrared detectors and diodes. It can also be alloyed with lead to enhance its durability. Other antimony alloys are used in cable sheathing, type metal, low friction metals and batteries. Compounds containing antimony are useful for flame proofing, pottery, the making of glass, ceramic enamels and paints etc. The ancient Egyptions used it for a black eye make-up when in the form of stibnite.
The Health Effects of Antimony
Antimony, however, can be injurious to the health of animals, including people, especially if it is inhaled in the form of a dust. It can also enter the body through drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. Some animals have been effected through skin contact with soil or water containing antimony. The effect it has with breathing is mainly caused by it's ability to bond with hydrogen when in a gaseous phase. A person's main health concern is when exposed to antimony in high concentrations over a long period of time as it can cause irritation of the lungs, skin and eyes. If the exposure continues it is able to cause stomach ulcers, severe vomiting and diarrhoea as well as heart and lung problems.
Naturally Occurring Small Amounts of Antimony have no ill Effects on Humans
Antimony found naturally in soils, water and air is usually in such small amounts that no ill effect will be experienced but it is able to pollute soils, particularly when it gets into ground water where it is able to travel great distances where it eventually accumulates and becomes surface water.
Australian Mines that produce Bauxite
Gove (NT)
Up to 600 workers employed at the Gove bauxite refinery in the Northern Territory face an uncertain future as Pacific Aluminium suspends alumina production.
Ely (QLD)
The Ely Alcan Queensland Pty Ltd agreement at the Weipa bauxite mine is due to expire in 2041 but an option will give it a further 21 years extension.
Skardon River (QLD)
Gulf Alumina acquired 100 percent of the Skardon River tenement in 2011 from its koalin mining joint partner to develop the mining of bauxite at the site
Weipa (QLD)
The Weipa bauxite mine on the western side of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland is both owned and operated by Rio Tinto Alcan.
Huntly (WA)
The Huntly mine in Western Australia is the largest bauxite mine in the world currently producing about 23 million tonnes of bauxite annually.
Willowdale (WA)
The Willowdale bauxite mine that commenced production in 1984 still processes 10 million tonnes of bauxite a year at the nearby Wagerup Refinery.
Worsley (WA)
The Worsley bauxite mine and alumina refinery in South West Western Australia employs more than 1,800 people and produces 4.6 million tonnes of alumina annually.
South Aurukun (QLD)
The South Aurukun bauxite tenements on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland are held by Gulf Alumina.
Marchinbar Island (NSW)
The Marchinbar Island bauxite deposit in far north Northern Territory could be mined to satisfy a growing demand from China in the near future.
Kwinana Refinery (WA)
The Kwinana refinery in WA employs around 1,000 direct employees with 60 percent living in the nearby towns of Rockingham, Cockburn and Kwinana.
Wagerup Refinery (WA)
The Alcoa owned Wagerup alumina refinery in W.A. has received governmental approval to lift alumina production from 2.6 to 2.65 million tonnes annually.
Pinjarra Alumina Refinery (WA)
The Pinjarra alumina refinery, near Mandurah south of Perth, is an important part of Alcoa's three refinery system in Western Australia.
Portland Aluminium Smelter (VIC)
The Portland Aluminium smelter in western Victoria, a joint venture operation between Alcoa, CITIC and Marubeni, caters solely to the Asian market.
Felicitas (WA)
The Felicitas bauxite project in Western Australia contains a bauxite resource of 220 million tonnes that will give it a life of mine of 25 years
South Of Embley (QLD)
Despite Rio Tinto placing its South of Embley bauxite project in Cape York, Queensland, on hold for 18 months it still considers it a 'good project.'
Bauxite Hills (QLD)
The Bauxite Hills Project on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland is hoping to take advantage of an expected increase in the demand for Alumina.
Bald Hill (TAS)
Australian Bauxite Limited's Bald Hill mine, in Tasmania, is to start production in December, 2014. It is the first new bauxite mine in Australia, for over 35 years.
Urquhart Point (QLD)
The Urquhart Point Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Cape York in Far North Queensland is expected to begin production in mid-2015.
Amrun (QLD)
The Amrun bauxite project in far north Queensland, that was previously known as the 'South of Embley' project has been approved for development and expected to be in production by 2019.
