Iron-Ore
Iron ore is a rock that contains metallic iron. Australia is rich in economical iron ore deposits from which the iron extracted is mainly turned into steel.
Iron ore is subsequently the foundation of the Australian mining industry and one of the country's main export industries. Iron ore is mostly mined by a method known as open cut mining. This occurs when the covering overburden of earth is removed exposing the iron ore deposits, similar to that of a large quarry you see in various places where authorities extract road metal for road making. In this way it differs from other mining methods that extract ore bodies deep below the surface with a system of underground shafts and tunnels.
An Industry of Massive Proportions
Iron ore mining is a massive industry particularly in the Pilbara region of Western Australia where the ore is taken from the face of the mine to a plant where it is crushed and screened by trucks that carry up to 300 tonnes in the one load. It is then transported by trains containing three locomotive engines pulling more than 250 wagons that stretch out over a distance of more than two kilometres, to a port site on the coast. These trains pull a weight of over 25,000 tonnes of ore on their journey from the mine site to the port.
Australia is the largest exporter of iron ore in the world having exported 362 million tonnes in 2009 at a value of $30 billion. Western Australia contributed 97 percent of the iron ore produced that year.
The Major Australian Iron Ore Mining Companies
The two biggest companies that mine iron ore in Australia are Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton:
Rio Tinto operate the giant Hamersley Iron Ore project at Mount Tom Price in Western Australia, as well as the Western Turner Syncline mine, the HiYandi, Marandoo, Eastern Range, Channa, Paraburdoo and Brockman 4 mines. It is also in partnership with Hancock Prospecting in the operation of the Hope Downs mine and with Robe River, in the operation of the Robe River, Marra Marra and West Angelas mines.
BHP Billiton are managers of the large Mount Newman joint venture that includes Mount Whaleback, Yandi, Mount Goldsworthy (Yarrie) and Mining Area C. It also fully owns Jumblebar. To give you an idea of the size of these mines, Mount Whaleback alone is over five kilometres long and two kilometres wide. It will continue to operate to a depth of 500 metres.
Why Iron Ore is so Valuable
The value of iron ore to the economy of the world comes from its end product, steel. Steel having 20 percent more uses than all other metals put together. This is because of it being so strong, versatile and durable when compared to other metals. Structural steel used in manufacturing, building projects and engineering uses up to 90 percent of iron produced each year. Sixty percent of it going towards steel used in construction and transportation, 20 percent in the manufacturing of machinery and the remainder in containers and steel cans etc. Particularly by the gas and oil industries.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is increasing used in the community for a variety of purposes. This derivative of basic steel is made by including 10.5 percent of Chromium during production as well as varying amounts of molybdenum, nitrogen and nickel. Stainless steel is, in turn, used in the following products:
Scissors
Staples
Paper clips
Filing cabinets
Motor vehicles
Watches
Jewellery
Garden tools
Cooking pots and pans
Cutlery
Washing machines
Refrigerators
Drink cans etc.
This is only a small sample of what stainless steel is used for. There are well over 100 uses altogether with new products regularly being added.
Ironically, iron ore is no doubt the worlds most valuable rock and because of it being so readily available is also one of the cheapest to mine. It is definitely a major contributor to the advancement of mankind.
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.
