The Area C mine is an iron ore mine located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, 92 kilometres west-north-west of Newman. The mine is owned by BHP (85%), Itochu (8%) and Mitsui Iron (7%).[1]
The Area C mine is part of the Mount Goldsworthy joint venture, together with the Yarrie and Nimingarra mines.
Overview
The Area C mine was officially opened on 30 October 2003 by Premier Geoff Gallop, but ore had been railed from the mine to the port since 16 August.[2][3] However, bulk samples of the ore had been mined and sent to customers since late 2001.[4] The mine was initially scheduled to produce 15 million tonnes of iron ore annually.[5]
Ore from Area C is transported by rail to Port Hedland on the Mount Newman railway line.[6]
The mine was operated by HWE Mining.[7] In September 2011, BHP Billiton brought operations in house.[8][9]
External links
- MINEDEX website: Mining Area C Database of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation & Safety
References
- Itochu and Mitsui Acquire Interests in BHP Iron Ore Jimblebar Itochu 21 June 2013^
- BHP Billiton's Area C Mine Officially Opened BHP Billiton 30 October 2003^
- BHP opens rail link for new mine Australasian Transport News 3 November 2003^
- Ross Louthean. The Australian Mines Handbook Louthean Media, 2004^
- This month in mining: BHP Billiton commits to major iron ore project Engineering and Mining Journal May 2002^
- Rail BHP Billiton^
- HWE Mining awarded contract extension totalling $700 million HWE Mining 5 November 2007^
- Leighton flags potential sale of Pilbara iron ore business to BHP Billiton Leighton Holdings 9 August 2011^
- Completion of the Acquisition of HWE Mining Subsidiaries BHP 30 September 2011^