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Copper mining in Western Australia

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Main article: Mining in Western Australia
Copper mining in Western Australia
Position of Western Australia within Australia highlighted
Location
StateWestern Australia
CountryAustralia
Regulatory authority
AuthorityDepartment of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
Websitehttp://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/index.aspx
Production
CommodityCopper
ProductionDecrease 119,128 tonnes
ValueDecrease A$1.401 billion
EmployeesDecrease 1,994 (FTE Base metals combined)[1]
Year2022–23[1]

Copper mining in Western Australia is relatively minor on a world scale, accounting for less than one percent of the world's production in 2021–22.[2]

As of 2022, is the sixth most-valuable commodity in the state. It reached its highest-ever sales value in 2021–22 at almost A$2 billion and experienced a growth in production again after having experienced the lowest level in over a decade in the previous year.[2]

Mining for copper in Western Australia is either carried out in designated copper mines, like the Golden Grove mine, the DeGrussa mine and the Jaguar mine and as a by-product, from the Nova and Savannah Mine, nickel mines, and the Boddington gold mine.[2]

Copper production in Western Australia has fluctuated somewhat but nevertheless grown considerably. In 1990–91, the state produced 14,980 tonnes of copper, a figure that had grown ten-fold by 2010 and reached a peak of 211,186 in 2014. Similarly, the value of the industry has grown from A$23.9 million in 1990–91 to almost A$2 billion in 2021–22.[2][3]

History

[edit]
The historic Elverdton Copper-Gold Mine at Ravensthorpe

The origins of commercial copper mining in Western Australia date back to 1842, when a copper deposit was discovered at Wanerenooka, near the present-day Northampton.[4][5] In the late 1890s and early 1900s there were small finds such as the Whim Creek copper mine in the Pilbara,[6] and the Kimberley region.[7]

Historical copper mining locations in Western Australia included many mines extracting other minerals at the same operation, where copper tonnage recovered was small. In the early twentieth century, most operations were small, and lasted a short duration. Northampton had copper mining as early as the 1860s, through to the 1890s.[8]

Post-Second World War operations are the Elverdton Mine, near Ravensthorpe, which operated between 1956 and 1972,[9][10] and the Thaduna Mine, near Wiluna, which was active intermittently from 1955 to 1971.[11][12] In 1960, the leading copper mine in Western Australia was the Copper Hills Mine, located in the Pilbara and operational until 1963,[13] with mining also carried out at Elverdton, Thaduna and the Kumarina Mine, the later deposit having been discovered before the First World War and mined intermittently until 1973.[14][15][16]

By the late 1970s, copper was only mined as a by-product in nickel mines in Western Australia, with between 1,500 and 1,700 tonnes mined annually and a production value of around A$2 million.[17]

Newer operations are the Teutonic Bore Mine, located near the Jaguar Mine, which operated from 1980 to 1985,[18][19] owned by the Seltrust Mining Corporation. Teutonic Bore, upon opening, had a daily capacity to treat 1,000 tonnes of ore,[20] and an annual capacity of 300,000 tonnes. Apart from copper, the mine also produced silver and zinc.[21]

More prominent and longer-running was the Nifty copper mine, which operated from 1993 to 2019,[22] while the Horseshoe Lights Mine, a combined gold and copper mine, operated from the late 1980s to 1994.[23]

Historical production in Western Australia has been limited. In the early 1980s, Teutonic Bore was the only copper mine in the state, producing less than 3,500 tonnes of copper at a value of between A$3 and 4 million just before its closure.[24] By the early 1990s, copper mining in Western Australia produced around 12,000 tonnes annually at a value of A$20 million from three locations, the Golden Grove and Telfer Mines and Kambalda.[25]

Current mining operations

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class=notpageimage|
Major copper mining locations in Western Australia with Perth as a reference

The following companies operated copper mines in Western Australia in 2022–23, according to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. To qualify for the department's official list of principal mining projects an operation has to either had mineral sales valued at more than $5 million, or, for operations where such figures are not reported, had a minimum of 50 employees:[26][27][28]

Mine Owner Location Production
(tonnes) 		Period Source
Boddington gold mine Newmont Shire of Boddington 44,450[1] 2023 [29]
DeGrussa Mine Sandfire Resources Shire of Meekatharra 27,791[2] 2022–23 [30]
Golden Grove mine 29Metals Limited Shire of Yalgoo 18,100[3] 2023 [31]
Jaguar Mine Aeris Resources Shire of Leonora 3,100[4] 2022–23 [32]
Nova Operations IGO Limited Shire of Dundas 10,266[5] 2022–23 [33]
Savannah Mine Panoramic Resources Shire of Halls Creek 3,129[6] 2022–23 [34]
Telfer mine Newmont Shire of East Pilbara 17,000[7] 2022–23 [35]
  • ^[1] The Boddington gold mine also produced 745,000 ounces of gold in 2023
  • ^[2] The DeGrussa Mine also produced 19,122 ounces of gold in 2022–23. Mining at DeGrussa ceased in October 2022, with the plant continuing to process existing stockpiles only
  • ^[3] The Golden Grove mine also produced 14,000 ounces of gold, 775,000 ounces of silver, 1,170 tonnes of lead and 51,500 tonnes of zinc in 2023
  • ^[4] The Jaguar Mine also produced 22,500 tonnes of zinc, 718,000 ounces of silver and 3,000 ounces of gold in 2022–23. The mine was subsequently placed in care and maintenance in September 2023.
  • ^[5] The Nova Operations also produced 22,915 tonnes of nickel and 803 of cobalt in 2022–23
  • ^[6] The Savannah Mine also produced 5,402 tonnes of nickel and 368 of cobalt in 2022–23
  • ^[7] The Telfer mine also produced 349,000 ounces of gold and 208,000 ounces of silver in 2022–23

Export

[edit]

In 2021–22, over seventy percent of the state's copper production went to South Korea (27 percent), the Philippines (24 percent) and Japan (22 percent). Germany and Finland followed next in this list with nine and five percent each respectively.[2]

Environmental issues

[edit]

In 2019, the owners of the Whim Creek copper mine were handed an Environmental Protection Notice by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation because of seepage of heavy metals from the mine into the Balla Balla River, considered a serious pollution risk. While in care and maintenance and with no active mining, Black Rock Minerals re-processed existing stockpiles through a small process plant and heap leach. Copper levels of 3.5 milligrams per litre were recorded in the local drinking water, well above the permitted level of 0.002 milligrams per litre. The small scale re-processing at Whim Creek eventually ceased in October 2019.[36][37]

Statistics

[edit]
Western Australian copper production and value from 2000 to 2022

Annual statistics for the Western Australian copper mining industry. Figures are for financial year, which, in Australia, runs from 1 July to 30 June. Employment figures are for the base metal mining industry overall:[1][2][38][39][40][41][42][3]

Subject 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Production (tonnes/annum) 14,980 12,000 12,002 22,920 32,460 29,200 23,690 27,730 29,430 24,440
Production value (A$ million) 23.92 20.35 17.44 27.44 40.26 76.54 65.42 58.98 61.12 43.71
Subject 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Production (tonnes/annum) 30,730 42,620 53,500 59,410 53,290 61,930 81,200 115,980 124,530 127,330
Production value (A$ million) 64.62 111.12 122.57 138.57 155.82 243.73 559.85 1,052.5 1,080.6 654.34
Employees 1,331 1,301 1,295 1,100 888 670 912 2,241 2,242 1,456
Subject 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Production (tonnes/annum) 149,810 148,760 155,080 198,610 211,186 184,495 190,275 170,730 174,074 162,483
Production value (A$ million) 1,156.7 1,290.1 1,165.5 1,441.2 1,559.6 1,283.1 1,181.3 1,240.5 1,347.8 1,321.6
Employees 1,926 2,317 2,907 2,882 2,649 2,531 2,358 2,239 2,535 2,626
Subject 2020 2021 2022 2023
Production (tonnes/annum) 169,888 145,853 153,321 119,128
Production value (A$ billion) 1,386.8 1,485.1 1,963.4 1,401
Employees (Full time) 2,075 1,894 2,072 1,994
Employees (all personnel on site) 2,636 2,319 2,471 [1]

Notes

[edit]
  • ^[1] Full time employees only. Up until 2022, the Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest listed a combined figure of both full time employees and on-site personnel but the latter was not included in the 2022–23 edition, which only listed full time employees.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest 2022-23 Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, accessed: 1 June 2024
  2. ^ a b c d e f Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest 2021-22 Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, accessed: 28 March 2023
  3. ^ a b Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest 1998-99 Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, accessed: 28 March 2023
  4. ^ Annual Report 1973 (PDF) (Report). Department of Mines Western Australia. 1973. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  5. ^ "The Wanerenooka Estates Copper Mining Co.'s Properties". Geraldton Advertiser. No. 796. Western Australia. 9 December 1898. p. 2. Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Mining in Western Australia". The Daily News. Vol. X, no. 2973. Western Australia. 14 March 1891. p. 4. Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia. Noting that the newspaper is incorrectly including the Pilbara location of Whim Creek in the Kimberley region
  7. ^ "West Kimberley Mining". The West Australian. Vol. 53, no. 16, 061. Western Australia. 18 December 1937. p. 16. Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Northampton Copper". Western Mail. Vol. XIII, no. 655. Western Australia. 15 July 1898. p. 51. Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "The Elverdton Mine". The Daily News. Vol. XXV, no. 9574. Western Australia. 1 February 1906. p. 8 (Third Edition). Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Elverdton-Mt Desmond Copper Mines, Ravensthorpe Shire, Western Australia, Australia". www.mindat.org. Mindat.org. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Overcoming Copper Super Shortage". The Beverley Times. No. 1933. Western Australia. 9 June 1961. p. 6. Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Thaduna Cu Mine, Neds Creek Station, Meekatharra Shire, Western Australia, Australia". www.mindat.org. Mindat.org. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Copper Hills Mine, Nullagine, East Pilbara Shire, Western Australia, Australia". www.mindat.org. Mindat.org. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  14. ^ "The New Copper Field". Meekatharra Miner. Vol. 7, no. 33. Western Australia. 25 March 1916. p. 4. Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Kumarina Copper Mine, Bulloo Downs Station, Meekatharra Shire, Western Australia, Australia". www.mindat.org. Mindat.org. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  16. ^ Annual Report 1960 (PDF) (Report). Department of Mines Western Australia. 1960. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  17. ^ Annual Report 1979 (PDF) (Report). Department of Mines Western Australia. 1979. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Teutonic Bore Mine, Ten Mile Outcamp, Leonora Shire, Western Australia, Australia". www.mindat.org. Mindat.org. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  19. ^ Teutonic Bore mine (Report). Stevenson, Kinder and Scott Corporate Photography. 15 March 2005. Retrieved 30 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ Annual Report 1980 (PDF) (Report). Department of Mines Western Australia. 1980. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  21. ^ Annual Report 1981 (PDF) (Report). Department of Mines Western Australia. 1981. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Nifty Cu Mine, Rudall River District, East Pilbara Shire, Western Australia, Australia". www.mindat.org. Mindat.org. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Horseshoe Lights Mine, Peak Hill Mining District, Meekatharra Shire, Western Australia, Australia". www.mindat.org. Mindat.org. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  24. ^ Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest 1985-86 Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, accessed: 30 March 2023
  25. ^ Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest 1991-92 Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, accessed: 30 March 2023
  26. ^ "Western Australia's principal resources projects, 2020-21" (PDF). www.dmp.wa.gov.au. Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Western Australia's principal resources projects, 2021-22" (PDF). www.dmp.wa.gov.au. Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  28. ^ "Western Australia's principal resources projects, 2022-23" (PDF). www.dmp.wa.gov.au. Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  29. ^ "Newmont Regional Operating Statistics Q4 2023" (PDF). s24.q4cdn.com. Newmont. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  30. ^ "Sandfire Resources Annual Report 2023" (PDF). Sandfire Resources. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  31. ^ "2023 Appendix 4E and Annual Financial Report" (PDF). 29Metals Limited. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  32. ^ "2023 Aeris Resources Annual Report" (PDF). Aeris Resources. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  33. ^ "IGO Limited Annual Report 2022" (PDF). www.igo.com.au. IGO Limited. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  34. ^ "Panoramic Resources Annual Report 2022" (PDF). wcsecure.weblink.com.au. Panoramic Resources. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  35. ^ "Newcrest Mining Annual Report 2023" (PDF). www.newcrest.com. Newcrest. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  36. ^ Standen, Susan (18 August 2019). "Whim Creek copper mine faces questions over possible Pilbara river pollution". ABC Pilbara. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  37. ^ "Whim Creek Project History". Anax Metals. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  38. ^ Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest 2020-21 Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, accessed: 25 March 2022
  39. ^ Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest 2019-20 Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, accessed: 31 March 2022
  40. ^ Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest 2012-13 Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, accessed: 12 March 2023
  41. ^ Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest 2002-03 Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, accessed: 31 March 2023
  42. ^ Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistics Digest 1999-00 Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, accessed: 31 March 2023
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