Summary

Mine Type	Open Pit
Status	Active
Commodities	Iron Ore
Mining Method	Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start	...
Snapshot	The Koolanooka mine was the first stage of Koolanooka/Blue Hills Project. Mining activity ceased at Koolanooka in 2013. Blue Hills DSO Hematite mine encompasses Mungada West pit, Mungada East pit, and Mungada East Expansion pit. The Blue Hills operations were placed in care and maintenance in September 2021. Mining recommenced for a short period from July 2022 to October 2022. The Blue Hills operation recommenced in March 2023. Blue Hills was included in the list of Western Australia’s principal mining projects for 2024. A principal mining project is defined as one that produced minerals valued at more than $5 million (or more than 2,500 oz of gold) in a given financial year, or private-land operations with more than 50 full-time equivalent employees. No production data is available in the public domain.

Deposit type

• Banded iron formation

Summary:

The mine site is at the north-western end of Koolanooka Hills which rise approximately 140m above the surrounding undulating plain striking north north-west to south south-east for 13km. These hills are composed of banded iron formation (BIF), which is preferentially resistant to erosion.

The major land systems in close proximity to the Koolanooka mine site are the Koolanooka, Pindar and Noolagabbi land systems. Small amounts of the Morawa and Mount Nunn land systems also occur in the area.

The Koolanooka land system comprises the Koolanooka Hills, a range of rolling to very steep low hills with gently inclined foot slopes, which have been extensively cleared for agriculture. The system comprises a complex of Archaean and Proterozoic rocks. Soils are rocky or stony and commonly shallow, grading to red gravely loams.

The Pindar Land System is associated with the gently undulating sandplain with long gentle slopes that surrounds the Koolanooka Hills. This system has been even more extensively cleared for agriculture than the Koolanooka Land System, primarily for cropping and grazing. Soils are moderate to deep acidic sands with areas of gradational sands on ferruginous gravel and gritty sands on gravel.

Blue Hills The Blue Hills mines are located on Karara Station within the Shire of Perenjori approximately 220 km east of Geraldton and 60 km east of Koolanooka.

The Blue Hills range consists of banded iron formations, similar to the Koolanooka Hills and the name given to this ridge line is Windaning Ridge. Dips are generally steep and where the ironstones outcrop the topography is often rugged.

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Processing

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Water usage

Commodity Production

Commodity	Units	2021
Iron Ore	t	....

Personnel

Job Title	Name	Profile	Ref. Date
.......................	.......................		Dec 15, 2025
.......................	.......................		Dec 15, 2025