Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Dragline
|
| Production Start | ...  |
| Mine Life | 2047 |
Blackwater mine one of the longest coal mines in the Southern Hemisphere, with a strike length of 80 kilometers.
In February 2023, BHP announced together with Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd, intention to pursue options to divest the Daunia and Blackwater mines. The process for this potential divestment is progressing in line with plans. |
Source:
p. 208
BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) is owned 50:50 by BHP and Mitsubishi Development. BMA operates coal mine Goonyella Riverside and Broadmeadow.
Contractors
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Summary:
Bituminous coal is mined from the Permian Moranbah and Rangal Coal measures. Products range from premium quality, low volatile, high vitrinite, hard coking coal to medium volatile hard coking coal, to weak coking coal, some pulverised coal injection (PCI) coal and medium ash thermal coal as a secondary product.
Rangal Coal Measures of Late Permian age, dipping 3-5° to the east. Three major coal seams are present: Top (Aries) - 0.8-1.5m; Middle (Castor) - 2-3.5m; Main Lower (Taurus/Argo) - 5-7m. Complex seam splitting occurs along the 35km strike length of the mine.
Mining Methods
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Dragline
Summary:
Blackwater is open-cut, using dragline and truck and shovel fleets for overburden removal.
Source:
Summary:
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Production:
| Commodity | Units | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|
Coal (metallurgical)
|
kt
| ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 13,376 | 14,592 |
All production numbers are expressed as clean coal.
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|
Coal tonnes mined
| ...... | ...... | 12,744,977 t | 15,262,320 t | 14,598,569 t | 16,097,035 t |
|
Tonnes processed
| ...... | ...... | 12,893,485 t | 15,261,759 t | 13,678,878 t | 16,581,448 t |
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Reserves at June 30, 2023:
Cut-off criteria:
Coal Resources: OC - 0.3m seam thickness, core yield =50% and <40% raw ash.
Coal Resources: UG - 2.0m seam thickness, core yield =50% and <40% raw ash.
Coal Reserves: 0.3m seam thickness.
| Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Marketable Coal |
|
Proven
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
91 Mt
|
Coal (metallurgical & thermal)
|
79 Mt
|
|
Probable
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
121 Mt
|
Coal (metallurgical & thermal)
|
104 Mt
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
212 Mt
|
Coal (metallurgical & thermal)
|
183 Mt
|
|
Measured
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
308 Mt
|
Coal (metallurgical & thermal)
|
|
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
528 Mt
|
Coal (metallurgical & thermal)
|
|
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
779 Mt
|
Coal (metallurgical & thermal)
|
|
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
222 Mt
|
Coal (metallurgical & thermal)
|
|
|
Total Resource
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
1,615 Mt
|
Coal (metallurgical & thermal)
|
|
|
Total Resource
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
222 Mt
|
Coal (metallurgical & thermal)
|
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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