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Australia

Muswellbrook Mine

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusClosing / Closed
Commodities
  • Coal (thermal)
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
SnapshotMining operations at Muswellbrook Mine ceased in 2022, with coal storage, handling, and transport continuing until the end of March 2023. The last product coal was transported off site in March 2023. Rehabilitation of the mine was ongoing during 2023.

The site is now being evaluated for post-mining land use to facilitate its transformation into a clean industries precinct.

The West Muswellbrook exploration area was divested in 2024.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Idemitsu Australia Resources Pty Ltd 100 % Indirect
Muswellbrook Coal Co Ltd. (operator) 100 % Direct
Muswellbrook Coal Mine (MCM) is operated by Muswellbrook Coal Company Limited (MCC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Idemitsu Australia Pty Limited (IA)

Deposit type

  • Sedimentary

Summary:

Coal bearing strata within the Muswellbrook area form part of the Sydney-Gunnedah Basin. The coal seams mined by MCC are part of the Greta Coal Measures, the lowermost coals of the Sydney Basin. The coal measures are separated into two main formations, the Rowan and Skelletar Formations. The area is overlain by thick glacial marine deposits (diamictites) and sandstones of the Branxton Formation, while the Greta Coal Measures unconformably overlie the Carboniferous Gyarran Volcanics.

The stratigraphic sequence of coal measure succession within the mining lease area at MCC is characterised by the presence of seven coal seams over a relatively small vertical distance of about 90 metres. The economic mining interval occurs between the Fleming and Loder seams with a cumulative total of approximately 27 metres of coal, the thickest being the St. Heliers Seam at a maximum of 14 metres.

The Greta Coal Measures are overlain by marine sandstones and diamictites of the Branxton Formation. This marine transgression during deposition of the sandstone has caused elevated sulphur levels in the top portion of the Greta Coal Measures. This top section also contains associated reactive ground. This material is mined and placed low within the pit to reduce the possibility of the material forming acidic water. Water quality monitoring data from pit sumps and surface waters show neutral pH values and provide an indication of the successful management of overburden materials at the mine.

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityUnits202220212020201920182017
Coal (thermal) kt  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe1,1771,5161,528
All production numbers are expressed as clean coal.

Operational metrics

Metrics20212020201920182017
Coal tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe1,176,755 t1,711,271 t1,784,386 t
Waste  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe8,119,374 bcm7,870,331 bcm8,186,728 bcm

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jul 24, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jul 24, 2024

EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2021
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2020
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2019
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2018
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2017
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2016
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2015

Aerial view:

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