Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Production Start | ... |
Mine Life | 2050 |
South Flank is Australia's largest new iron ore mine in more than 50 years. Together with Mining Area C, it will form the largest operating iron ore hub in the world producing 145 million tonnes of iron ore each year.
South Flank remains on track to ramp up to a full production capacity of 80 Mtpa (100 percent basis) by the end of FY2024. The deployment of autonomous haul trucks at South Flank was completed in May 2023. |
Source:
p. 207
BHP 85%, Mitsui Iron Ore Corporation 7%, ITOCHU Minerals and Energy of Australia 8%.
Contractors
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Deposit Type
- Detrital Iron (DID)
- Banded iron formation
Summary:
The South Flank series of deposits is in production. South Flank is located on the southern flank of the Weeli Wolli anticline. Supergene M-G mineralisation is hosted by MM IF and the West Angela Member of the Wittenoom Formation. Phanerozoic sediments infill the EW-trending valley, underlain by the dolomitic Wittenoom Formation, between South Flank and the Governor Range to the south (the latter is made of BKM IF).
Bedrock mineralisation extends continuously over a strike length of 27km. Mineralised widths range up to 1.3km and mineralisation extends to 300m vertical depth in places. Although the regional dip of the bedrock is moderately to the south, there are a number of meso-scale folds with sinuous hinge lines which result in a network of synclinal keels and an anastomosing pattern of mineralisation. The synclinal keels tend to be intensely mineralised and typically have thrust-thickened, steep to overturned, N-facing limbs which are also well mineralised, thanks to the combination of steep bedding dip and structurally-enhanced permeability. Some mineralisation is also developed on moderately S-dipping portions of the southern flank of the Weeli Wolli anticline in the absence of meso-scale folding.
Mineralisation style: Bedded ore types classified as per host Archaean or Proterozoic iron formation, which are Brockman, Marra Mamba and Nimingarra; also present is iron-rich detrital material.
Summary:
Mining at South Flank will be undertaken utilising conventional open-cut mining for iron ore. Campaign mining involves drilling, blasting, and categorisation of blasted material into iron ore or waste rock. Iron ore will be extracted from the three South Flank deposits - Highway, Vista Oriental and Grand Central.
South Flank mining has transitioned to full autonomous haulage. The mine’s 41 Komatsu 903E trucks and 185 pieces of ancillary equipment have been fitted with automation kits and are fully operational across the mine’s autonomous operating zones.
All mining areas within WAIO currently operate using conventional open-cut mining methods. Iron ore is a bulk commodity, and the orebodies are large and near surface, with a relatively thin overburden. The orebodies are generally shallow dipping, and most parts of the orebodies occur within depths of 200 to 300m from surface, thus leading to low strip ratios. These characteristics make the WAIO operations suitable for open-cut mining methods including drilling, blasting, loading and hauling.
WAIO open-cut mining uses face shovels, front-end loaders or backhoe excavators. The full bench is drilled and blasted for a 12 m height, sampled three times in 4 m increments and three 4 m flitches are then mined.
Drilling is separate for contour areas and production areas. Contour drilling is completed using smaller drills on contoured areas of the natural ground and production areas are relat ........
Source:
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Flow Sheet:
Summary:
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Source:
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Production:
Commodity | Units | 2022 |
Iron Ore
|
Mt
| ...... |
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2023 | 2022 |
Plant annual capacity
| ...... | ...... |
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Reserves at June 30, 2018:
A single cut-off grade was applied in WAIO per deposit ranging from 50-58%Fe.
WAIO – Cut-off grades used to estimate Ore Reserves range from 50–62%Fe for all material types.
Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
Proven
|
360 Mt
|
Iron
|
62.4 %
|
Probable
|
1,320 Mt
|
Iron
|
61.5 %
|
Proven & Probable
|
1,680 Mt
|
Iron
|
61.7 %
|
Measured
|
700 Mt
|
Iron
|
62.2 %
|
Indicated
|
1,650 Mt
|
Iron
|
61.1 %
|
Inferred
|
5,380 Mt
|
Iron
|
59.7 %
|
Total Resource
|
7,730 Mt
|
Iron
|
60.2 %
|
HME Type | Model | Size | Quantity | Ref. Date | Source |
Excavator
|
.......................
|
600 t
|
.......................
|
Apr 6, 2022
|
p.1
|
Truck (haul)
|
.......................
|
|
.......................
|
Jun 30, 2023
|
p.26
|
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Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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