Olympic Dam, South Australia: Difference between revisions
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'''Olympic Dam''' is a mining centre in [[South Australia]], [[Australia]], located some 550 km NNW of [[Adelaide]]. It is the site of an extremely large [[Iron oxide copper gold ore deposits|iron oxide copper gold deposit]] producing [[copper]], [[uranium]], [[gold]] and [[silver]]. The site hosts an underground mine as well as an integrated metallurgical processing plant. It is the fourth largest copper deposit and the largest known single deposit of uranium in the world, though uranium represents only a minority of the mine's total revenue. |
'''Olympic Dam''' is a mining centre in [[South Australia]], [[Australia]], located some 550 km NNW of [[Adelaide]]. It is the site of an extremely large [[Iron oxide copper gold ore deposits|iron oxide copper gold deposit]] producing [[copper]], [[uranium]], [[gold]] and [[silver]]. The site hosts an underground mine as well as an integrated metallurgical processing plant. It is the fourth largest copper deposit and the largest known single deposit of uranium in the world, though uranium represents only a minority of the mine's total revenue. There were plans to expand the mine, but this has now been postponed indefinitely pending investigation of a "new and cheaper design".<ref>http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-22/bhp-billiton-profit-falls-a-third/4215638</ref> |
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==Operations== |
==Operations== |
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Revision as of 08:41, 24 August 2012
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| Location | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Olympic Dam |
| State |  South Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Production | |
| Products | copper uranium gold silver |
| History | |
| Opened | 1988 |
| Owner | |
| Company | BHP Billiton |
| Year of acquisition | 2005 |
Olympic Dam is a mining centre in South Australia, Australia, located some 550 km NNW of Adelaide. It is the site of an extremely large iron oxide copper gold deposit producing copper, uranium, gold and silver. The site hosts an underground mine as well as an integrated metallurgical processing plant. It is the fourth largest copper deposit and the largest known single deposit of uranium in the world, though uranium represents only a minority of the mine's total revenue. There were plans to expand the mine, but this has now been postponed indefinitely pending investigation of a "new and cheaper design".[1]
Operations
The deposit was discovered by Western Mining Corporation in 1975 near Roxby Downs Sheep Station and started production in 1988. It now belongs to BHP Billiton, which acquired WMC Resources in 2005. The mine currently operates by an underground mining method called sublevel open stoping, using modern and highly productive mining equipment. The March 2005 mine production rate is an annualised 9.1 million tonnes making it one of Australia's larger mines. 2005 metal production is thought to be in excess of 220,000 tonnes of copper, 4500 tonnes of uranium oxide, plus gold and silver. The copper and uranium oxide are exported through Port Adelaide. Most of the mine workers live in the nearby towns of Roxby Downs and Andamooka. Regular flights to Olympic Dam Airport serve Olympic Dam.
The Olympic Dam mine uses 35 million litres of Great Artesian Basin water each day, making it the largest industrial user of underground water in the southern hemisphere.[2] Because artesian pressure is high in the south of the basin the water flows to the surface via mound springs. Water is pumped along an underground pipeline from two bore fields which are located 110 km and 200 km to the north of the mine.[3] The salty bore water requires desalination before it is used. Contaminated water from mining operations is passed through a series of sealed ponds where it evaporates.[3]
This is having a major negative effect on rare and endangered flora and fauna of nearby mound springs, which are drying out as a result of the water draw-down rate. The mound springs are the only permanent source of water in the arid interior of South Australia and a delicate yet intricate ecological balance has been established.[4] Due to their prolonged isolation the mound springs contain many rare and endemic species that have undergone genetic differentiation and speciation.[5] The springs are important as drought refuge areas for much wildlife and as wetlands for migratory birds, recognised as being of national importance. The rare and endemic species include plants, fish, hydrobiids, isopods, amphipods and ostracods, many of which occupy specialised areas within a spring such as the open pool, outer rim or the rocky outflow channel, are threatened by mining operations.
Expansion
The Olympic Dam expansion completed the pre-feasibility stage during 2008, and the first step of expansion was scheduled for completion by late 2013. This has now been postponed indefinitely pending investigation of a "new and cheaper design".[6] The South Australian Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Tom Koutsantonis has faith "they will be developed (and)it will bring a great deal of prosperity." However his Premier, Jay Weatherill, has warned BHP "given that this is the second time they have disappointed South Australians, there can be no doubt that this community permission will come at a (greater) cost" next time. [7]
In 2007, BHP Billiton attracted some public attention for delaying the release of its environmental impact statement for the Olympic Dam expansion, and for the company's response to inconsistencies in the scope and configuration of the proposed expansion.[8]
In December 2008, South Australia's Premier Mike Rann moved to end uncertainty over the Olympic Dam project, by revealing advice from BHP Billiton that the project would proceed as an open-cut operation.[9] On 10 October 2011, Federal Government approval for the mine expansion, which will make it the world's largest open-cut mine, was given.[10]
More than 400 people joined a "Lizard's Revenge march" to the Olympic Dam site in July 2012. The anti-nuclear activists, including Elder Kevin Buzzacott, protested against the mine expansion and the uranium industry. They say the company and the government have put short-term economic gain ahead of environmental and health concerns. Organiser Nectaria Calan said police harassed protesters, demanding identification and controlling access to and from their campsite.[11]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-22/bhp-billiton-profit-falls-a-third/4215638
- ^ Indigenous nuclear campaigner wins national environment award
- ^ a b Pigram, John J. (2007). Australia's Water Resources: From use to management. Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Pubishing. p. 112. ISBN 9780643094420.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Keane, D, 1997, The Sustainability of Use of Groundwater from the Great Artesian Basin, with Particular Reference to the South-Western Edge of the Basin and Impact on the Mound Springs, Environmental Engineering, RMIT, 76 p.
- ^ Kinhill, 1997, Olympic Dam Expansion Project Environmental Impact Statement, Prepared for WMC (Olympic Dam Corporation) Pty Ltd by Kinhill Engineers Pty Ltd, May 1997, 500 p.
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-22/bhp-billiton-profit-falls-a-third/4215638
- ^ http://www.news.com.au/business/companies/bhp-cancels-30-billion-olympic-dam-expansion-in-south-australian-outback/story-fnda1bsz-1226455884519
- ^ Uranium mining and the question of corporate social responsibility
- ^ $7bn BHP Billiton mine giant to go ahead: Mike Rann
- ^ "Huge Olympic Dam mine expansion wins federal nod". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
- ^ Sarah Martin (July 16, 2012). "Police accused over Olympic Dam protest". The Australian.
External links
- South Australian History
- Infomine Minesites
- BHP Billiton
- An Analysis of BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam Upgrade
- Social and Ecological Impact of Water Extraction for a Copper-Uranium Mine
- Olympic Dam Project on mining-technology.com
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