Karara mine

29°11′28″S 116°45′38″E / 29.19111°S 116.76056°E / -29.19111; 116.76056ProductionProductsIron oreProduction8 million tonnes per annumHistoryOpened2010OwnerCompanyAnsteel Group and Gindalbie MetalsWebsitehttps://www.kararamining.com.au

The Karara mine is a large iron mine located in the Mid West region of Western Australia. Karara has estimated reserves of 2 billion tonnes of ore grading 35.5% iron metal. It is one of the few magnetite producers in Western Australia. It is owned by Ansteel Group (52.16%) and Gindalbie Metals (47.84%).^[1] The mine is operated by Karara Mining Limited.^[2][3]

Timeline

• In 2011, steelwork for the Karara project was delayed by major floods in Thailand.^{[citation needed]}
• In 2014, production was increased by over 35% in the June quarter, with more than 2 million tons of iron ore being shipped. Despite the increase the project was still not making a profit.^[4]

Transport

The Karara mine is linked to the Arc Infrastructure network by the 79-kilometre (49 mi) long Karara railway. The ore would be initially transported by a narrow gauge railway to the existing port of Geraldton in quantities up to 10 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa). When a standard gauge railway is built to a new port at Oakajee, the tonnage would increase to at least 30 Mtpa. The common part of the narrow gauge and standard gauge routes will be dual gauge.^{[according to whom?]}

The Karara branch joins the main line just north of Morawa.

References