Statistics done, it is one very large operation and our bus took us firstly to a lookout within the mine. Next we were driven amongst the plant and equipment, all of which was coated in red dust. The high grade ore body was quite obvious with its dark bluish colour. It was Sunday and the mine seemed to be on the quiet side but we did see a couple of haulage trucks and water trucks doing their thing.
After the tour we visited King Lake but this was a big disappointment. The water is contaminated and we could barely tell where the grass finishes and the water began.
We are heading back towards the coast tomorrow so we have cleaned the car as a symbolic gesture for leaving Pilbara's mines and with an expectation that the dirt we have left behind will add to the coffers of Rio Tinto.
Today's trivia - even the Corellas, normally white, have a Pilbara suntan.
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| 130714 Tom Price look out, we have arrived - an unintended space in the sign |
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| 130714 Approaching Tom Price Mine |
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| 130714 The main ore body |
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| 130714 More of the main ore body |
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| 130714 A haul truck carrying 240 tonnes |
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| 130714 Driven by a woman - $170,000/a salary |
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| 130714 The water reclamation pond |
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| 130714 On the reclamation pond, a duck with three ducklings and a shark - there is a battle ship too out of sight |
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| 130714 A $15m reclamation shovel, recovers ore from a stockpile |
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| 130714 A Corella with Pilbara suntan |
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| 130714 King Lake. Water in the centre covered by a green algae |
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