Day 193 - Iron Knob

Back in time today as we headed off to Iron Knob, about 52km from Whyalla. We travelled through salt bush plains all the way.  Of the 52km, three sections of road, 12km, 20km, 14km were each gun-barrel straight so we almost felt as if we were back on the Nullabor Plain.

161014 The town of Iron Knob circa 1980's

161014 Iron Knob

Iron Knob is the site of the original haematite (iron oxide) find in 1894.  BHP took over the original leases in the process of developing the integrated mine to steel process, involving Whyalla.  BHP eventually left the steel making industry, selling its interests to One Steel and "giving" them two mines, Iron Knob and Iron Monarch as sources of ore for One Steel's steel making at Whyalla. Arrium Mining is now the operator of the mines in the area.

In 1998, the Iron Monarch Pit was closed for technical reasons but, with an improvement in iron ore prices, the Iron Monarch Pit and the nearby Iron Princess mine are in the process of being reopened. The place, which has been showing signs of dereliction, is coming alive again.  The rail line to Whyalla is being refurbished and overburden is being removed.  New ore is expected to be mined towards the end of this year.  The place is a beehive of activity.

161014 The Iron Monarch pit.  Iron Knob Pit
is the gash centre right of the picture

161014 The locals thought this was a picture of Iron Baron Pit

Iron Knob and Iron Monarch, essentially on the same site/mountain, are but two of the mines in the region.  Others are, Iron Baron, Iron Prince, Iron Queen and Iron Princess.  These mines are all within the Middleback Range which extends for 50 or more kilometres south east from Iron Knob.  The range then trends further south and parallel to the western side of Spencer Gulf.

The iron content in the ore is the highest in the world the locals claim, in excess of 65%. They even have 40 million tonnes of tailings with iron content of 55%.

We also learned that the ore ships can only come to within 70km of Wyhalla because of Spencer Gulf's shallow water.  Export ore is therefore transported out to the carriers on huge barges and the ore is transferred at sea.

It was staggering to see the mineralisation found when the mine platforms were being blasted.  One of the supervisors, Glyn Francis, collected samples and photographed them. 

161014 Minerals taken from the Iron Monarch pit.
Recovered and photographed by Glyn Francis

161014 That country humour again