Mount Whale Back Mining
Mining at Mount Whale Back is very profitable. It is producing 600 train cars of iron ore a day, which could be increased. It is located in the Pilbara.Pit Statistics
Mount Whale Back is currently 5.5 km long and 1.5 km wide. The mountain was originally 805 metres above sea level. The miners are currently mining down at 135 metres below sea level. Each of the steps in the pit is 15 metre high. These steps are called benches.History
Iron ore was first discovered in Whale Back by Stan Hilditch (who turned a hill into a ditch LOL) in 1957 and mining started in 1967.Railroad
Mount Whale Back has the longest privately owned railroad in the southern hemisphere. It stretches 426 km from Newman to Port Headland.Machinery
Machines are important in the mine. Mount Whale Back owns 22 of the 30 200 tonne Wabco ore trucks produced in the world. Tyres cost up to $30,000 and and last up to 12 months.
Where are the trucks?
Look at the picture of the trucks lined up waiting to be filled. Can you find these trucks in the photo of the main pit?
Very informative Mallee, a great depth of knowledge. I'm learning so much from your travels. One day when I finally get to experience it first hand I will be armed with your prior knowledge, thanks. Wow! Don't the trucks look so tiny in the pit below when in actual fact they are incredibly huge. I'm so glad I don't have to pay to replace their tyres!
ReplyDeleteGreat information Mallee!!
ReplyDelete4/5/6 have a few questions.
How much iron ore can the Wabco trucks hold? - Jordan
Where do the trucks go at night, or when their finished? - Courtney
How much rain do they get there? - Jack K. ?
Comments.....
" The photo of the mine reminds me of Mine Craft" .- Arnika
" You look like a sand bag when you were under the truck". - Miranda
" Your so lucky, it looks so fun". - Ava
OK so the answers to your questions are, Jordan the truck holds 200 tones. Courtney the mine works 24\7 365 days a year so the trucks don't get a break and Jack they get about 300ml of rain year.
ReplyDeleteI especially like the second picture, no surprise there...
ReplyDeleteFascinating, Mallee. Can you bring me back a hat pleeze! Love to you and Jaz – Gill
ReplyDeleteHey Mallee great information and love the pictures all of them, i have somthing great to tell you on Friday y.e.c. people went to Cascade and learnt, lots but most of all the 2 most interesting was composting we all learnt heaps of stuff the other thing
Deletewas about Indian Mynas that was so cool.
But other then that i really miss you and jaz have even more fun
from CoURTNEY
Loving your hard hat and glasses Mal! Thank goodness the tyres on your tractor at home cost that much. :) x
ReplyDelete