Mt Webber mine
{{Short description|Mine in Western Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Mt Webber mine
| image =
| width =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = Western Australia
| pushpin_label = Mt Webber mine
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Western Australia
| coordinates = {{coord|21.5369|S|119.2888|E|region:AU-WA|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| place = Shire of East Pilbara
| subdivision_type = State
| state/province = Western Australia
| country = Australia
| owner = Atlas Iron
| official website = https://www.atlasiron.com.au/
| acquisition year =
| products = Iron ore
| financial year =
| amount = {{convert|9|e6t|e9lbs|abbr=off}} per annum
| opening year = 2014
| closing year =
| module = {{Infobox mapframe
|stroke-colour=#C60C30
|stroke-width=3
|marker=industrial
|marker-colour=#1F2F57
|zoom=9
}}
}}
The Mt Webber mine is an iron ore mine operated by Atlas Iron and located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, {{convert|230|km}} from Port Hedland, to where the ore is transported. Mt Webber, opened in 2014, is the company's primary operation.
Overview
File:Iron ore Pilbara 2.svg region]]
The mine officially opened in July 2014 and was, at the time, the company’s fifth operation, initially contributing {{convert|1|e6t|e9lbs|abbr=off}} of iron ore per annum to the company's production. At the time of opening, the iron ore price was at a two year low but, at the same time, labour costs had also been lower, allowing for reduced construction costs.{{cite news |last=Bell |first=Lucie |date=15 July 2014 |title=Atlas Iron opens Mt Webber mine in the Pilbara |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2014-07-15/altas-iron-opens-mt-webber/5597238 |work=ABC Rural |location= |access-date=1 March 2022}} A joint venture of Atlas Iron Limited and Altura Mining Limited at the time, construction cost of Mt Webber was A$210 million.{{cite web |url=https://www.mindat.org/loc-272926.html |title=Mount Webber Mine |author= |date= |website=www.mindat.org |publisher= |access-date=1 March 2022 |quote=}}
Less than a year after opening Mt Webber, Atlas Iron suspended all operations because of declining iron ore prices.{{cite news |last=Spriggs |first=Ebonnie |date=13 April 2015 |title=Atlas Iron: Pilbara town Port Hedland bracing for impact of mine shutdowns |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-13/atlas-iron-ore-shut-down-to-hit-town/6388064 |work=ABC News |location= |access-date=1 March 2022}} The mine reopened two month later, in July 2015, after Atlas had reached a A$12 million mining royalties relief deal with the Government of Western Australia and reduced its production cost to below A$50, at an iron ore market price of A$61.50 at the time. Expected production figures at the time were {{convert|6|e6t|e9lbs|abbr=off}} per annum for the next eight years.{{cite news |last=Ceranic |first=Irena |date=2 June 2015 |title=Junior miner Atlas Iron to restart production at Mt Webber |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-02/junior-miner-atlas-iron-to-restart-production-at-mt-webber/6516180 |work=ABC News |location= |access-date=1 March 2022}}
Atlas Iron was acquired by Redstone Resources, a fully owned subsidiary of Hancock Prospecting in October 2018.{{cite news |last=Hosie |first=Ewen |date=18 October 2018 |title=Hancock secures compulsory takeover of Atlas Iron in Rinehart win |url=https://www.australianmining.com.au/news/hancock-subsidiary-secures-90-per-cent-of-atlas-iron-in-rinehart-win/ |work=Australian Mining |location= |access-date=1 March 2022}}
Having exhausted the Pardoo, Wodgina, Abydos and Mt Dove mines by 2021, Atlas was operating just two mines at this point, Mt Webber and Sanjiv Ridge (formerly Corunna Downs). A third mine, Miralga Creek, commenced operations in late February 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.atlasiron.com.au/our-company/our-operations/ |title=Our Operations |author= |date= |website=atlasiron.com.au |publisher=Atlas Iron |access-date=1 March 2022 |quote=}}{{cite news |last=Murphy |first=Emily |date=1 March 2022 |title=Atlas Iron gets first ore at Miralga Creek |url=https://www.australianmining.com.au/news/atlas-iron-gets-first-ore-at-miralga-creek/ |work=Australian Mining |location= |access-date=3 March 2022 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.atlasiron.com.au/IRM/content/home.html Atlas Iron Limited website]
- [https://minedex.dmirs.wa.gov.au/Web/projects/details/5ca1eefa-857e-4492-8c88-2296fadce9e8 MINEDEX website: Mt Webber] Database of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
{{Iron ore mining in Western Australia|state=collapsed}}
Category:Iron ore mines in Western Australia
Category:Surface mines in Australia