Overview Mount Whaleback mine

iron ore mines in pilbara region.

the mount whaleback deposit discovered in 1957 stan hilditch not publicised until 1960, when australian government lifted embargo on iron ore exports had put in place because of concerns mineral in short supply. first mine develop goldsworthy mine in 1965 , railway line, goldsworthy railway, port facilities @ finucane island constructed. on 1 june 1966, first shipment of iron ore pilbara left on board of harvey s. mudd.

bhp s operations in newman date 1968, when mount whaleback mine opened, biggest single-pit open-pit iron ore mine in world, developed united states company bechtel pacific. mine 1.5 kilometres wide, more 5 kilometres long , scheduled reach depth of 0.5 kilometres. new town, newman, constructed, 426 kilometre railway line, mount newman railway. first train left newman on 1 january 1969 , first shipment of newman ore left port on 1 april 1969 on board of osumi maru. newman remained closed company town until 1981.

ore mines transported rail port hedland through 2 independent railways. mount newman railway carries ore mount whaleback, orebodies 18, 23 , 25, jimblebar, yandi , area c. yarrie mine serviced separate, shorter goldsworthy railway.

ore mount whaleback , other newman mines, yandi mine transported port @ nelson point, while ore area c , yarrie goes finucane island. ore transported through 1.16 kilometre long tunnel nelson point port @ finucane island. average loading time ship 30 hours , 800 ships loaded annually @ port hedland.

the mine can visited on 1.5 hour tour.