What minerals are found in Western Australia?

What minerals are found in Western Australia?

A wealth of mineral deposits and petroleum resources formed during the 4.4 billion year geological history of Western Australia. World-class mineral deposits include gold, iron, nickel, heavy mineral sands, diamonds and bauxite. Petroleum abounds in the giant fields of the North West Shelf and smaller fields onshore.

What is being mined in Western Australia?

Iron ore was, in 2019–20, the most important commodity in Western Australia, accounting for 60 percent of sales in the state’s mineral and petroleum industry. Other major commodities included lithium, mineral sands, salt, coal, cobalt, rare earths, and diamonds.

Where is the biggest gold mine in Western Australia?

Boddington Gold Mine
The Boddington Gold Mine is a gold and copper mine located 13 km (8.1 mi) northwest of Boddington, Western Australia. Officially reopened on 3 February 2010, the mine has now become Australia’s largest gold mine, eclipsing the Super Pit.

What is the biggest mine in Western Australia?

the Super Pit gold mine
Officially known as the Fimiston open pit mine, the Super Pit gold mine in Western Australia is the country’s largest mine in terms of scale, covering 3.5km by 1.5km on the surface, and currently undergoing expansion work to extend to a depth of 700m.

Where is zinc found in Western Australia?

Zinc ore is produced also at Rosebery in Tasmania; Elura in New South Wales; and Scuddles and Gossan Hill in Western Australia.

Where can I find gems in WA?

Washington state’s most common gemstones are agates, jasper and geodes. It is also home to large collections of petrified wood fossils.

  • Deer Creek. Six miles east of Oso is a site that offers many deposits.
  • Walker Valley. Located two miles south of Mt.
  • Mt.
  • Stubbs Hill.
  • Hansen Creek.
  • Klahowya.
  • Chehalis River.
  • Crystal Mountain.

What mining companies are in WA?

Mining Companies – Western Australia

  • Abra Mining Limited. Wangara 6065.
  • Alchemy Resources Limited. West Perth 6005.
  • Alcoa Corporation. Pinjarra 6208.
  • Alcoa of Australia Limited. Booragoon 6154.

Where in Western Australia are the three largest gold mines?

The Biggest Gold Mines in Australia

  • Boddington Gold Mine, WA. Owned by Newmont Mining.
  • Kalgoorlie Super Pit Gold Mine, WA. Owned by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd (KCGM).
  • Telfer Gold Mine, WA. Owned by Newcrest.
  • Jundee Gold Mine, WA. Owned By Northern Star Resources.
  • Lake Cowal Gold Mine, NSW.

What are the top 5 minerals mined in Australia?

Australia is among the top five producers of most of the world’s key mineral commodities, being:

  • the world’s leading producer of bauxite, alumina, rutile and tantalum.
  • the second largest producer of uranium, lead, ilmenite, zircon and lithium.
  • the third largest producer of iron ore, and zinc.

Where are base metals mined in WA?

The largest base metal operation in Western Australia is the Golden Grove Mine which began operation in 1990. It produces copper, lead, silver, zinc and gold. Ore reserves at their Scuddles and Gossan Hill deposits indicate a mine life of about 30 years.

Can Opals be found in Western Australia?

Very little precious opal is known to be found in Western Australia. The only known source is ‘Williams Opal Mine’ near Coolgardie.

What minerals can be found in Western Australia?

From gold, nickel and copper to lithium and rare pink diamonds, Western Australia is home to an eclectic mix of minerals. The geology of Western Australia represents 4.4 billion years of the Earth’s history and has a richness of mineral deposits unlike anywhere else in the world.

What is the geology like in Western Australia?

From gold, nickel and copper to lithium and rare pink diamonds, Western Australia is home to an eclectic mix of minerals. The geology of Western Australia represents 4.4 billion years of the Earth’s history and has a richness of mineral deposits unlike anywhere else in the world. WA is home to some of the planet’s oldest rocks and rock formations.

How did the West Australian craton form?

-The West Australian Craton (WAC) was made up of both the Yilgarn and Pilbara cratons that had collided together earlier. These tectonic collisions caused huge faults and folds in the land. Over time erosion has worn down the mountains that were created, and sediment flow has filled in the faults.