The Mesa A mine, sometimes also referred to as Waramboo mine,Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistic Digest 2008–09 Department of Mines & Petroleum is an iron ore mine located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, west of Pannawonica.Deepdale Mesa A search result Minedex
The mine is owned by Robe River Iron Associates (53% Rio Tinto) and operated by Rio Tinto Iron Ore and is one of twelve iron ore mines the company operates in the Pilbara.Pilbara Rio Tinto Iron Ore website, accessed: 6 November 2010Mining Rio Tinto Iron Ore website, accessed: 6 November 2010 In 2009, the combined Pilbara operations produced of iron ore, a 15 percent increase from 2008.Preparing for the future Rio Tinto presentation, published: 23 March 2010, accessed: 7 November 2010 The Pilbara operations accounted for almost 13 percent of the world's 2009 iron ore production of .Global iron-ore production falls 6,2% in 2009 – Unctad report miningweekly.com, published: 30 July 2010, accessed: 7 November 2010Production of iron ore fell in 2009, but shipments continued to increase, report says UNCTAD website, published: 30 July 2010, accessed: 7 November 2010
The Hamersley Range, where the mine is located, contains 80 percent of all identified iron ore reserves in Australia and is one of the world's major iron ore provinces.Iron fact sheet – Australian Resources and Deposits Geoscience Australia website, accessed: 7 November 2010
Overview
Rio Tinto iron ore operations in the Pilbara began in 1966. The mine itself began operations in 2010. Operation of the mine was contracted to HWE Mining.HWE Mining awarded $344 million contract at Rio Tinto's Mesa A iron ore operation, WA Leighton Contractors 14 April 2008 The mine has an annual production capacity of of iron ore, sourced from open-pit operations. The ore is processed on site before being loaded onto rail.Mesa A mine Rio Tinto Iron Ore website, accessed: 6 November 2010
Ore from the mine is then transported to the coast through the Hamersley & Robe River railway line, where it is loaded onto ships.Rail Rio Tinto Iron Ore, accessed: 6 November 2010
The mine's workforce is on a fly-in fly-out roster.
The mine is located near the Mesa J mine. The new Mesa A mine was scheduled to replace the Mesa J mine which was nearing the end of its life span. Due to additional deposits found near the existing Mesa J site, a decision was made to operate the Mesa A mine as a fly-in fly-out site. The Mesa J site could then continue to run as a residential site based in Pannawonica. After a two-year construction period and expenses of $1 billion, the mine began operation in February 2010. The mine was initially scheduled for a mine life of eleven years. But has now been extended due to an expansion for the mining of Mesa B and Mesa C deposits.
Robe River Iron Associates Robe River Iron, owner of the mine, is jointly owned by: Rio Tinto – 53% – operator Mitsui & Co – 33% Nippon Steel – 10.5% Sumitomo Metal Industries – 3.5%
Robe River Iron operates the West Angelas, Mesa A and Mesa J mines. Rio Tinto acquired its share of 53% in late 2000, when it took over mining company North Limited.Rio wins North deal The Guardian 5 August 2000The Australian Mines Handbook – 2003–04 edition, editor: Ross Louthean, publisher: Louthean Media, page: 243
References
External links Rio Tinto Iron Ore website