From our Ore to Your Door - Episode 8 - In Pit Screening
To minimize the cost and energy of further processing and transport, we remove as much waste material from the ore as close as possible to where it is mined. This is the most logical step, given that the concentration of magnesite in our ore can be as low as 20-40%.
First, we screen the ore material with a portable screen. Haul trucks dump the ore close to the screen and the excavator loads the ore into the screen’s hopper. The screen then splits the material into three sizes:
1. ROs (Rocks, Oversized): nodules >65mm in size
2. RUs (Rocks, Undersized): nodules <65mm and >16mm in size
3. Waste: material that is <16mm in size (often sand, silt, and small
low-grade nodules)
A loader collects screened ROs and RUs and stockpiles by quality. Later, we load these materials onto road trains and transport them to the Kunwarara plant. At KG2 and OMS, we haul screened material with side-tipping road trains on internal roads. From Yaamba, we use B-Doubles to move material between sites via the Bruce Highway.
Generally, only 30-35% of the ore fed into a screen is retained as ROs or RUs. The remaining 65-70% is waste, that we return to a void to begin the backfill and rehabilitation process.
From our Ore to Your Door - Episode 8 - In Pit Screening
QMAG currently mines 4 million tonnes of ore per year, from six to eight different pits.
We choose pits based on their magnesite content and contaminant concentrations. There are always at least two pits mined simultaneously to provide the Parkhurst plant with enough material at suitable quality to support our full suite of products.
Sustainable Thinkers and Actors
Being a company powered by people who value sustainability in thought and action gives us the expertise and brainpower to deliver solutions that make a sustainable difference.
Falcon Update
The peregrine falcons at QMAG’s Parkhurst processing facility are breeding again after an unfortunate setback in September.
From our Ore to Your Door - Episode 7 - Mining Operations
QMAG currently mines 4 million tonnes of ore per year, from six to eight different pits.
We choose pits based on their magnesite content and contaminant concentrations. There are always at least two pits mined simultaneously to provide the Parkhurst plant with enough material at suitable quality to support our full suite of products.
From our Ore to Your Door - Episode 6 - Mining Pit Development
With exploration, drilling and planning complete, it’s time to start mining. First, surveyors stake out the boundary of the area to be mined. A clearing permit verifies that the area to be mined is within the active lease, has
been cleared by the local Land Council, and has the correct government permit to be mined. Now the pit development can begin.
Visitors to Kunwarara
We were thrilled to welcome Matthew Canavan and Michelle Landry to our mine last week! It was an exciting opportunity to give them an in-depth look at our "Ore to Your Door" process and share the remarkable stories of the local businesses that enrich our community.
Any remaining questions?
Just get in touch using the contact form and we’ll get back to you
as soon as we can.