Iron ore is the raw material for the production of iron that is mostly further processed to produce steel. Small tonnages are also used in a variety of applications, including pigment manufacture, coal washeries and cement manufacture.
AUSTRALIAN BULK MINERALS TASMANIAN OPERATIONS - SAVAGE RIVER MINE
High grade iron ores mined at Savage River form part of a mineralised belt west of Waratah, which extends north eastwards to Burnie and out into Bass Strait.
The iron concentrate produced from the Savage River mill is pumped as a slurry through a pipeline 80 km to Port Latta, where it is converted into pellets ready for shipment overseas.
During 1997-98, production of iron (pellets) resumed with the re-opening of the Savage River Mine under new ownership and since then production at the mine has increased, from 820,841 tonnes in 1997-98 to 2,027,324 tonnes in 2000-01.
There were 459 people employed (including administrative staff in Burnie) in 2000-01. Capital expenditure totalled $18.7m.
IRON PELLETS PRODUCED, Tasmania
Source: Mineral Resources Tasmania, Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources.
SAVAGE RIVER MINE - 2000-01
|-Iron ore pellets|
Source: Mineral Resources, Tasmania, Annual Review 2000-2001.