Karara Mine, Karara Conservation Reserve, Perenjori Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
Karara Mine	Mine
Karara Conservation Reserve	- not defined -
Perenjori Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

Located approximately 50 kilometres north-west of Perenjori on the former Karara pastoral lease. Operated as a 50:50 joint venture between Gindalbie Metals and Chinese steel manufacturer Ansteel, the controlling company called Karara Mining Ltd. It is a low-grade magnetite orebody which is concentrated into pellets and exported to Chinese steel mills through Geraldton. The mine life is expected to be 30 years. The deposit also includes a smaller but high grade hematite deposit. The first shipment from the mine was made in 2011. It is expected to export 30 million tonnes pa by 2017.

The ore body is hosted by magnetite rich banded iron formations over a 3.2 kilometre length, 400-600m wide and depth up to 300m below the surface. The hematite occurs as small areas of structurally controlled martite-goethite enrichment of the banded iron formation. While no detailed geology report appears to exist in the public domain, an early driller at the site, Fred Rose can confirm calcite and siderite is common in the upper portions of the deposit, based on material collected. Fluorite is known to occur at Mt Mulgine.

The area is generally known as Blue Hills, which incorporates a series of hills and ridges from west to east: Mt Karara, Karara North, Mungada Ridge, Jasper Hill and Mt Mulgine. Mining companies in the region have struck difficulties gaining approval for mining as the banded iron formations in the mid-west region contain rare flora and fauna. This is especially so considering the former Karara pastoral lease is now a conservation zone. Mining was approved at Mt Karara, as long as Mungada Ridge, which is thought part of the same orebody, was retained for conservation purposes.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References