MT TOM PRICE IRON ORE DEPOSIT


The Mount Tom Price orebody is located at long. 117º45'E, lat. 22º45'S in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia, 1130 km north of Perth. Unmined, it represented the second largest (after Mt Newman) known accumulation of high grade hematite in the Hamersley province. It sits near the keel, and at the eastern extremity of, the regional E-W trending Turner Syncline. The orebody consists mainly of hematite in a sequence of Brockman Iron Formation. It is approximately 7.5 km long and up to 1.6 km wide. It occupies two local synclines and part of the intervening anticline. Later cross-folding is present. Two south-dipping normal faults parallel, and in part limit, the ore. The base of the northern syncline is higher than that of the southern, giving an overall southerly dip and apparent thickness of 150 m, extending to a depth of 250 m below surface. Most (~90%) ore occurs in the Dales Gorge Member of the Brockman, with local enrichment in the Joffre where in fault contact with mineralised Dales Gorge. Remaining ore is associated with the Colonial Chert and Whaleback Shale Members. High grade mineable reserves at Mount Tom Price are of hematite ore. Generally porous, this yields high lump, is low in contaminants, and preserves remanent BIF banding. It is formed from randomly oriented fine-grained platy hematite and martite. Small quantities of ultra-fine earthy hematite fill voids. Shale macro-bands, partially replaced by iron oxides (up to 50% Fe) are present. The orebody is capped by low grade, mainly goethitic, hydrated material averaging 18 m in thickness (< 50 m in synclinal troughs) which has an irregular distribution. Minor deposits of 'canga' - 1 to 20 cm fragments of hematite and/or BIF cemented by goethite - occur as scree deposits and hillside wash in streams. Mt Tom Price commenced production in 1965. Initial reserve totalled about 900 Mt @ 64% Fe with a high lump to fines ratio, and low impurities. The impurity content of the high grade ore reserve in 1990 was 0.053% P, 3.5% SiO2 and 1.9% Al2O3.

Location:Mt Tom Price, Hamersley Province, Western Australia
Annotation:Primary stockpile
Source:Kerry O'Sullivan
Date:September 1985
File size:63.26 Kb
Location:Mt Tom Price, Hamersley Province, Western Australia
Annotation:Aerial overview looking NE at the north-west end of the Turner Syncline. The interior of the eroded syncline is situated to the right of centre. The sharp western closure of the syncline is off picture to the bottom right.
Source:Kerry O'Sullivan
Date:September 1985
File size:59.26 Kb
Location:Mt Tom Price, Hamersley Province, Western Australia
Annotation:Northern limb of the Turner Syncline. Aerial view NNE of south-facing inward scarp. The Hamersley Surface can clearly be seen on dip slopes.
Source:Kerry O'Sullivan
Date:September 1985
File size:50.70 Kb
Location:Mt Tom Price, Hamersley Province, Western Australia
Annotation:Detail aerial view of northern limb of the Turner Syncline looking NNE.Note the well developed Hamersley Surface.
Source:Kerry O'Sullivan
Date:September 1985
File size:59.07 Kb
Location:
Annotation:Dampier: port and loading facility
Source:Kerry O'Sullivan
Date:May 1994
File size:62.72 Kb

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