MT TOM PRICE IRON 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:Location and outline geology of the Hamersley Province, showing major iron deposits and simplified stratigraphy
Source:Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd
Date:circa 2001
File size:83.28 Kb
Location:Mt Tom Price, Hamersley Province, Western Australia
Annotation:Plan showing surface geology and major structural features of the Mt Tom Price iron deposit
Source:Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd
Date:circa 2001
File size:59.62 Kb
Location:Mt Tom Price, Hamersley Province, Western Australia
Annotation:Cross section 13962E through the Southern Ridge area, Mount Tom Price mine
Source:Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd
Date:circa 2001
File size:88.59 Kb
Location:Mt Tom Price, Hamersley Province, Western Australia
Annotation:Cross section 14938E through the Synclines area, Mt Tom Price mine
Source:Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd
Date:circa 2001
File size:65.56 Kb
Location:Mt Tom Price, Hamersley Province, Western Australia
Annotation:Cross section 16405E through the Prongs area, Mt Tom Price
Source:Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd
Date:circa 2001
File size:53.24 Kb

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