Mary Kathleen was a mining settlement in the northwestern part of Queensland, Australia. It is located in the Selwyn Range between Mount Isa and Cloncurry.
Mary Kathleen was first settled during the 1860s.
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In 1954, a significant uranium deposit was discovered at the site. Mary Kathleen Uranium Ltd. built a mine, with 4,500 tonnes of uranium oxide being extracted between 1958 and 1963. The mine then lay idle until 1974, when re-opening started. The second phase of production began in 1976. The mine was finally closed down in 1982 after a further production of 4,802 tonnes of uranium oxide. A total of 7 million tonnes of ore were extracted from the mine. Processing occurred on-site.
Mary Kathleen's uranium deposits originated from contact metasomatic processes.[1] This type of occurrence is uncommon, with Mary Kathleen being the only commercial example. The uraninite here was conglomerated with garnet.[1]
The town was emptied out during 1983. The site, now only roads and concrete pads, can be accessed, as an overnight camp, from the Barkly Highway at -20.780837,139.9734.[2] The land has since been rehabilitated and is now suitable for grazing.[3]