Four Mile uranium mine

Four Mile Mine
Location
Four Mile Mine
Location in Australia
Location Lake Frome
State South Australia
Country Australia
Coordinates 30°08′48.6″S 139°30′23.9″E / 30.146833°S 139.506639°ECoordinates: 30°08′48.6″S 139°30′23.9″E / 30.146833°S 139.506639°E
Production
Products Uranium
History
Opened 2014
Owner
Company Quasar Resources Pty Ltd 75% and Alliance Resources Ltd 25%
Website Quasar Resources
Alliance Resources
Year of acquisition 2005 (Discovery)

Four Mile is Australia's fifth uranium mine. It is sited in the Frome Basin in far north of the state of South Australia, around 600 kilometres (370 mi) north of the state capital, Adelaide. It is 10 kilometres (6 mi) from the existing Beverley uranium mine,[1] where its uranium oxide product is produced. Construction of the mine commenced in late 2013[2] and the mine was officially opened in June 2014.[3]

Prior to opening, it was claimed that Four Mile would become the tenth-largest uranium mine in the world.[4]

Mine

Four Mile is the fifth uranium mine in Australia. The deposit was first discovered in 2005[5] and is the largest uranium discovery in Australia since 1990.[6] In June 2009, Alliance Resources announced that the deposit contained 28,000 tonnes (31,000 short tons) of uranium oxide and the ore was graded at ten times that of Olympic Dam mine and double that of the Ranger mine in the Northern Territory.[7] The mine life is expected to be at least 15 years.[7]

The proposed mine is a joint venture between Quasar Resources Pty Ltd, who own 75 per cent of the project and Alliance Resources Ltd, who own the remaining 25 per cent.[8] Quasar Resources is affiliated with Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd, owner and operator of the nearby Beverley mine.[9]

Mining was proposed to be an in-situ leach operation, pumping a weak acid solution into the formation that dissolves the uranium-bearing ore. The ore-bearing solution is then pumped to the surface for extraction and treatment. This method was chosen to allow the mine to commence operations relatively quickly.[4]

The developers of the mine originally planned for the mine to be operational in the first quarter of 2010 and stated that it would produce 1,400 tonnes (1,500 short tons) of uranium oxide per year.[6] However, ongoing legal disputes between the joint venture partners, Quasar Resources Pty Ltd and Alliance Resources Ltd. led to delays.

The mine was officially opened by the South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill and Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis on Wednesday June 28th, 2014.[5]

Approval

Approval for the mine was granted by the Australian Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Peter Garrett, on 14 July 2009; the first such mine approved by an Australian Labor Party (ALP) government since the abolition of its "three-mine policy" on uranium mines at the party national conference in 2007.[1] Announcing the decision, Minister Garrett stated he was "certain this operation poses no credible risk to the environment".[10] The approval was supported by South Australian Premier Mike Rann.[11]

The decision to approve the mine was supported by the Australian Uranium Association (AUA). The executive director of the AUA claimed to be "heartened" by the decision, saying that the decision "tells [the industry] that if we continue to meet those high environmental standards, which the (Environment) Minister himself applies, then we will be able to continue to expand".[12] The Australian Workers' Union also supported the decision with national secretary Paul Howes saying it "represents a significant win for Australia's resource industry" and that it will "[provide] revenue for that state's coffers and opportunities to create good, well-paid Australian jobs."[13]

Opposition to the proposal was voiced by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) who are concerned that the decision represents a relaxation of environmental standards. The ACF have specifically raised their concerns about possible contamination of groundwater from mine operations.[14] A traditional owner from the Adnyamathana people has also expressed unhappiness with the approval, comparing it to the "stolen generation" practises of past Australian governments.[14]

The Government of South Australia provided the project with State environmental approval in August, 2013.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Coorey, Phillip (15 July 2009). "Garrett approves uranium mine". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax). Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  2. ↑ "Construction of the Four Mile uranium mine in South Australia has started despite one of the partners being opposed to the project" The Advertiser, 2013-12-03.
  3. ↑ Russel, Christopher (2014-06-26). "Mining company Quasar opens Four Mile uranium mine near Arkaloola". The Advertiser. Retrieved 2015-02-11.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Grattan, Michelle; Fitzgerald, Barry (15 July 2009). "Garrett gives nod to uranium mine". The Age (Fairfax). Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "SA's newest uranium mine" Roxby Downs Sun, South Australia (2014-07-03). Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hayes, Paul (15 July 2009). "Uranium mine approved". Australian Mining. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Tasker, Sarah-Jane (16 July 2009). "Uranium industry emerges a key player". The Australian (News Limited). Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  8. ↑ Australian Associated Press (14 July 2009). "New uranium mine approved". The Australian (News Limited). Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  9. ↑ "Welcome". Quasar Resources Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  10. ↑ "World's best environmental practice for new mine" (Press release). Australian Government. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  11. ↑ "Mine objections 'short-sighted'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  12. ↑ Hayes, Paul (16 July 2009). "FourMile a boost for the industry, Angwin". Australian Mining (Reed Business Information). Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  13. ↑ Howes, Paul (17 July 2009). "A uranium mine is good news for jobs". The Age (Fairfax). Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "'Significant problems' with uranium mine approval". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  15. ↑ "New uranium mine slated for South Australia" Mining Australia, 2013-08-22.

External links