The Mesa J mine is an iron ore mine located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, 16 kilometres south-west of Pannawonica.MINEDEX website: Deepdale Mesa J search result accessed: 6 November 2010
The mine is owned by Robe River Iron Associates (53% Rio Tinto) and operated by Rio Tinto Iron Ore and is one of twelve iron ore mines the company operates in the Pilbara.Pilbara Rio Tinto Iron Ore website, accessed: 6 November 2010Mining Rio Tinto Iron Ore website, accessed: 6 November 2010 In 2009, the combined Pilbara operations produced 202 million tonnes of iron ore, a 15 percent increase from 2008.Preparing for the future Rio Tinto presentation, published: 23 March 2010, accessed: 7 November 2010 The Pilbara operations accounted for almost 13 percent of the world's 2009 iron ore production of 1.59 billion tonnes.Global iron-ore production falls 6,2% in 2009 - Unctad report miningweekly.com, published: 30 July 2010, accessed: 7 November 2010Production of iron ore fell in 2009, but shipments continued to increase, report says UNCTAD website, published: 30 July 2010, accessed: 7 November 2010
The Hamersley Range, where the mine is located, contains 80 percent of all identified iron ore reserves in Australia and is one of the world's major iron ore provinces.Iron fact sheet - Australian Resources and Deposits Geoscience Australia website, accessed: 7 November 2010
Overview
Rio Tinto's iron ore operations in the Pilbara began in 1966. The mine itself began operations in 1994. The mine has an annual production capacity of 7 million tonnes of iron ore, sourced from open-pit operations. The ore is processed on site before being loaded onto rail.Mesa J mine Rio Tinto Iron Ore website, accessed: 6 November 2010 At the height of production, the mine produced 35 million tonnes of iron ore annually.Rio's Pilbara railway extension begins operating perthnow.com.au, published: 22 February 2010, accessed: 8 November 2010
Ore from the mine is then transported to the coast through the Hamersley & Robe River railway line, where it is loaded onto ships.Rail Rio Tinto Iron Ore website, accessed: 6 November 2010 Ore from Mesa J, like from the West Angelas, is taken to Cape Lambert by rail to be exported as fines. The fines have a maximum size of 9.5 mm.Iron fact sheet - Mining Geoscience Australia website, accessed: 7 November 2010
The mine's workforce is predominantly a Residential mine with workers taking residence in Pannawonica, and around 20% of the workforce on a fly-in fly-out roster.
The mine is located near the Mesa A mine. The new Mesa A mine is scheduled to replace the Mesa J mine which is nearing the end of its life span. The combined investment of Rio Tinto in the Mesa A and Brockman 4 mines was $2.4 billion.Western Australian Mineral and Petroleum Statistic Digest 2008-09 Department of Mines & Petroleum website, accessed: 8 November 2010
Robe River Iron Associates Robe River Iron, owner of the mine, is jointly owned by: Rio Tinto - 53% - operator Mitsui & Co - 33% Nippon Steel - 10.5% Sumitomo Metal Industries - 3.5%
Robe River Iron operates the West Angelas, Mesa A and Mesa J mines. Rio Tinto acquired its share of 53% in late 2000, when it took over mining company North Limited.Rio wins North deal The Guardian 5 August 2000The Australian Mines Handbook – 2003–04 edition, editor: Ross Louthean, publisher: Louthean Media, page: 243The Australian Mines Handbook - 2003-04 edition, editor: Ross Louthean, publisher: Louthean Media Pty Ltd, page: 243
References
External links Rio Tinto Iron Ore website