Spinifex Ridgem mine is an inactive

iron ore Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the fo ...

mine in the

Pilbara The Pilbara () is a large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; and its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore. It is also a glo ...

region of

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, northeast of

Marble Bar Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble is typically not foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the term ''marble'' refers to metamorphosed ...

Overview

Moly Mines awarded production contracts to BGC Contracting in August 2010. Initially, there were plans for an open pit molybdenum/copper mine producing per year; with changes in the price of molybdenum, this was downsized to per year. Port facilities at

Port Hedland A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...

were commissioned in September 2010 Iron ore mining began in November 2010; ramping up to a throughput of per year. The mine had been the subject of a legal dispute during and after the final stages of production. Moly Mines had conducted a mine gate sales agreement with Mineral Resources Limited, under which the latter paid A$35 million in advance for an expected 2.4 million tonnes of iron ore from the mine. Concluded in 2013, the deal was to extend to the completion of mining at Spinifex Ridge, with a final payment in the range of A$3 million due upon this. As part of this agreement, Moly Mines accepted that it could potentially owe money to Mineral Resources, depending on the amount and quality of ore mined. In November 2015, an expert adviser concluded that Moly Mining owned Mineral Resources A$4.2 million, a sum the former disputed. Subsequently, Mineral Resources launched legal action in the

Western Australian Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Western Australia is the highest state court in the Australian State of Western Australia. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters (although it usually only hears matters involving sums of A$750,0 ...

on 24 December 2015, claiming A$4.9 million. At the time, Moly Mines had A$72.7 million in cash available to invest in another project. The disputed was eventually settled in August 2017 in favour of Moly Mines. As of 2022, the mine is placed in

care and maintenance Care and maintenance is a term used in the mining industry to describe processes and conditions on a closed minesite where there is potential to recommence operations at a later date. During a care and maintenance phase, production is stopped but t ...

, having operated from 2010 to 2014, and owned by the former Moly Mines, renamed to Young Australian Mines in 2018. A separate

molybdenum Molybdenum is a chemical element with the symbol Mo and atomic number 42 which is located in period 5 and group 6. The name is from Neo-Latin ''molybdaenum'', which is based on Ancient Greek ', meaning lead, since its ores were confused with lea ...

copper Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from la, cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkis ...

project nearby, also owned by Young Australian Mines, remains undeveloped.

References

{{reflist, 30em

External links

MINEDEX website: Spinifex Ridge - Kitty Gap Iron
Database of the

Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety is a department of the Government of Western Australia. The department was formed on 1 July 2017, out of the former Department of Mines and Petroleum and Department of Commerce. A restr ...

Spinifex Ridge Molybdenum Project

Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia The Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia (EPA) is a statutory authority within the Government of Western Australia, established on 1 January 1972, which acts as the primary provider of independent environmental advice to the ...

Iron ore mines in Western Australia Shire of East Pilbara Surface mines in Australia 2010 establishments in Australia 2014 disestablishments in Australia