Mount Fitch is a former
uranium mining
Uranium mining is the process of extraction of uranium ore from the earth. Over 50,000 tons of uranium were produced in 2019. Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia were the top three uranium producers, respectively, and together account for 68% of w ...
site located in the
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...
of
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
56 kilometres SSE from the centre of
Darwin and 13.4 kilometres NE from the town of
Batchelor in the locality of
Rum Jungle.
In 1950 two
geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the structure, composition, and History of Earth, history of Earth. Geologists incorporate techniques from physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and geography to perform research in the Field research, ...
s, named Ward and Gates, discovered yellow secondary uranium minerals in limestone throughout the area.
Radiometric
Radiometry is a set of techniques for measuring electromagnetic radiation, including visible light. Radiometric techniques in optics characterize the distribution of the radiation's power in space, as opposed to photometric techniques, which ch ...
contouring and geological mapping was completed later the same year.
Mount Fitch was discovered in 1965 and is part of the old
Rum Jungle workings. Compass Resources worked in the area for many years and mostly focused on the Browns deposit, a copper-cobalt-nickel deposit close to the old open pit. In 2006 some 4050 tonnes Uranium Oxide deposits remained at Mt Fitch.
It is an ecologically sensitive area due to its very close proximity (1600 metres) to the catchment area of
Darwin River, the river that is the source of Darwin's
drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water that is safe for ingestion, either when drunk directly in liquid form or consumed indirectly through food preparation. It is often (but not always) supplied through taps, in which case it is also calle ...
supply,
Darwin River Dam.
Mount Fitch is located alongside the old Northern Railway corridor that ran from
Pine Creek to Darwin.
References
External links
Mount Fitch Deposit Summary ReportRum Jungle - Whites, Dysons, Intermediate, Browns, Mount Burton, Mount Fitch
Uranium mining in the Northern Territory
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