The Murrin Murrin Mine is a major nickel-cobalt mining operation being conducted in the North Eastern Goldfields, approximately 45 km east of Leonora, Western Australia. The project was initiated as a joint venture between Murrin Murrin Holdings Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anaconda Nickel Limited (whose share was 60%) and Glenmurrin Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Glencore International AG, which had a 40% share.[2] In 2003 Anaconda changed its name to Minara Resources Limited. In November 2011, Minara Resources was fully acquired and is now wholly owned by Glencore International.[3] The mine opened in 1999.[4]
| Location | |
|---|---|
  Murrin Murrin Location in Western Australia | |
| Location | Leonora |
| State | Western Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 28°46′03″S 121°53′38″E / 28.76750°S 121.89389°E |
| Production | |
| Products | Nickel, cobalt |
| Production | Nickel: 31,100 t Cobalt: 2,100 t |
| Financial year | 2023[1] |
| History | |
| Opened | 1999 |
| Owner | |
| Company | Glencore |
| Website | Glencore website |
| Year of acquisition | 2011 |
 | |
Geology
editMurrin Murrin mines a laterite nickel ore formed by deep weathering of a peridotite ultramafic rock.
Problems with the process plant
editSignificant problems and delays were encountered in the design, construction and commissioning of the ore process plant at Murrin Murrin.[5]
The designers, Fluor Daniel eventually had to pay the joint venture partners A$155 million in an out-of-court settlement. It was their second successful claim against Fluor, Murrin Murrin owners having been awarded $147 million from the first phase of their claim against Fluor, a sum which ultimately was reduced to $39.8 million. The Murrin Murrin project's original cost estimate of $1 billion had [clarification needed] $1.6 billion.[6]
Production
editProduction of the mine:
| Year | Nickel | Cobalt |
|---|---|---|
| 2000[4] | 13,027 t | 904 t |
| 2001[4] | 25,991 t | 1,253 t |
| 2002[4] | 30,009 t | 1,838 t |
| 2003[7][8][9] | 28,147 t | 2,309 t |
| 2004[10] | 27,950 t | 1,982 t |
| 2005[10] | 28,240 t | 1,750 t |
| 2006[10] | 31,524 t | 2,096 t |
| 2007[10] | 27,585 t | 1,884 t |
| 2008[10] | 30,514 t | 2,018 t |
| 2009[11] | 32,977 t | 3,250 t |
| 2010[12] | 28,500 t | 1,900 t |
| 2011[12] | 28,500 t | 1,900 t |
| 2012[13] | 33,410 t | 2,390 t |
| 2013[14] | 40,000 t | 2,700 t |
| 2014[14] | 36,400 t | 2,700 t |
| 2015[15] | 37,500 t | 2,800t |
| 2016[15] | 35,300 t | 2,800 t |
| 2017[16] | 34,700 t | 2,700 t |
| 2018[16] | 35,500 t | 2,900 t |
| 2019[17] | 37,000t | 3,400 t |
| 2020[17] | 36,000 t | 2,900 t |
| 2021[17] | 30,000 t | 2,500 t |
| 2022[18] | 35,700 t | 3,000 t |
| 2023[1] | 31,100 t | 2,100 t |
References
edit- ^ a b "Glencore Full Year Production Report 2023" (PDF). www.glencore.com. Glencore. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Ladbury, Richard A. (1998). "Resource Project Financing: Capital Markets Project Financing" (PDF). AMPLA Yearbook. Melbourne: Australian Mining and Petroleum Law Association. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ Glencore mops up Minara Resources takeover, The Australian, October 14, 2011.
- ^ a b c d The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003–2004 Edition, page: 39
- ^ Nedeljkovic, Zoran. (1998) Andrew Forrest : a key to Murrin Murrin's past and future Mining chronicle (West Perth, W.A.) Late June 1998, p. 6
- ^ Minara handed $155m for Murrin mine fiasco The Sydney Morning Herald, published: 6 May 2004, accessed: 10 September 2009
- ^ "Financial report half year ending 31 December 2003" (PDF). ASX. Minara Resources Limited. 18 February 2004. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "Quarterly report for the period ended 30 June 2003" (PDF). Perth, WA: Anaconda Nickel Limited. 29 July 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "Quarterly report for the period ended 31 March 2003". Perth, WA: Anaconda Nickel Limited. 23 April 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "2008 Annual Report" (PDF). Perth, WA: Minara Resources Limited. 27 March 2009. p. 16. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "Quarterly report 31 December 2009" (PDF). Perth, WA: Minara Resources Limited. 19 January 2010. p. 2. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Annual Report 2011" (PDF). Baar, Switzerland: Glencore. 10 April 2012. p. 53. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "Annual Report 2012" (PDF). Baar, Switzerland: Glencore. 25 March 2013. p. 51. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Annual Report 2014" (PDF). Baar, Switzerland: Glencore. 18 March 2015. p. 53. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Baar, Switzerland: Glencore. 2 March 2017. p. 63. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Annual Report 2018" (PDF). Baar, Switzerland: Glencore. 1 March 2019. p. 77. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ a b c "Murrin Murrin Mine". Mining Data Solutions. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- ^ "Glencore Annual Report 2022" (PDF). www.glencore.com. Glencore. Retrieved 7 March 2023.