Worsley Alumina

Worsley Alumina comprises a bauxite mine located near the town of Boddington and an Alumina refinery located near Worsley.[1][3] Ore is mined then transported 50 km (31 mi) to the refinery via an overland conveyor system. Alumina is then transported 55 km (34 mi) to the port of Bunbury for shipping.

Worsley Alumina
Location
Worsley Alumina
Location in Australia
LocationWorsley, Western Australia
StateWestern Australia
CountryAustralia
Coordinates33°13′45″S 116°04′36″E
Production
ProductsAlumina
Production4,377 kilotonnes (9.6 billion pounds)[1]
Financial year2018
TypeOpen pit
History
Opened1984 (1984)[1][2]
Owner
CompanySouth32 (86%)
Japan Alumina Associated (10%)
Sojitz Alumina Pty Ltd (4%)[1]
Websitewww.south32.net/our-operations/australia/worsley-alumina
Year of acquisition2015

Bauxite Mine

The Boddington Bauxite Mine is located south of the town of Boddington, and comprises the two sites of Saddleback and Marradong. The orebody exists as a hardcap layer of between 2–12 metres (6 ft 7 in–39 ft 4 in) thick, it is drilled and blasted before bulldozers can access the softer ore below. The ore is first crushed to a diameter less than 18 cm (7.1 in) before a second stage reduces it to 3 cm (1.2 in).[4]

In the current approved Life of Operation Plan, total ore reserves are scheduled to be depleted by 30 June 2035.[1]:57

Alumina Refinery

The refinery uses a four-stage Bayer Process to transform the red bauxite rock into white alumina powder.

References
  1. "Annual Report 2018" (PDF). South32. South32 Limited. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  2. "Worsley Alumina". South32. South32. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  3. "Hotham Mine Expansion and Refinery Production Increase S38 Referral Supporting Report" (PDF). Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). South32 Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd. May 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  4. "Boddington". Australian Aluminium Council. Retrieved 1 March 2016.

Further reading
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