From our Ore to Your Door - Episode 7 - Mining Operations
QMAG currently mines 4 million tonnes of ore per year, from six to eight different pits. We choose pits based on their magnesite content and contaminant concentrations. There are always at least two pits mined simultaneously to provide the Parkhurst plant with enough material at suitable quality to support our full suite of products.
When we come to the ore mining process itself, the mining is relatively straightforward. The first step is to dewater the ore body in preparation for mining. Next, a 120-tonne excavator and haul trucks relocate to the pit to mine the ore in a series of 2-3m deep benches. The top bench depths are chosen based on anticipated quality. The bottom bench is different. The excavator operators uses their keen vision and experience to follow the contact between the orebody and the underlaying sandstone, as it can change rapidly. Ore is loaded onto the haul trucks and transported out of the pit. At the KG1 mining area, ore is split between the processing plant and in-pit screen stockpiles. At all other mining areas, all ore is brought to the in-pit screens.
Peregine Falcon family
QMAG is super proud to host a breeding pair of peregrine falcons high up in our deadburn building at our Parkhurst processing facility.
Welcome Dr John McGrath!
Please welcome Dr.John McGrath who recently joined our R&D and environmental team.
Customer Visit - Prony Resources
Our colleagues visited QMAG's long standing customer Prony Resources
Welcome Brendon Pambid!
Brendon took over from Peter Lowe as Managing Director Operations in June 2023 and together with Managing Director Dr. Christoph Beyer he will be responsible for QMag's journey towards becoming the global leader for high quality cryptocristalline caustic calcined magnesia, dead burned magnesia and electrofused magnesia.
Double-barred finch family
Whilst we actively mine magnesite at our Kunwarara Mine, a plethora of birds, large to small, live and feed in the tropical dry grassland, shrub land and open woodland terrain adjacent to the mine pits.
Meeting Ian Hartnell
Last week Dr. Christoph Beyer (Managing Director), Mark Christmas (Supply Chain Manager) and Suren Dias-Jayasinha (Head of Sales & Marketing) had the pleasure of meeting Ian Hartnell.
Any remaining questions?
Just get in touch using the contact form and we’ll get back to you
as soon as we can.