1. Mineral Resources
  2. Online Spatial Data
  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

(Facility) Gove Mine and Refinery

Plant in Northern Territory*, Australia with commodity Aluminum
Map
XML
JSON
KML
B
Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Nearby scientific data
  8. Ore body information
  9. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  10. Mining district
  11. Mineral rights holdings
  12. Land status
  13. Ownership information
  14. Production statistics
  15. Reserves and resources
  16. Workings at the site
  17. Links to other databases
  18. Bibliographic references
  19. General comments
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10183390
MAS/MILS ID 6020250006
Record type Site
Current site name (Facility) Gove Mine and Refinery
Alternate or previous names Gove

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: 136.84898, -12.24734 (WGS84)
Elevation 50
Location accuracy 10(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Northern Territory*(province)

Australia(country)

Australia(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Australia Northern Territory*

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Aluminum Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Boehmite Unknown
Gibbsite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) 136.84898, -12.24734
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 0.04M
    Length 63M
    Width 63M
    Depth to top 3.5M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 LATERITE
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Shape of Orebody #2 IRREGULAR
    Primary mode of Origin RESIDUAL CONCENT
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Minimum Depth to Top 1.2
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 1
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 900611
  • Area 6300HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 6300
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Plant
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1950
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1972
Plant type Refiner
Plant subcategory Bayer
Milling method Sizing

Mining district

District name Arnhem Land

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Minerals Only

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Owner
    Owner Swiss Aluminum Australia Ltd. (Austraswiss)
    Interest 70
    Home office Switzerland
    Year 1987
  • Type Owner
    Owner Gove Alumina Ltd., Also Known Gove Aluminium Ltd.
    Interest 30
    Home office Australia
    Year 1987
  • Type Operator
    Owner Nabalco Pty. Ltd.
    Interest 100
    Home office Australia
    Year 1987

Comments on the ownership information

  • SWISS ALUMINIUM AUSTRALIA LTD. (AUSTRASWISS) IS A SUBSIDIARY SWISS ALUMINIUM LIMITED (SCHWEIZERISCHE ALUMINIUM AG; OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ALUSUISSE. GOVE ALUMINA LIMITED, IS OWNED BY; CSR LIMITED; 51.01%: PKOE WALLSEND LIMITED; 12.64%: AUSTRALIAN MUTUAL PROVIDENT SOCIETY 12.10%:

Production statistics

  • Year 1972
    Description Bauxite Ore 2000000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 2000000mt
  • Year 1973
    Description Dido 2867000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Aluminum Aluminum 2867000mt
  • Year 1974
    Description Same 3632000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Aluminum Aluminum 3632000mt
  • Year 1976
    Period 1975 To 1976
    Description Bauxite Ore 1975 To 1976 4000000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 4000000mt
  • Year 1977
    Description Bauxite Ore 4800000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 4800000mt
  • Year 1978
    Description Dido 4500000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Aluminum Aluminum 4500000mt
  • Year 1979
    Description Bauxite Ore 4600000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Aluminum Aluminum 4600000mt
  • Year 1980
    Description Bauxite Ore 5178000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 5178000mt
  • Year 1981
    Description Bauxite Ore 4416000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 4416000mt
  • Year 1982
    Description Same 4531000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 4531000mt
  • Year 1983
    Description Dido 4956000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 4956000mt
  • Year 1984
    Description Bauxite Ore 5132000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 5132000mt
  • Year 1985
    Description Bauxite Ore 5612000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 5612000mt
  • Year 1986
    Description Bauxite Ore 5059000 Mtpy
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Ore Aluminum Aluminum 5059000mt

Comments on the production information

  • STARTING IN 1992, GOVE TO SUPPLY TO ALUJAIN CORP. SMELTER IN SAUDI ARABIA AT A RATE OF 100,000 MTPY FOR TEN YEARS.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1981
    Measured 250000mt ore
    Demonstrated 250000mt ore
    Total resources 250000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Aluminum Al2O3 50.5 wt-pct Aluminum Major 1981

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • QM1C1=QM9C2. THIS IS THE ESTIMATED TOTAL RESERVE/RESOURCES OF THE GOVE MINING AREA, PRIOR TO PRODUCTION START UP. SEE "R" BIBL. FOR SOURCES. QM1C2=QM9C4; THIS IS THE RESERVE/RESOURCES ESTIMATE USED IN THE 1981 ETD EVALUATION. QM1C3=QM9C6; RESOURCES REPORTED FROM 1992 SITE VISIT BY COMMODITY SPECIALIST.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 6300HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 3.5
    Primary Material Cover HARDPAN
    Hardness of Ore HARDPAN
    Capacity 17832
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 286
    Operating Shifts per Day 2
    Year of Information 1987

Comments on other economic factors

  • CONCENTRATION FOR THE 1987 EVALUATION IS ONLY A CRUSHING PLANT.
  • PERMISSION HAS BEEN RECEIVED TO EXPORT AN ADDITIONAL 40 MILLION MT OF BAUXITE OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    ENGINEERING & MINING JOURNAL, AUGUST 1971, GOVE BAUXITE

  • Reserve-Resource

    PROJECT COMES ALIVE, P. 80-81.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING ENGINEERING, FEBRUARY 1978, MEASUREMENT AND CONTROL

  • Reserve-Resource

    DOWN UNDER: THE NABALCO GOVE ALUMINA PLANT, P. 163-165.

  • Reserve-Resource

    AUSTRALIAN MINING, DECEMBER 1971, BAUXITE-ALUMINA PROJECT OF

  • Reserve-Resource

    GOVE, P. 48-53.

  • Reserve-Resource

    DUNN, P.G., 1965, BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GOVE PENINSULA, ARNHEM

  • Reserve-Resource

    LAND, GEOLOGY OF ORE DEPOSITS, P. 216-218.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WORLD MINING, AUGUST 1972, GOVE BAUXITE OPENING UP

  • Deposit

    ANNUAL REPORTS, 1977 THROUGH 1980, PEKO WALLSEND LIMITED,

  • Deposit

    SYDNEY.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND RESOURCES, 1980,

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN ALUMINUM INDUSTRY SUPPLY POTENTIAL,

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING SERVICE, CANBERRA.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN MINERAL INDUSTRY ANNUAL REVIEW, 1968-1978, BUREAU

  • Deposit

    OF MINERAL RESOURCES, GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS, AUSTRALIAN

  • Deposit

    GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING SERVICE, CANBERRA.

  • Deposit

    ANNUAL REPORTS, 1970 THROUGH 1980, CSR LIMITED, SYDNEY.

  • Deposit

    LILLEHAGEN, N.B., 1980, THE ESTIMATION AND MINING OF GOVE

  • Deposit

    BAUXITE RESERVES, ESTIMATION AND STATEMENT OF MINERAL

  • Deposit

    RESERVES, THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF MINING &

  • Deposit

    METALLURGY, MELBOURNE.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, MAY 12, 1970.

  • Deposit

    MINING AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING REVIEW, MARCH 15, 1963, P.46

  • Deposit

    SOMM, A., BAUXITE DEPOSITS OF GOVE PENINSULA, NORTHERN

  • Deposit

    TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA, 12TH PACIFIC SCIENCE CONGRESS,

  • Deposit

    PACIFIC SCIENCE ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF

  • Deposit

    SCIENCE, RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS, CANBERRA, 1971, P. 433.

  • Deposit

    MINING ENGINEERING, JUNE 1970.

  • Deposit

    GRUBB, P.L.C., 1970, MINERALOGY, GEOCHEMISTRY, AND GENESIS

  • Deposit

    OF THE BAUXITE DEPOSITS ON THE GOVE AND MITCHELL

  • Deposit

    PLATEAUX, NORTHERN AUSTRALIA, MINERAL. DEPOSITA (BERL.)

  • Deposit

    5, P. 248-272.

  • Deposit

    ERROL C. SEHNKE, TRIP REPORT FOR TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA,

  • Deposit

    (NOV. 30, 1992).

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit ACCESS ROADS, POWER AND WATER ARE ALL LOCATED AT OR NEAR THE GOVE TOWNSITE, MINE, AND CRUSHING PLANT. THE OWNERS PLAN TO INVEST SF150 MILLION TO MODERNIZE THE PLANT AND RAISE CAPACITY BY 150,000 MT TO ABOUT 1.6 MILLION MT.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 14-SEP-1995 Wilburn, David R. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

Maps centered on this site