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Olympic Dam

Plant in South Australia, Australia with commodities Copper, Gold, REE, Silver, Uranium
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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. Mineral rights holdings
  11. Land status
  12. Ownership information
  13. Production statistics
  14. Reserves and resources
  15. Workings at the site
  16. Links to other databases
  17. Bibliographic references
  18. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10232159
MAS/MILS ID 6020400012
Record type Site
Current site name Olympic Dam
Alternate or previous names Roxby Downs

Comments on the site names

  • ALSO KNOWN AS ROXBY DOWNS

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: 136.39885, -30.67952 (WGS84)
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

South Australia(province)

Australia(country)

Australia(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Australia South Australia

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Primary
REE Critical Tertiary
Silver Primary
Uranium Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Unknown
Brannerite Unknown
Chalcocite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Fluorite Unknown
Hematite Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Uraninite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) 136.39885, -30.67952
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 620M
    Length 1500M
    Width 400M
    Depth to top 660M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 BRECCIA FILL
    Shape of Orebody #1 LENTICULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #2 MASSIVE
    Type of Orebody #3 SEDIMENTARY
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Primary Ore Control BEDDING
    Minimum Depth to Top 350
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 350
    Date of Last Modification 810903
  • Area 150HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 150
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Plant
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1975
Mining method Open Stope - Sublevel
Year of first production 1988
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant subcategory Flotation
Milling method Flotation

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Private Lease

Land status

Ownership category Private

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Roxby Mining Corp. Pty. Ltd.
    Home office Australia
    Year 1994
  • Type Owner
    Owner Western Mining Corp.
    Interest 100
    Home office Australia
    Year 1994

Production statistics

  • Year 1989
    Description Production Of Silver 0 Ounces Of Silver.
  • Year 1989
    Description Production Of Gold 2103 Ounces Of Refined Gold.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 65410.62g
  • Year 1989
    Description Production Of Uranium Oxide 912 Metric Tons.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Uranium Uranium 912mt
  • Year 1989
    Description Production Of Refined Copper 16868 Metric Tons.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 16868mt
  • Year 1990
    Description Production Of Silver 42283 Ounces Of Refined Silver.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Silver Silver 1315148.48g
  • Year 1990
    Description Production Of Gold 18126 Ounces Of Refined Gold.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Gold Gold 563781.69g
  • Year 1990
    Description Production Of Uranium Oxide 1005 Metric Tons.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Uranium Uranium 1005mt
  • Year 1990
    Description Production Of Refined Copper 37801 Metric Tons.
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 37801mt

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Indicated 28000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 28000000mt ore
    Total resources 28000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2.9 wt-pct Copper Major 1991
    Uranium U3O8 0.09 wt-pct Uranium Major 1991
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Indicated 2100000mt ore
    Demonstrated 2100000mt ore
    Total resources 2100000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.71 wt-pct Copper Major 1991
    Gold Au 3.4 g/mt Gold Major 1991
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Indicated 450000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 450000000mt ore
    Total resources 450000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2.5 wt-pct Copper Major 1991
    Uranium U3O8 0.08 wt-pct Uranium Major 1991
    Gold Au 0.6 g/mt Gold Major 1991
    Silver Ag 6 g/mt Silver Major 1991
    REE REE 0.3285 wt-pct REE Trace 1991
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Inferred 2000000000mt ore
    Total resources 2000000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.6 wt-pct Copper Major 1991
    Uranium U3O8 0.06 wt-pct Uranium Major 1991
    Gold Au 0.6 g/mt Gold Major 1991
    Silver Ag 3.5 g/mt Silver Major 1991
    REE REE 0.3285 wt-pct REE Trace 1991
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Indicated 530000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 530000000mt ore
    Total resources 530000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2.1 wt-pct Copper Major 1993
    Uranium U3O8 0.06 wt-pct Uranium Major 1993
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Indicated 42000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 42000000mt ore
    Total resources 42000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2.7 wt-pct Copper Major 1993
    Uranium U3O8 0.06 wt-pct Uranium Major 1993
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Indicated 1200000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 1200000000mt ore
    Total resources 1200000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.1 wt-pct Copper Major 1993
    Uranium U3O8 0.04 wt-pct Uranium Major 1993

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • REO GRADE FROM REF. BY NEARY, C.R. ET AL, 1983.
  • HIGH GRADE EARLY PRODUCTION-INCLUDES MINING RECOVERY & DILUTION HIGH GRADE GOLD-EARLY PRODUCTION-INCLUDES MINING RECOVERY AND DILUTION. DEMONSTRATED IN SITU ECONOMIC RESERVES. IDENTIFIED IN SITU GEOLOGICAL RESERVES. DEMONSTRATED RESERVES AS OF 6/30/88.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 500M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method SUBLEVEL 10-43
    Percent Recovery 75
    Hardness of Rock UNKNOWN
    Rock Characteristics UNKNOWN
    Number of Shafts 1
    1st Condition of Workings UNKNOWN
    Capacity 4286
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Year of Information 1987
  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 500M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method SUBLEVEL 10-43
    Percent Recovery 75
    Hardness of Rock UNKNOWN
    Rock Characteristics UNKNOWN
    1st Condition of Workings UNKNOWN
    Capacity 7143
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Year of Information 1987
  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 500M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 3
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method SUBLEVEL 10-43
    Percent Recovery 75
    Hardness of Rock UNKNOWN
    Rock Characteristics UNKNOWN
    1st Condition of Workings UNKNOWN
    Capacity 11429
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Year of Information 1987

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Production

    AUSTRALIA'S MINING MONTHLY, P. 21 (AUG. 1990).

  • Reserve-Resource

    WESTERN MINING CORP. HOLDINGS, LTD., 1988 AR, P. 21.

  • Reserve-Resource

    WESTERN MINING CORP. HOLDINGS, LTD., 1991 AR, P. 41.

  • Reserve-Resource

    REGISTER OF AUSTRALIAN MINING, 1990-91, P. 271.

  • Reserve-Resource

    REGISTER OF AUSTRALIAN MINING, 1991/92, P. 189.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINING MAGAZINE, 5/91, P. 270.

  • Reserve-Resource

    BROOK HUNT & ASSOCIATES LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN & ASIAN

  • Reserve-Resource

    COPPER MINES COST STUDY (1988-1995), VOL. 2, P. 196 (1992).

  • Reserve-Resource

    WESTERN MINING CORP., 1993 ANNUAL REPORT, P.38,39.

  • Deposit

    ANON. 1979. "GOVERNMENT GREEN LIGHT FOR OLYMPIC DAM,"MINING

  • Deposit

    MAGAZINE. DECEMBER. MINING JOURNAL LIMITED. LONDON.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN MINES HANDBOOK 1977-78. PERTH.

  • Deposit

    DAIRES, JAMES. 1979. "THE PUZZLE OF ROXBY DOWNS ROCKS,"

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW. SEPTEMBER 14. SYDNEY.

  • Deposit

    PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN MINING CORPORATION HOLDINGS, LTD. ANNUAL REPORTS

  • Deposit

    1975-79, AND COMPANY REPORTS TO THE STOCK EXCHANGE OF SYDNEY

  • Deposit

    ROXBY MANAGEMENT SERVICES PTY. LTD., THE OLYMPIC DAM COPPER-

  • Deposit

    URANIUM DEPOSIT, ROXBY DOWNS, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, COMPANY

  • Deposit

    INFORMATION RELEASE, 1975.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, WESTERN GETS BP AUSTRALIA TO FINANCE ROXBY

  • Deposit

    DOWNS, SEPTEMBER 1979, P. 128.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, AUSTRALIA'S BIG COPPER-URANIUM DEPOSIT, JULY

  • Deposit

    1981, PP. 28-32.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, OLYMPIC REPORT GETS A MEDAL, AUGUST 31-

  • Deposit

    SEPTEMBER 13, 1981, PP. 8,9.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIA'S MINING MONTHLY, LATEST DATA ON ROXBY DOWNS

  • Deposit

    PRESENTED, NOVEMBER 1981, PP. 35-36.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, START ON ROXBY DOWNS SHAFT, AUGUST 31-

  • Deposit

    SEPTEMBER 13, 1981, P. 4.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, DEVELOPMENT OF ROXBY DOWNS

  • Deposit

    DEPOSIT HANGS ON FUNDING, APRIL 1982, P. 4.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, BILL FATE IN BALANCE, MARCH 15-28, 1982,

  • Deposit

    P. 55.

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING, THE GREAT ROXBY DOWNS PROJECT FACES DIFFICULT

  • Deposit

    HURDLES, JUNE 1982, P. 41.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, UPDATE ON OLYMPIC DAM, SEPTEMBER 1982, P.

  • Deposit

    171.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, EIS BOOST FOR ROXBY HOPES, OCTOBER 25-

  • Deposit

    NOVEMBER 7, 1982, P. 3.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, SA COPPER FIND RIVALS ZAMBIA, OCTOBER 11-24

  • Deposit

    1982, P. 1.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, THE OLYMPIC DAM PROJECT, APRIL 11-24, 1983,

  • Deposit

    PP. 21,22.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, OUTLOOK FOR ROXBY DOWNS IMPROVING, JULY

  • Deposit

    18-31, 1983, P. 6.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, EXPLORATION MODELS...AND

  • Deposit

    THEN WE DRILLED OLYMPIC DAM, OCTOBER 1983, P. 11, 13.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, ROXBY DOWNS DEVELOPERS ENTER

  • Deposit

    FULL FEASIBILITY STUDY PHASE-EIS ACCEPTED, SEPTEMBER 1983,

  • Deposit

    PP. 28, 33.

  • Deposit

    FURLONG, DENNIS, ROXBY: NEW HURDLES TO BE CLEARED, MINER

  • Deposit

    NEWSPAPER, DECEMBER 5-18, 1983, P. 3.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, UPDATE ON OLYMPIC DAM CU-U-AU PROJECT,

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIA, JANUARY 1985, P. 5.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, OLYMPIC DAM PARTNERS WILL

  • Deposit

    INITIATE FIRST-STAGE DEVELOPMENT THIS YEAR, JANUARY 1986,

  • Deposit

    PP. 11,13.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, COPEL PRAISES OLYMPIC DAM DEVELOPMENT

  • Deposit

    PLANS, JULY 15-28, P. 4.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, FEASIBILITY STUDY SUPPORTS

  • Deposit

    DEVELOPMENT OF OLYMPIC DAM, AUGUST 1985, P. 16.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIA'S MINING MONTHLY, MOVE ON ROXBY DOWNS, AUGUST

  • Deposit

    1985, PP. 45-51.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, ROXBY DOWNS DECISION IMMINENT, DECEMBER

  • Deposit

    2-15, 1985, P. 3.

  • Deposit

    MINING ACTIVITY DIGEST, JANUARY 24, 1986, PP. 1,2.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, CONSTRUCTION PHASE BEGINS AS ROXBY IS

  • Deposit

    PROCLAIMED ON TARGET, JUNE 2-15, 1986, P. 5.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, A NEW ERA FOR STATE, MAY 5-18, 1986, P. 34.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, MASSIVE MINE APPROACHING COMPLETION,

  • Deposit

    OCTOBER 20-NOVEMBER 2, 1986, P. 28.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, WORKERS COMMITTED TO SA'S LARGEST PROJECT,

  • Deposit

    MAY 5-18, 1986, PP. 11,12.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, INITIAL DEVELOPMENT ON

  • Deposit

    TARGET AT OLYMPIC DAM, APRIL 1987, P. 16.

  • Deposit

    MINING ACTIVITIES DIGEST, APRIL 24, 1987, PP. 5,6.

  • Deposit

    WILSON, MAURICE, OLYMPIC DAM, AUSTRALIAN MINING, MARCH 1987,

  • Deposit

    PP. 16-20.

  • Deposit

    CHADWICK, JOHN, OLYMPIAN COPPER-URANIUM, INTERNATIONAL

  • Deposit

    MINING, JUNE 1987, PP. 38-44.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWPAPER, PROGRESS AT ROXBY ROLLS AHEAD OF PLAN,

  • Deposit

    SEPTEMBER 1-14, 1987, P. 11.

  • Deposit

    SUTTILL, KEITH R., OLYMPIC DAM: HEADING FOR 1988 STARTUP,

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOUNAL, NOVEMBER 1987, PP. 36-38.

  • Deposit

    MINER NEWSPAPER, OLYMPIC DAM COMMISSIONED--PROFITS START

  • Deposit

    FLOWING, NOVEMBER 1988, P. 4.

  • Deposit

    KENNEDY, ALAN, OLYMPIC DAM PROJECT, MINING MAGAZINE,

  • Deposit

    NOVEMBER 1988, PP. 330-344.

  • Deposit

    CAKE, DARREL, MINE OPENS AFTER 13 YEARS OF WORK, AUSTRALIA'S

  • Deposit

    MINING MONTHLY, DECEMBER/JANUARY, 1988/89, P. 24.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, WESTERN MINING-BP VENTURE

  • Deposit

    STARTS UP A MINE, PLANT, AND TOWN, DECEMBER 1988, P. 11.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN MINING CORPORATION HOLDINGS LTD., NEWSLETTER TO

  • Deposit

    SHARE HOLDERS, JANUARY 16, 1989.

  • Deposit

    WMC COMMEMORATIVE BROCHURE; THE OPENING OF THE OLYMPIC DAM

  • Deposit

    OPERATIONS SOUTH AUSTRALIA, NOV. 5, 1988.

  • Deposit

    MBM; OLYMPIC DAM - A RARE CASE OF INTEGRATION, 4/89, P.74,

  • Deposit

    75.

  • Deposit

    OLYMPIC DAM PROJECT; COMPANY PROMOTIONAL BROCHURE, 1988.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIA'S MINING MONTHLY; WMC PONDERS ROXBY OPTIONS, 8/89,

  • Deposit

    P. 10.

  • Deposit

    NEARY, C.R. & HIGHLEY, D.E.; THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF THE

  • Deposit

    RARE-EARTH ELEMENTS, REPRINTED FROM 'RARE EARTH GEO-

  • Deposit

    CHEMISTRY', BY P. HENDERSON, PUB. BY ELSEVIER, 1983.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIA'S MINING MONTHLY; OLYMPIC DAM INCREASES

  • Deposit

    PRODUCTION OF URANIUM, 8/90, P. 21-27.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL; OLYMPIC DAM EXPANSION, 2/22/91, P. 129, 130.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE; OLYMPIC DAM EXPANSION, 5/91, P. 270.

  • Deposit

    THE MINER; GREEN LIGHT FOR WMC'S OLYMPIC EXPANSION, 3/91,

  • Deposit

    P. 3.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN BASE METALS REPORT, OCT. 25, 1991.

  • Deposit

    MINING ENGINEERING, "OLYMPIC DAM EXPANSION COMPLETED A $6

  • Deposit

    MILLION UNDER BUDGET", 7/92, P. 664.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN MINING, "OLYMPIC DAM EXPANSION COMPLETED BELOW

  • Deposit

    BUDGET", 10/92, PP. 32, 36, 27.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIAN MINING, 10/92, P. 47.

  • Deposit

    MINING WEEKLY, 11/6/92, P. 1.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN META MARKET, 11/9/92, P. 6.

  • Deposit

    METALS WEEK, 11/9/92, P. 6.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, LONDON, 11/6/92, P. 317, 318.

  • Deposit

    METAL BULLETIN, 11/12/92, P. 8.

  • Deposit

    MINING WEEKLY, 12/11/92, P. 1.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, 12/92, P. 430.

  • Deposit

    MINING ENGINEERING, 12/92, P. 1411.

  • Deposit

    METALS WEEKLY, 12/7/92, P. 6.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, 1/93, P. 12.

  • Deposit

    METALS BULLETIN, 2/1/93, P. 7.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, LONDON, 3/5/93, P. 157.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 4/16/93, P. 275.

  • Deposit

    MINING ACTIVITY DIGEST, 5/93, P. 11.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, 6/93, P. 361.

  • Deposit

    METALS WEEKLY FOCUS, 9/93, P. 24, 26.

  • Deposit

    METALS BULLETIN, 8/5/93, P. 8.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN MINING CORP., "OLYMPIC DAM OPERATIONS GEOLOGY AND

  • Deposit

    MINING TECHNICAL HANDBOOK", ISSUE 2, 1993.

  • Deposit

    CREW, R.J., "MINING AND METALLURGICAL PRACTICES AT OLYMPIC

  • Deposit

    DAM, SOUTH AUSTRALIA".

  • Deposit

    REGISTER OF AUSTRALIAN MINING, 1994/95, P. 220.

  • Deposit

    VONK, A.S.M., "COPPER CONCENTRATOR PRACTICE AT THE OLYMPIC

  • Deposit

    DAM JOINT VENTURE, ROXBY DOWNS, SA", AUTRALASIAN MINING

  • Deposit

    AND METALLURGY, THE SIR MAURICE MAWBY MEMORIAL VOLUME,

  • Deposit

    SECOND EDITION, VOLUME 1, PP. 656-658.

  • Deposit

    LEUVEN, MARK VAN, "MINING OF COPPER-URANIUM-GOLD OR AT THE

  • Deposit

    OLYMPIC DAM JOINT VENTURE, ROXBY DOWNS, SA",

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALASIAN MINING AND METALLURGY, THE SIR MAURICE

  • Deposit

    MAWBY MEMORIAL VOLUME, SECOND EDITION, VOLUME 1,

  • Deposit

    PP. 620-626.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 3/17/93, P.5.

  • Deposit

    METAL BULLETIN, 3/8/93, P.12.

  • Deposit

    METAL BULLETIN, 4/5/93, P.5.

  • Deposit

    AUSTRALIA'S MINING MONTHLY, 9/94, P.46,47.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN MINING CORP., METALLURGICAL OPERATIONS HANDBOOK,

  • Deposit

    OLYMPIC DAM OPERATIONS, ISSUE 1, 12/89, 29PP.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 25-SEP-1996 Porter, Kenneth E. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

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

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