XstradaMine

Xstrada Mine Cloncurry Queensland

Cloncurry, 20 February 2008 (Embargo 10:30hrs) Today the Deputy Premier of Queensland, Hon Paul Lucas, MP, the Minister for Mines and Energy, Hon Geoff Wilson, MP, and Member for Mount Isa, Betty Kiernan, witnessed the ’first cut’ of a 3.2 kilometre underground decline at Xstrata Copper’s Ernest Henry Mine open pit operation near Cloncurry in north west Queensland. Chief Operating Officer Xstrata Copper North Queensland, Steve de Kruijff, said Xstrata Copper was dedicated to maximising value from its existing assets and strengthening the Cloncurry economy. “Today’s successful first cut marks the starting point of the decline by cutting a ‘portal’ approximately half way down the western pit wall.



I went on tour of the Mine. See the Video YouTube - Cloncurry Queensland


Many people work at the Mine. They work in many fields...engineers, drivers, cooks, marketing, administration, electrical...Most live in Cloncurry and travel to the mine daily. Others who take contracts travel from Brisbane and fly in and stay at the Hotels or in Mine accommodation on the site. The Mine works 24 hours a day and there are 2 shifts. Workers work for 10 days and have a week off. The wages are very high because of the remote location, the mine work and the dangers associated with working in Mines. The company does a lot of Community Funding and provides a percentage of profit back to the Community.

The Open Cut Mine at Cloncurry File:

After the Rains the Open Cut Filled with water File:

Huge Trucks as big as 2 storeys of a building cart the Ore to be processed File:

Here I am standing at the Lookout Point over the Open Cut Mine File: