MINING AREA C NORTH FLANK-- FEATURE ARTICLE – MAY 2021

摘要

Mining Area C North Flank comprises multiple bedded-iron-deposits (BID) in the Brockman and Marra Mamba Iron Formations. Mineralisation is predominantly near-surface and geological deformation is low. Strip ratio is around 2.4. Mining takes place above the water table and processing is by dry crushing and screening circuits. Mining Area C provides approximately 25% of BHP's annual Pilbara production. BHP is in the process of constructing the Mining Area C South Flank mine which will make use of North Flank processing and rail infrastructure. Mining Area C North Flank is BHP's largest single source of low-phosphorous Marra Mamba currently in operation. With a fines ratio of 69% and a recently increased capacity of 66Mtpa, this mine underpins BHP's MAC Fines product stream. The low-phosphorous lump is a vital component for blending with high-phosphorous Brockman ores in Newman Blend Lump. Despite low processing costs, AME believes Mining Area C's higher FOB cost relative to other BHP operations is due to its higher strip ratio.