On the list of things to do whilst in Newman is plan a visit to the world’s largest open cut mine, Mt Whaleback, where visitors can witness the sheer size of BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s operations. Full of excitement and intrigue, Neville headed to the Newman Visitors Centre which was the starting point for the mine tour. Safety is very important and visitors are equipped with safety clothing before boarding the bus. As the bus makes its way to the mine, the enormity of everything connected to the mine is revealed, with the tour guide giving interesting facts and figures about the whole operation. The mine was once a mountain but today it is being worked below the level of the plain. Measuring 5.5km long and 2 kilometers wide, the mine can be seen from space.

Mining the ore starts with drilling holes into a platform of rock into which explosives are poured.  Detonators are positioned in each, and when electronically ignited, the blast shatters the rock. Each year some 25 thousand tonnes of explosives are detonated to shatter approximately 83 million tonnes of rock.  The ratio of total rock to iron bearing ore is six.

Neville was taken on a ride in a ‘giant shovel’, a piece of equipment capable of scooping up to 40-50 tonnes in a single load. The load is then transferred onto trucks for processing. Ore trucks are capable of carrying over 200 tonnes in a single load.  The cabins are air-conditioned, sealed against the dust and have music systems to make the working time more pleasant. The newer trucks have anti collision computer software on board to help prevent accidents.

Next the ore is crushed into grapefruit sized lumps and transported either directly to the rail loading piles or to a benefaction plant. Here Mara Mamba ore from an adjacent hill is mixed with the higher grade Brockman haematite, which is blue black in colour. 

After processing, the ore is carried on conveyors to the rail loading area. The trains that transport the iron ore have made it to the Guinness Book of Records as the longest trains in the world.
If you are visiting Newman, you can’t leave town without going on a mine tour of BHP’s Mt Whaleback mine.  It will give a great insight into the town’s history and makes for a very interesting day out. Mine tours operate all year round departing from the Newman Visitors Centre.

Tour Times:
May to September – The tour departs from the Centre once a day at 9:30am on Mondays through Sundays.
October to April – The tour departs from the Centre once a day at 9:30am on Mondays through Fridays.

The Tours approximately last 1.5 hours and passengers are asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the tour. Please note that closed in shoes, long sleeved tops to the wrist and long pants to the ankles are essential for the tour. There is a minimum of four paying adults per tour. We suggest bringing drinking water with you on hot days. Special tours can be negotiated by prior arrangement.

Tour prices
Adults $20
Seniors/Pensioners $15
Children (6-14 years) $9
Family Pass (2 adults & 2 children) $50

Contact:
Newman Visitor Centre
Corner Fortescue Avenue and Newman Drive, Newman WA
Postal address: PO Box 303, Newman WA 6753
Phone: +61 8 9175 2888
Fax: +61 8 9175 2964
Email: newmanvc@bigpond.com
Website: www.newman-wa.org