Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Olympic Dam Mine, Roxby Downs, Andamooka Ranges - Lake Torrens area, South Australia, Australia

StandardDetailedBy ChemistryMapsSearch Google

Australia's largest reserve of uranium ore is at Olympic Dam. It was discovered in 1975 as the result of a drilling program conducted by Western Mining Corporation Limited. The mine is currently operated by BHP Billiton.
The ore deposit is located on Roxby Downs Station, about 25 kilometres west of the opal mining town of Andamooka (265 km north of Port Augusta).

There are large volumes of mineralised rock in the ore body but at present only about 450 million tonnes of ore has been proven. This contains about 11 million tonnes of copper, 360 000 tonnes of uranium oxide, 2700 tonnes of silver, and 270 tonnes of gold. The top of the deposit is about 350 metres below ground level, so underground mining is necessary. The deposit itself is about 7 kilometres long and 4 kilometres wide. It is the largest copper ore body in Australia and one of the world's largest uranium deposits. The mine itself is the biggest long term development project in South Australia and more than one billion dollars was spent on establishing it: this includes the construction of the nearby town of Roxby Downs which is home to about 3500 people.
Mining started in June 1988. By March 1996 more than 8500 tonnes of uranium oxide had been produced along with 370 000 tonnes of copper, 66 tonnes of silver, and 5 tonnes of gold. In 1999-2000 Olympic Dam produced 4089 tonnes of uranium oxide achieving $895 million in export revenue. Just over half the uranium (55%) has been sold to power utilities in Europe, about a quarter to Japan, and the remainder to Korea (11%) and the United States (8%). Olympic Dam has an expected life of 200 years.

Recent resources update (Sept 2007) is now reaching 7738 million tonnes of ore @ 0.87%Cu, 0.29kg/t U3O8, 0.3g/t Au and 1.6g/t Ag. As a comparison, only one year ago, resources were estimated to "only" 4430 remaining tonnes of ore. (Ref: The Advertiser, 27/09/2007, p2&4, Adelaide)



References:
- Mining Annual Review (1985): 369.
- Lottermoser, B. G. (1995): Rare earth element mineralogy of the Olympic Dam Cu-U-Au-Ag deposit, Roxby Downs, South Australia; implications for ore genesis. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1995, 371-384.
- Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307
- Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28





 Map Reference: 30°27'S , 136°53'E

This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.



Mineral List:
  		•  Acanthite
    Ag
     
    2
    		S
    Reference: [Lottermoser B. G. (1995). Neues.Jb. Miner. Mh.1995, 8, 371-384; Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307]
  		•  Anhydrite
    CaSO
     
    4
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307]
  		•  Ankerite
    Ca(Fe
    2+
     
    		 ,Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    Reference: [No reference listed]
  		•  Apatite-(CaOH)
    Ca
     
    5
    		[OH|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    Reference: [Lottermoser B. G. (1995). Neues.Jb. Miner. Mh.1995, 8, 371-384]
  		•  Baryte
    BaSO
     
    4
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Bastnäsite-(Ce)
    (Ce,La)[F|CO
     
    3
    		]
    Reference: [Lottermoser B. G. (1995). Neues.Jb. Miner. Mh.1995, 8, 371-384; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Bornite
    Cu
     
    5
    		FeS
     
    4
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Brannerite
    (U
    4+
     
    		,Ca)(Ti,Fe
    3+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		O
     
    6
    Reference: [Lottermoser B. G. (1995). Neues.Jb. Miner. Mh.1995, 8, 371-384]
  		•  Britholite-(Ce)
    Ca
     
    2
    		(Ce,Ca)
     
    3
    		[(OH,F)|(SiO
     
    4
    		,PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
    Reference: [Lottermoser B. G. (1995). Neues.Jb. Miner. Mh.1995, 8, 371-384; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Calcite
    CaCO
     
    3
    Reference: [No reference listed]
  		•  Celestine
    SrSO
     
    4
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307]
  		•  Chalcocite
    Cu
     
    2
    		S
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Chalcopyrite
    CuFeS
     
    2
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  'Chlorite Group'
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Coffinite
    (U,Th)[(OH)
     
    4x
    		|(SiO
     
    4
    		)
     
    1-x
    		]
    Reference: [Lottermoser B. G. (1995). Neues.Jb. Miner. Mh.1995, 8, 371-384]
  		•  Copper
    Cu
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90]
  		•  Covellite
    CuS
    Reference: [Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Digenite
    Cu
     
    9
    		S
     
    5
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Dolomite
    CaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Erythrite
    Co
     
    3
    		(AsO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		·8H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [South Australian Museum collection]
  		•  Florencite-(Ce)
    CeAl
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
    Reference: [Lottermoser B. G. (1995). Neues.Jb. Miner. Mh.1995, 8, 371-384; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Fluorite
    CaF
     
    2
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Galena
    PbS
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307]
  		•  Goethite
    α-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
    Reference: [No reference listed]
  		•  Gold
    Au
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307]
  		•  Gypsum
    Ca[SO
     
    4
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [No reference listed]
  		•  Halite
    NaCl
    Reference: [No reference listed]
  		•  Hematite
    Fe
     
    2
    		O
     
    3
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Hematite
    var: Martite
    Reference: [Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90]
  		•  Lavendulan
    NaCaCu
     
    5
    		[Cl|(AsO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		] · 5H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [South Australian Museum collection]
  		•  Magnetite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
    2
    		O
     
    4
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Monazite-(Ce)
    (Ce,La,Nd,Th)PO
     
    4
    Reference: [Lottermoser B. G. (1995). Neues.Jb. Miner. Mh.1995, 8, 371-384; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Pyrite
    FeS
     
    2
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Quartz
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Roxbyite (TL)
    Cu
     
    9
    		S
     
    5
    Type Locality: Olympic Dam Mine, Roxby Downs, Andamooka Ranges - Lake Torrens area, South Australia, Australia
    Reference: [MM 1988, 323-330]
  		•  'Sericite'
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Siderite
    FeCO
     
    3
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Silver
    Ag
    Reference: [No reference listed]
  		•  Sphalerite
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    		)S
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307]
  		•  Strontianite
    SrCO
     
    3
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307]
  		•  Synchysite-(Ce)
    Ca(Ce,La)[F|(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    		]
    Reference: [Lottermoser B. G. (1995). Neues.Jb. Miner. Mh.1995, 8, 371-384]
  		•  'Tourmaline'
    Reference: [Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Uraninite
    UO
     
    2
    Reference: [Lottermoser B. G. (1995). Neues.Jb. Miner. Mh.1995, 8, 371-384; Econ Geol. (1995) 90:281-307; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]
  		•  Uraninite
    var: Pitchblende
    UO
     
    2
    Reference: [Econ Geol (1992) 87:64-90]
  		•  Xenotime-(Y)
    YPO
     
    4
    Reference: [Lottermoser B. G. (1995). Neues.Jb. Miner. Mh.1995, 8, 371-384; Econ Geol. (1992) 87:1-28]


    45 entries listed. 40 valid minerals. 1 type locality (valid mineral).

    The above list contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database!
    This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Jobs in Australia Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 9th Nov 2009 00:55:56