The Murrin Murrin Mine is a major nickel-cobalt mining operation being conducted in the North Eastern Goldfields, approximately 45 km east of Leonora, Western Australia. The project was initiated as a joint venture between Murrin Murrin Holdings Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anaconda Nickel Limited (whose share was 60%) and Glenmurrin Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Glencore International AG, which had a 40% share.[2] In 2003 Anaconda changed its name to Minara Resources Limited. In November 2011, Minara Resources was fully acquired and is now wholly owned by Glencore International.[3] The mine opened in 1999.[4]

Murrin Murrin
Location
Murrin Murrin is located in Western Australia
Murrin Murrin
Murrin Murrin
Location in Western Australia
LocationLeonora
StateWestern Australia
CountryAustralia
Coordinates28°46′03″S 121°53′38″E / 28.76750°S 121.89389°E / -28.76750; 121.89389
Production
ProductsNickel, cobalt
ProductionNickel: 31,100 t
Cobalt: 2,100 t
Financial year2023[1]
History
Opened1999
Owner
CompanyGlencore
WebsiteGlencore website
Year of acquisition2011
Map

Geology

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Murrin Murrin mines a laterite nickel ore formed by deep weathering of a peridotite ultramafic rock.

Problems with the process plant

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Significant problems and delays were encountered in the design, construction and commissioning of the ore process plant at Murrin Murrin.[5]

The designers, Fluor Daniel eventually had to pay the joint venture partners A$155 million in an out-of-court settlement. It was their second successful claim against Fluor, Murrin Murrin owners having been awarded $147 million from the first phase of their claim against Fluor, a sum which ultimately was reduced to $39.8 million. The Murrin Murrin project's original cost estimate of $1 billion had [clarification needed] $1.6 billion.[6]

Production

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Production of the mine:

Year Nickel Cobalt
2000[4] 13,027 t 904 t
2001[4] 25,991 t 1,253 t
2002[4] 30,009 t 1,838 t
2003[7][8][9] 28,147 t 2,309 t
2004[10] 27,950 t 1,982 t
2005[10] 28,240 t 1,750 t
2006[10] 31,524 t 2,096 t
2007[10] 27,585 t 1,884 t
2008[10] 30,514 t 2,018 t
2009[11] 32,977 t 3,250 t
2010[12] 28,500 t 1,900 t
2011[12] 28,500 t 1,900 t
2012[13] 33,410 t 2,390 t
2013[14] 40,000 t 2,700 t
2014[14] 36,400 t 2,700 t
2015[15] 37,500 t 2,800t
2016[15] 35,300 t 2,800 t
2017[16] 34,700 t 2,700 t
2018[16] 35,500 t 2,900 t
2019[17] 37,000t 3,400 t
2020[17] 36,000 t 2,900 t
2021[17] 30,000 t 2,500 t
2022[18] 35,700 t 3,000 t
2023[1] 31,100 t 2,100 t

References

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  1. ^ a b "Glencore Full Year Production Report 2023" (PDF). www.glencore.com. Glencore. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  2. ^ Ladbury, Richard A. (1998). "Resource Project Financing: Capital Markets Project Financing" (PDF). AMPLA Yearbook. Melbourne: Australian Mining and Petroleum Law Association. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  3. ^ Glencore mops up Minara Resources takeover, The Australian, October 14, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003–2004 Edition, page: 39
  5. ^ Nedeljkovic, Zoran. (1998) Andrew Forrest : a key to Murrin Murrin's past and future Mining chronicle (West Perth, W.A.) Late June 1998, p. 6
  6. ^ Minara handed $155m for Murrin mine fiasco The Sydney Morning Herald, published: 6 May 2004, accessed: 10 September 2009
  7. ^ "Financial report half year ending 31 December 2003" (PDF). ASX. Minara Resources Limited. 18 February 2004. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Quarterly report for the period ended 30 June 2003" (PDF). Perth, WA: Anaconda Nickel Limited. 29 July 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Quarterly report for the period ended 31 March 2003". Perth, WA: Anaconda Nickel Limited. 23 April 2003. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d e "2008 Annual Report" (PDF). Perth, WA: Minara Resources Limited. 27 March 2009. p. 16. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Quarterly report 31 December 2009" (PDF). Perth, WA: Minara Resources Limited. 19 January 2010. p. 2. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Annual Report 2011" (PDF). Baar, Switzerland: Glencore. 10 April 2012. p. 53. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Annual Report 2012" (PDF). Baar, Switzerland: Glencore. 25 March 2013. p. 51. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Annual Report 2014" (PDF). Baar, Switzerland: Glencore. 18 March 2015. p. 53. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Baar, Switzerland: Glencore. 2 March 2017. p. 63. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  16. ^ a b "Annual Report 2018" (PDF). Baar, Switzerland: Glencore. 1 March 2019. p. 77. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  17. ^ a b c "Murrin Murrin Mine". Mining Data Solutions. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Glencore Annual Report 2022" (PDF). www.glencore.com. Glencore. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
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