Rio Tinto’s Yandicoogina, Australia’s largest-producing iron ore mine, has broken the 50 Mt mark for annual production for the first time. The milestone, all the more unexpected following the slump in demand for iron ore in early 2009 together with severe flood-damage to rail operations, highlighted the substantial gains achieved through Rio Tinto’s integrated network over the year. The mine passed 50 Mt/y of product on December 29.

Iron Ore chief executive Sam Walsh applauded the milestone as a tribute to efficiency gains made during the year. “The 50 Mt/y mark is a worthy effort, made more notable still given that by April the mine was producing at a rate only sufficient to record 40 Mt for the year. To overcome the twin obstacles presented by the global financial crisis impact and the flooding has been a major achievement.”  

Yandicoogina is situated in a rich channel iron deposit 95 km northwest of Newman, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Opened in 1998, though originally conceived on a far smaller scale, its first full year of operations produced 10.7 Mt. 

Since its most recent expansion through Junction South East in 2007 and 2008, Yandicoogina has been ramping up towards its nameplate annual capacity of 52 Mt. Last year it produced 45.6 Mt of saleable product.

Yandicoogina ore is marketed separately from Rio Tinto’s Pilbara Blend and Robe River products. The pisolite ore is highly sought after by steel mills for its ability to improve the smelting of other ores. It is successfully marketed in Rio Tinto’s major Asian destinations, where its sinter-efficient properties enhance its value in use in smelting fines.