Xstrata - Mount Isa mines

 mine, copper mine, metallurgy, mining, lead production / processing, zinc mine/processing, smelter

 Upload a photo

Mines and metallurgical plant for retrieving silver, copper, lead and zinc as there are large deposits of these metals. Now owned by Xstrata plc.

Xstrata operates the Mount Isa Mines lease adjacent to the town, which comprises the "Enterprise" underground copper mine, X41 underground copper mine, "Black Star Open Cut" silver-lead zinc mine. Silver-lead-zinc ore is also mined 20 km to the north at Hilton from the "George Fisher" underground mine, and the adjoining "Handlebar Hill" open cut, which is trucked back to Mount Isa for processing.

Mount Isa is in the top two of largest copper mining and smelting operations in the country. Copper and lead are smelted on site, with copper anodes and zinc concentrate being transported 900 km to the city and port of Townsville on the east coast. The lead ingots are transported to a refinery in Britain where the silver is extracted. The smelter stack (built 1978) is the most significant landmark in the area, standing 270 m tall, visible from all parts of the city and up to 40 km out.


Zinc operations: www.xstrata.com/operation/mountisazinc/

Copper operations: www.xstrata.com/operation/mountisa/