Butch and I had a wonderful opportunity a few weeks ago to tour the George Fisher underground mine north of Mount Isa. Our neighbour works underground and has completed the proper training to do guided tours. As per Xstrata’s regulations we were unable to take any pictures while on the mine site, therefore I have used a couple off the internet.
For a little history and information about the George Fisher underground mine. The mine is 100% owned by Xstrata. They mine mainly zinc and lead along with copper, silver and gold. The underground mine produces 3.1 million tonnes of ore per annum. The underground mine employees approximately 1,160 people. The silver and lead deposits were first discovered in Mount Isa in 1923. Mining began there the following year. Copper was not focussed upon until
World War II. Parallel production of zinc, lead, silver and copper did not begin until 1953. We were required to change into mine regulation clothing and don hard hats, safety glasses and steel toed boots. The next step was to be equipped with a light to be attached to our hard hats as well as a device called a self rescuer. This device supplies you with up to 15 minutes of oxygen if you were to be trapped underground. This gear weighs a HEAP! We used a leather belt to attach it all to ourselves. The belt, self rescuer and head lamp component weigh nearly 8 kilos or 17.6 pounds! After donning all our gear we headed underground. Upon entering the tunnel is appeared just as you would imagine; small tunnels, dark, wet and quite warm. The tunnel walls are covered with a substance called “shockcrete.” They are narrow, usually only wide enough for one vehicle. Therefore radio communication is essential. The further down you go the warmer the temperature gets and the more water you encounter. The average air temperature runs in the upper30’s Celsius or food 80 Fahrenheit. This does change as large air ducts are used to pump oxygen rich air, which is cooler into the underground tunnels. The water continuously seeps from the tunnels. This water is caught in a catchment area on one side of the tunnel and then pumped back to the surface with a complex series of pumps and hoses. Some water is recycled and used to aid the drilling machines. Each person has a specific job to do and machine to operate. It could be driller, who drills the holes they use for blasting in order to remove more ore. Loader operator, used to cart the ore after it has been blasted and stock pile it for removal. Truck driver, who operates the large dump trucks that cart the ore from the stock pile sites to the surface or to the conveyor. As well as many other support staff who carry our repairs, work in the stores, or parts places or supervisory staff that make sure everything runs smoothly. Once the
ore is at the surface it is carted in road trains into town to the smelters where it is refined. The refined blocks are then transported to Townsville via road train or railroad where it is then
further refined or loaded on ships for export.
World War II. Parallel production of zinc, lead, silver and copper did not begin until 1953. We were required to change into mine regulation clothing and don hard hats, safety glasses and steel toed boots. The next step was to be equipped with a light to be attached to our hard hats as well as a device called a self rescuer. This device supplies you with up to 15 minutes of oxygen if you were to be trapped underground. This gear weighs a HEAP! We used a leather belt to attach it all to ourselves. The belt, self rescuer and head lamp component weigh nearly 8 kilos or 17.6 pounds! After donning all our gear we headed underground. Upon entering the tunnel is appeared just as you would imagine; small tunnels, dark, wet and quite warm. The tunnel walls are covered with a substance called “shockcrete.” They are narrow, usually only wide enough for one vehicle. Therefore radio communication is essential. The further down you go the warmer the temperature gets and the more water you encounter. The average air temperature runs in the upper30’s Celsius or food 80 Fahrenheit. This does change as large air ducts are used to pump oxygen rich air, which is cooler into the underground tunnels. The water continuously seeps from the tunnels. This water is caught in a catchment area on one side of the tunnel and then pumped back to the surface with a complex series of pumps and hoses. Some water is recycled and used to aid the drilling machines. Each person has a specific job to do and machine to operate. It could be driller, who drills the holes they use for blasting in order to remove more ore. Loader operator, used to cart the ore after it has been blasted and stock pile it for removal. Truck driver, who operates the large dump trucks that cart the ore from the stock pile sites to the surface or to the conveyor. As well as many other support staff who carry our repairs, work in the stores, or parts places or supervisory staff that make sure everything runs smoothly. Once the
ore is at the surface it is carted in road trains into town to the smelters where it is refined. The refined blocks are then transported to Townsville via road train or railroad where it is then
further refined or loaded on ships for export.
The tour was a great learning experience for me. It was great to understand how the underground system operates. I found the drilling and blasting portion of the tour most interesting. It is good to understand how and why our house used to shake every night at 8PM and every morning at 8AM!
1 comment:
Jen, I love reading about your adventures! You have a beautiful family! Keep it up!
Wendy
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