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Yampire Gorge Mine, Yampire Gorge, Wittenoom, Ashburton Shire, Western Australia, Australiai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Yampire Gorge Mine | Mine |
| Yampire Gorge | Gorge |
| Wittenoom | - not defined - |
| Ashburton Shire | Shire |
| Western Australia | State |
| Australia | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
22° 24' 44'' South , 118° 26' 54'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
An abandoned crocidolite asbestos mine in Yampire gorge near Wittenoom.
Dangerous to visit. Asbestos fibres are extremely dangerous to health and the mine site should be avoided.
Mining was conducted in three main locations: Yampire Gorge, Wittenoom Gorge, and Colonial Gorge.
During 1937–1938, rising asbestos prices attracted prospectors to the Hamersley Ranges. Small quantities of milled asbestos fibre were produced by Western Australian Blue Asbestos Fibres Ltd, along with Messrs L. G. Hancock and P. Wright, in the Yampire and Wittenoom Gorges.
The Yampire Mine likely began operations around 1937 and was abandoned in 1946. During its operation, it is estimated to have produced approximately 300 tons of asbestos (crocidolite) fibre and about 15,000 tons of waste rock. The site is located within Karijini (Hamersley Range) National Park.
In July 1990, Mines Department officers inspected the site and made several recommendations in an internal report (Jones, H. 1990a). The report identified several physically hazardous features within the mine area. The roof (backs) and walls (pillars) of the mined sections were found to be in dangerous condition, and sealing the two main underground entrances (portals) was recommended (see Photographs 4 and 5).
The mine site is a popular destination for tourists. Although it contains a relatively small amount of tailings and mullock, it should be remediated by recovering as much blue asbestos tailing material as practicable from around the site. The recovered tailings could then be securely stored within the Yampire Mine or buried in a suitable location.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Riebeckite Formula: ◻[Na2][Fe2+3Fe3+2]Si8O22(OH)2 |
| ⓘ 'Riebeckite Root Name Group' Formula: ◻[Na2][Z2+3Fe3+2]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| ⓘ 'Riebeckite Root Name Group var. Crocidolite' Formula: ◻[Na2][Z2+3Fe3+2]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Riebeckite | 9.DE.25 | ◻[Na2][Fe2+3Fe3+2]Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Riebeckite Root Name Group' | - | ◻[Na2][Z2+3Fe3+2]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| ⓘ | 'var. Crocidolite' | - | ◻[Na2][Z2+3Fe3+2]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Riebeckite | ◻[Na2][Fe32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| H | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group var. Crocidolite | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Riebeckite | ◻[Na2][Fe32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| O | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group var. Crocidolite | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| F | Fluorine | |
| F | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| F | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group var. Crocidolite | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Riebeckite | ◻[Na2][Fe32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Na | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Na | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group var. Crocidolite | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Riebeckite | ◻[Na2][Fe32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group var. Crocidolite | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Cl | Chlorine | |
| Cl | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Cl | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group var. Crocidolite | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Riebeckite | ◻[Na2][Fe32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Riebeckite Root Name Group var. Crocidolite | ◻[Na2][Z32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH,F,Cl)2 |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australia
- Western Australia
- Fortescue BasinBasin
- Hamersley BasinBasin
- Pilbara CratonCraton
- Warakurna Large Igneous ProvinceGeologic Province
- West Australian ElementCraton
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
- West Australian Craton
- Pilbara CratonCraton
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for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.
