West Angelas Mine (West Angeles Mine), Weeli Wolli Creek Area, East Pilbara Shire, Western Australia, Australiai

Regional Level Types
West Angelas Mine (West Angeles Mine)	Mine
Weeli Wolli Creek Area	Area
East Pilbara Shire	Shire
Western Australia	State
Australia	Country

The correct name appears to be West Angelas, but some older sources call it West Angeles.

The mine started production for iron ore in 2002, is owned and operated by Robe River Associates, in turn partly owned by Rio Tinto. Lump and fines are railed to the port at Cape Lambert. The mine is 110 kilometres west north-west of Newman.

Pits are West Pit, Centre Pit 2, Centre Pit 1, East Pit and East Pit 2, although this may vary in time. The mine covers two east-west trending valleys, separated by a low plateau of the Jeerinah Formation. Several orebodies are in the immediate area including Deposit A where mining initially started, Deposit B to the north near the access road, Deposit A West a smaller deposit to the west of A, Deposit E just south of A, and Deposit F south-east of A. Other deposits occur nearby including Deposit C to the west, and Deposit H just south of Mount Robinson amongst others.

The mine accesses ore from the Marra Mamba Iron Formation, at the site in association with synclinal structures on the flanks of the west plunging Wanna Munna Anticline. Mineralisation occurs within the uppermost part of the Marra Mamba Formation called the Mount Newman Member, with minor ore in the West Angelas Member. The Marra Mamba Formation is mainly martite-goethite ore.

The Marra Mamba Iron Formation is sub-divided into three units, the lowest being the Nammuldi Member, 135 metres thick, of cherty banded iron formations interbedded with thin shales; Macleod Member, 35 metres thick, of banded iron formations, chert and carbonates with numerous shale interbeds; and the Mount Newman Member, 60 metres thick, of interbedded banded iron formations with carbonates and shale. The mine lacks the pyritic Mount McRae shale member.

Overlaying this is the 40 metre thick West Angelas Member which is the lowest unit of the Wittenoom Dolomite, which contains in total three packages of rock units of manganiferous shale, chert, dolomite, and minor banded iron formations near its base. Above this is a 150 metre thick crystalline dolomite, with minor chert, capped with shale, dolomite and minor chert as an alternating package.

Isolated riebeckite and crocidolite seams are found in the upper benches of the pits, within the Newman Member close to its contact with the MacLeod Member. The species however can be found anywhere in the Marra Mamba Formation where iron ore mineralisation has not developed.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References