Murrin Murrin Mine
Mine in Western Australia
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The Murrin Murrin Mine is a major nickel-cobalt mining operation being conducted in the North Eastern Goldfields, approximately 45 km east of Leonora, Western Australia. The project was initiated as a 60/40 joint venture between Murrin Murrin Holdings, a subsidiary of Anaconda Nickel and Glenmurrin, a subsidiary of Glencore.[2] In 2003 Anaconda changed its name to Minara Resources. In November 2011, Minara Resources was acquired by Glencore.[3] The mine opened in 1999.[4]
- Leonora, Western Australia, Australia
- 28°46′03″S 121°53′38″E
Cobalt: 2,100 t
  Murrin Murrin Location in Western Australia | |
 Interactive map of Murrin Murrin | |
| Location |
|
|---|---|
| Products | Nickel, cobalt |
| Production | Nickel: 31,100 t Cobalt: 2,100 t |
| Financial year | 2023[1] |
| Opened | 1999 |
| Company | Glencore |
| Website | www.glencore.com.au |
| Acquired | 2011 |
Geology
Murrin Murrin mines a laterite nickel ore formed by deep weathering of a peridotite ultramafic rock.
Problems with the process plant
Significant problems and delays were encountered in the design, construction and commissioning of the ore process plant at Murrin Murrin.[5]
The designers, Fluor Daniel eventually had to pay the joint venture partners $155 million in an out-of-court settlement. It was the second successful claim against Fluor, Murrin Murrin owners having been awarded $147 million from the first phase of their claim against Fluor, a sum which ultimately was reduced to $39.8 million. The Murrin Murrin project's original cost estimate of $1 billion had [clarification needed] $1.6 billion.[6] In December 1998, Anaconda Nickel terminated Henry Walker as mining contractor.[7][8]
Production
Production of the mine:
| Year | Nickel | Cobalt |
|---|---|---|
| 2000[4] | 13,027 t | 904 t |
| 2001[4] | 25,991 t | 1,253 t |
| 2002[4] | 30,009 t | 1,838 t |
| 2003[9][10][11] | 28,147 t | 2,309 t |
| 2004[12] | 27,950 t | 1,982 t |
| 2005[12] | 28,240 t | 1,750 t |
| 2006[12] | 31,524 t | 2,096 t |
| 2007[12] | 27,585 t | 1,884 t |
| 2008[12] | 30,514 t | 2,018 t |
| 2009[13] | 32,977 t | 3,250 t |
| 2010[14] | 28,500 t | 1,900 t |
| 2011[14] | 28,500 t | 1,900 t |
| 2012[15] | 33,410 t | 2,390 t |
| 2013[16] | 40,000 t | 2,700 t |
| 2014[16] | 36,400 t | 2,700 t |
| 2015[17] | 37,500 t | 2,800t |
| 2016[17] | 35,300 t | 2,800 t |
| 2017[18] | 34,700 t | 2,700 t |
| 2018[18] | 35,500 t | 2,900 t |
| 2019[19] | 37,000t | 3,400 t |
| 2020[19] | 36,000 t | 2,900 t |
| 2021[19] | 30,000 t | 2,500 t |
| 2022[20] | 35,700 t | 3,000 t |
| 2023[1] | 31,100 t | 2,100 t |