Three Springs Talc Mine

Author

Shire of Three Springs

Place Number

05288

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Location

Three Springs-Perenjori Rd Three Springs

Location Details

Local Government

Three Springs

Region

Midwest

Construction Date

Constructed from 1961

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	09 Jul 1996	Category 4	Category 4 Significant but not essential to an understanding of the history of the district: photographically record the place prior to any major redevelopment.

Statement of Significance

The talc mine has high economic and social significance for the development of the Three Springs region.

Physical Description

A large open cut mine site with mounds of overburden and processing facilities nearby. Extensive areas have been or are in the process of being revegetated.

History

The original talc discovery was made accidentally during a well sinking operation in the 1940's. The deposit was worked initially as an underground operation until 1961 when Western mining Corporation acquired a 50% share of the company. Soon after, an open cut mine was established, and an extensive exploration was undertaken. The mine was taken over by WMC in 1987. The ore body is estimated to be some 6 million tonnes and is the worlds largest exporter of white talc, being the world's tenth largest talc mine. The talc is graded, screened and washed on site and is trucked to Three Springs thence by rail to the Port of Geraldton for export. About 161,000 tonnes are exported annually, about 120,000 tonnes going to Japan for use in the pulp and paper industry. (Source: 'Three Springs Talc Operation', published by Western Mining Corporation.)

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	"Three Springs Talc Operation".	Western Mining Corporation.
	H. A. Crake; "Carridena".	Three Springs Shire Council	1979

Place Type

Other Built Type

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	MINING	Mining Battery
Present Use	MINING	Mining Battery

Historic Themes

General	Specific
OCCUPATIONS	Mining {incl. mineral processing}

Creation Date

04 Feb 1997

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.