Department of Industry and Resources RECORD INDUSTRIAL MINERALS 2008/16 IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA: THE SITUATION IN 2008 by JM Fetherston Geological Survey of Western Australia GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Record 2008/16 INDUSTRIAL MINERALS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA: THE SITUATION IN 2008 by JM Fetherston Perth 2008 MINISTER FOR MINES AND PETROLEUM Hon. Norman Moore MLC DIRECTOR GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY AND RESOURCES Anne Nolan EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Tim Griffi n REFERENCE The recommended reference for this publication is: Fetherston, JM, 2008, Industrial minerals in Western Australia: the situation in 2008: Geological Survey of Western Australia, Record 2008/16, 70p. National Library of Australia Card Number and ISBN 978-1-74168-204-5 Grid references in this publication refer to the Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94). Locations mentioned in the text are referenced using Map Grid Australia (MGA) coordinates, Zones 49, 50, 51, and 52. All locations are quoted to at least the nearest 100 m. Cover image modifi ed from Landsat data, courtesy of ACRES Published 2008 by Geological Survey of Western Australia This Record is published in digital format (PDF), as part of a digital dataset on CD, and is available online at www.doir.wa.gov.au/GSWApublications. Laser-printed copies can be ordered from the Information Centre for the cost of printing and binding. Further details of geological publications and maps produced by the Geological Survey of Western Australia are available from: Information Centre Department of Industry and Resources 100 Plain Street EAST PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6004 Telephone: +61 8 9222 3459 Facsimile: +61 8 9222 3444 www.doir.wa.gov.au/GSWApublications Frontispiece: Created by German master craftsmen, this superbly carved fi sh (length approximately 25 cm) was crafted from the newly- discovered Waldburg variscite. The polished red eye is of hessonite, a variety of grossular garnet Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................2 Abbreviations .........................................................................................................................................................4 Geological setting ...................................................................................................................................................4 Residual or relict ferruginous duricrusts .........................................................................................................4 Alluvial/fl uvial and lacustrine paleodrainage deposits ...................................................................................4 Coastal regolith ...............................................................................................................................................5 Projects with current and past production ..............................................................................................................5 Titanium mineral sands, zircon, and staurolite ...............................................................................................5 Production ................................................................................................................................................5 Processing and applications .....................................................................................................................7 Location of signifi cant mineral sand provinces .......................................................................................7 Perth Basin ........................................................................................................................................7 The mid-west coastal plain ........................................................................................................7 Cooljarloo, Dongara, and Jurien .........................................................................................7 Eneabba ...............................................................................................................................8 Gingin .................................................................................................................................9 The southwest coastal plain .......................................................................................................9 Capel operations and regional feedstock sources ...............................................................9 Wagerup ..............................................................................................................................9 Dardanup .............................................................................................................................9 Gwindinup and Happy Valley ...........................................................................................10 Ludlow and Tutunup .........................................................................................................10 Keysbrook .........................................................................................................................10 Southern Carnarvon Basin ..............................................................................................................10 Coburn......................................................................................................................................10 Diamond ........................................................................................................................................................12 Halls Creek Orogen ................................................................................................................................12 Argyle .............................................................................................................................................12 Canning Basin (Leonard Shelf) .....................................................................................................................13 Ellendale.................................................................................................................................................13 Salt ................................................................................................................................................................14 Dampier, Port Hedland, and Lake MacLeod salt fi elds .........................................................................14 Dampier...........................................................................................................................................14 Port Hedland ...................................................................................................................................14 Lake MacLeod ................................................................................................................................14 Shark Bay and Onslow salt fi elds ..........................................................................................................14 Shark Bay ........................................................................................................................................15 Onslow ............................................................................................................................................15 Lake Deborah East and Pink Lake .........................................................................................................15 Manganese.....................................................................................................................................................15 Hamersley Basin ....................................................................................................................................15 Woodie Woodie ...............................................................................................................................15 Tantalum ........................................................................................................................................................16 Yilgarn Craton – South West Terrane......................................................................................................17 Greenbushes ....................................................................................................................................17 Yilgarn Craton – Eastern Goldfi elds Terrane ..........................................................................................17 Bald Hill ..........................................................................................................................................17 Pilbara Craton ........................................................................................................................................17 Wodgina ..........................................................................................................................................17 Bauxite and alumina ......................................................................................................................................18 Calcined alumina....................................................................................................................................19