Magellan Metals
Encyclopedia
Magellan Metals operates a lead
mine at Wiluna
in Western Australia
.
Magellan Metals is wholly owned by and the principal operating asset of Ivernia Inc., an international base metal
s mining, exploration and development company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol IVW.
The Magellan Mine is an open cut lead carbonate
mine and concentrating facility.
in 2006/07, which resulted in fugitive dust emissions, the mine was placed on care and maintenance in April 2007.
In August 2009, after extensive community and Government
consultation, Magellan Metals obtained final approvals to commence bagged and containerised sealed shipments of lead carbonate concentrate through the Port of Fremantle
.
In September 2009, Magellan Metals began export of the lead concentrate stockpiles at the mine-site to its international customers using the sealed shipment process.
In mid-December 2010 Magellan met with and proactively advised the Office of Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA) that an internal review of data showed that lead from the Magellan Mine may have been identified within a small number of sealed containers. Magellan Metals was fully prepared to meet the timeline agreed with the OEPA as a result of these meetings to provide additional information when the Stop Order was issued on December 31, 2010.
In early January 2011 the independent laboratory responsible for the testing reviewed its results and found that they were incorrect and there had been no exceedances of the baseline. This position was confirmed by an independent expert commissioned by Magellan Metals and an independent review commissioned by the Western Australian OEPA. Both the Government and Magellan Metals confirmed that there was no risk to the community from the transport operations.
Magellan Metals was given permission by the Government to commence transporting again in late February under Interim Implementation Conditions imposed on the operation. However, after two further interruptions to the transport process in February and March the company’s owner, Ivernia Inc, placed the Magellan Mine operations on care and maintenance on 7 April 2011.
Ivernia has stated the mine will remain under care and maintenance while an end-to end-review of the entire Magellan Metals operation is undertaken to identify ways to minimise the risk of further business interruptions. Ivernia has said that at the current time it cannot provide any guidance on when operations will restart at the Magellan Mine.
in Western Australia between December 2006 and March 2007, it was discovered that lead
being exported through the town's Port had caused or contributed to their deaths.
On 12 March 2007, the Board of the Esperance Port Authority put an immediate stop to any further shipments of lead carbonate through the Port.
A Parliamentary Inquiry into the event was instigated and investigated the bird deaths, high blood-lead levels in Esperance
residents and the contamination
of the town's water tanks.
The Parliamentary Inquiry report was published in November 2007.
The Inquiry found that the issues were complex and involved multiple parties including the Esperance Port Authority and the Department of Environment and Conservation
(DEC).
The DEC subsequently instigated legal action against the Esperance Port Authority on various matters relating to polluting the Esperance town site. The Port entered a guilty plea in October 2009 on most charges against it and was subsequently fined A$525,000 under the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986, the biggest fine ever under the Act.
The government is spending an estimated A$20 million on the clean up in Esperance. Magellan agreed to make a voluntary contribution of A$9 million to the Western Australian State Government towards the clean up of Esperance and separate A$1 million for community projects in the town.
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
mine at Wiluna
Wiluna, Western Australia
Wiluna is a complex town in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It is situated on the edge of the Western Desert at the gateway to the Canning Stock Route and Gunbarrel Highway. It is the service centre of the local area for the local Aboriginal people, the pastoral industry, mining, and...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Magellan Metals is wholly owned by and the principal operating asset of Ivernia Inc., an international base metal
Base metal
In chemistry, the term base metal is used informally to refer to a metal that oxidizes or corrodes relatively easily, and reacts variably with diluted hydrochloric acid to form hydrogen. Examples include iron, nickel, lead and zinc...
s mining, exploration and development company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol IVW.
The Magellan Mine is an open cut lead carbonate
Lead carbonate
Lead carbonate is the chemical compound PbCO3. It is prepared industrially from lead acetate and carbon dioxide.It occurs naturally as the mineral cerussite.-Basic lead carbonates:...
mine and concentrating facility.
Sealed Shipment Process
Following issues with the bulk loading of lead carbonate concentrate at the Port of EsperanceEsperance, Western Australia
Esperance is a large town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located on the Southern Ocean coastline approximately east-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The shire of Esperance is home to 9,536 people as of the 2006 census, its major industries are tourism, agriculture,...
in 2006/07, which resulted in fugitive dust emissions, the mine was placed on care and maintenance in April 2007.
In August 2009, after extensive community and Government
Government of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
consultation, Magellan Metals obtained final approvals to commence bagged and containerised sealed shipments of lead carbonate concentrate through the Port of Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
.
In September 2009, Magellan Metals began export of the lead concentrate stockpiles at the mine-site to its international customers using the sealed shipment process.
In mid-December 2010 Magellan met with and proactively advised the Office of Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA) that an internal review of data showed that lead from the Magellan Mine may have been identified within a small number of sealed containers. Magellan Metals was fully prepared to meet the timeline agreed with the OEPA as a result of these meetings to provide additional information when the Stop Order was issued on December 31, 2010.
In early January 2011 the independent laboratory responsible for the testing reviewed its results and found that they were incorrect and there had been no exceedances of the baseline. This position was confirmed by an independent expert commissioned by Magellan Metals and an independent review commissioned by the Western Australian OEPA. Both the Government and Magellan Metals confirmed that there was no risk to the community from the transport operations.
Magellan Metals was given permission by the Government to commence transporting again in late February under Interim Implementation Conditions imposed on the operation. However, after two further interruptions to the transport process in February and March the company’s owner, Ivernia Inc, placed the Magellan Mine operations on care and maintenance on 7 April 2011.
Ivernia has stated the mine will remain under care and maintenance while an end-to end-review of the entire Magellan Metals operation is undertaken to identify ways to minimise the risk of further business interruptions. Ivernia has said that at the current time it cannot provide any guidance on when operations will restart at the Magellan Mine.
Esperance Lead Issue
Following the reported deaths of native birds at EsperanceEsperance, Western Australia
Esperance is a large town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located on the Southern Ocean coastline approximately east-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The shire of Esperance is home to 9,536 people as of the 2006 census, its major industries are tourism, agriculture,...
in Western Australia between December 2006 and March 2007, it was discovered that lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
being exported through the town's Port had caused or contributed to their deaths.
On 12 March 2007, the Board of the Esperance Port Authority put an immediate stop to any further shipments of lead carbonate through the Port.
A Parliamentary Inquiry into the event was instigated and investigated the bird deaths, high blood-lead levels in Esperance
Esperance, Western Australia
Esperance is a large town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located on the Southern Ocean coastline approximately east-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The shire of Esperance is home to 9,536 people as of the 2006 census, its major industries are tourism, agriculture,...
residents and the contamination
Contamination
Contamination is the presence of a minor and unwanted constituent in material, physical body, natural environment, at a workplace, etc.-Specifics:"Contamination" also has more specific meanings in science:...
of the town's water tanks.
The Parliamentary Inquiry report was published in November 2007.
The Inquiry found that the issues were complex and involved multiple parties including the Esperance Port Authority and the Department of Environment and Conservation
Department of Environment and Conservation
The Department of Environment and Conservation is a department of the Government of Western Australia that is responsible for implementing the state's conservation and environment legislation and regulations...
(DEC).
The DEC subsequently instigated legal action against the Esperance Port Authority on various matters relating to polluting the Esperance town site. The Port entered a guilty plea in October 2009 on most charges against it and was subsequently fined A$525,000 under the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986, the biggest fine ever under the Act.
The government is spending an estimated A$20 million on the clean up in Esperance. Magellan agreed to make a voluntary contribution of A$9 million to the Western Australian State Government towards the clean up of Esperance and separate A$1 million for community projects in the town.