Mining in Mt Isa

Well, we were not mining, but rather having a relaxed day as a rest from big distances.  Mt Isa is busy compared to small towns we've been through so far.  However you can still walk across the main road one side at a time with plenty of breaks in the traffic.  We went on the mine surface tour in a coach, staying on board all the time. We had to wear covered shoes in case there was some problem and we were to get off.  It was an extensive tour taking about 2 hours.  We're told lots of facts and figures, and it's hard to take it all in.

Silver, lead, copper and zinc are mined here.  A by-product is sulphuric acid (3,000 litres per day).  The huge trucks used to move ore are driven mostly by young women (they are more careful).  The mine is mostly underground going down to a depth of around 2 kms.  Of course we didn't see that.  There is an old open cut mine that is going to be reactivated soon and will be extended, meaning existing buildings and car parks will be moved and made 3 times deeper than now.  We were driven along and around and over various roads through the area.  Another mine west of here some distance,  also supplies ore, brought by road trains on a dedicated road, also more coming in from mine near Cloncurry by rail and road. The mine dominates the view of the town and from it.  However there is a division and the mine remains on one side of the area and a green area is being developed between.  It is all gas powered, coming by pipe from Moomba in South Aust.  The rocks underground are 60 degrees, so they super cool the tunnels with cooled air to 22 degrees. 

So we learnt some facts today.  Mining brings employment and is why Mt Isa is here.  Underground workers can earn up to $160,000 p.a., it's all good money for a while, but not attractive work.

As a change I walked across the road after the tour which finished at the visitor centre, to check out the patchwork shop!  I heard about this from a woman who chatted through the shower walls this morning asking if anyone was a quilter!  I actually never saw her, but we had a conversation for a few minutes.

Dinner tonight was a sort of vegetable/bacon/egg omelette on toast (which we just make on the gas cook top - gas toast), followed by pear and banana dessert.

Tomorrow morning we set off to travel the Barkly Tablelands and will be out of contact for a few days.