Century

Century is Australia’s largest open pit zinc mine located in north-west Queensland, producing approximately 500,000 tonnes of zinc in concentrate annually.

century mine

Century comprises two sites – the mine and processing operation at Lawn Hill, and associated concentrate dewatering and ship-loading facilities at the Karumba Port, on the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Zinc, lead and silver are produced at Century and the current defined ore deposit takes production to approximately 2015.

Concentrates are sold to smelters in Europe, Australia, China and Asia. Century zinc concentrate is highly valued by zinc smelters because of its low iron content, which enables smelters to produce minimal amounts of iron-containing by-products that can pose re-treatment and disposal problems.

  • Facts
    Location

    Two sites in the remote lower Gulf region of Queensland, Australia: the mine at Lawn Hill and associated dewatering and shiploading facilities at the Karumba Port.

    Product

    Zinc concentrate, lead concentrate and silver.

     

    Current mine life

    Approximately 2015

     

    Employmentfull-time equivalent as at 30 April 2011

    741 employees and 268 contractors

    Mining method

    Open pit mining.

    Processing method

    Conventional grinding and flotation.

     

    Resourcesas at 30 June 2010

    4.4 million tonnes zinc
    0.7 million tonnes lead
    45.0 million ounces silver

    Reservesas at 30 June 2010

    4.4 million tonnes zinc

    Product sales

    Approximately one shipload per week leaves the Gulf of Carpentaria waters destined for customers in Europe, Australia, China and Asia.

     

  • Map

  • Contact details

     

    Century mine (Lawn Hill)

    PO Box 8016
    Garbutt Business Centre
    Garbutt QLD 4814

    T +61 7 4769 5395
    F +61 7 4769 5631

    Karumba Port

    Yappar Street
    Karumba QLD 4891

    PO Box 230
    Karumba QLD 4891

    T +61 7 4747 6300
    F +61 7 4747 6307

    The Century mine and port operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year.

    Century mine is a closed site and does not provide tours.

    Contacts

    Michelle Sharpe
    Stakeholder Relations Advisor

    T +61 7 4769 5589
    M +61 428 481 329

    Mark Adams
    General Manager Queensland Operations

    Contact us form

     

  • Production figures

     Production Guidance 2011  
     Zinc in zinc concentrate (tonnes)  490,000 – 510,000
     Lead in lead concentrate (tonnes)  36,000 – 38,000

     Production Statistics 2010

    		  
     Zinc (tonnes)  510,590
     Lead (tonnes)  38,793
     Silver (ounces)  3,071,323

    Information about Century’s quarterly production is available on the Quarterly Reports page.

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Century

Century is Australia’s largest open pit zinc mine located in Queensland’s North West. Century comprises two sites – the mine and processing operation at Lawn Hill, and associated concentrate dewatering and ship-loading facilities at the Karumba Port, on the Gulf of Carpentaria.