Australia’s biggest talc mineOn 30. September 2019 by Cookie
Talc is a versatile mineral. It’s chemical formula is Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. Its best known to us as talcum powder, a lubricant and filler, and as soapstone. Near Three Springs, the Three Springs Talc Operation is Australia’s biggest talc mine and one of the biggest world-wide. Unfortunately it is not possible to visit the mine itself, but from a lookout nearby, we had a look onto the production. As talc has a whiteish to greenish colour, the contrast to the surrounding dark red rock was striking.
Talc was first discovered in this region by a farmer who built a well in the 1940s. In 1948, the mining started, first underground and then open pit. Australia’s biggest talc mine produces up to 240’000 tonnes of talc annually, and its lifespan is estimated at about 15 years. The whole operation is run by less than 20 people who, contrary to their FIFO (fly in, fly out) colleagues in the mines up north, seem to live in the towns around the mine.
Talc is extremely useful. It is an important part of plastics and cosmetics, it isolates well and is used as a glidant in pharmaceutical products. It is used as powder, to keep the hands of basketball players dry, it is a food additive and is utilized in pencils and taylor’s chalk.