Mount Isa Mines - Production

Production

• 6.1 million tonnes copper ore with 3.3% copper
• 4.6 million tonnes silver-lead-zinc ore wit 154g/t silver 5.4% lead 6,5% zinc (1986)

Smelter operations release sulfur dioxide emissions very close to the city of Mount Isa. The Mount Isa Mines Panel Assessment Study recently spent 4 years investigating the air quality and the effects on community health. The panel found no evidence of adverse effects from the mine. However, the panel did not report on emissions of lead and several other metals associated with sulphur dioxide emissions and which are known to have potentially severe environmental and health effects. Mount Isa Mines is currently the highest atmospheric emitter of sulphur dioxide, lead and several other metals in Australia. Other research has confirmed that there has been widespread contamination of soils with lead, copper and other metals in and around Mount Isa and that these contaminants are derived from both historic and ongoing smelter emissions and fugitive dust from Mount Isa Mines. Queensland Health reported in 2008 that the average blood lead concentration for children (1–4 years old) in Mount Isa was 5 microgram/dL and 11.3% exceeded 10 microgram/dL. In comparison, average blood lead in children from uncontaminated comparable urban areas is around 2 microgram/dL. Recent medical research has documented adverse health effects at blood lead concentrations above 5 microgram/dL and possibly down to as low as 2 microgram/dL.