Middleback Range facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Middleback Range |
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 Location in South Australia
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| Geography | |
| Location | Eyre Peninsula |
| Country | Australia |
| State | South Australia |
| Range coordinates | 33°00′S 137°08′E / 33.0°S 137.14°E |
The Middleback Range is a group of mountains located on the eastern side of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. These mountains have been a very important source of iron ore for more than 100 years. Iron ore is a rock from which we get iron, a metal used to make many things, including steel. The iron ore from Middleback Range mostly goes to the Whyalla Steelworks, a large factory that makes steel.
Mining in this area started in the 1890s by a company called BHP. Today, the mines are owned and run by the Liberty House Group.
Where is the Middleback Range?
The Middleback Range stretches from a place called Iron Knob in the north. This northern end is close to the Eyre Highway. The mountains then go south all the way to the Lincoln Highway. This southern end is about halfway between the towns of Whyalla and Cowell.
Just west of the southern part of these mountains, you can find the Ironstone Hill Conservation Park. This is a special area set aside to protect nature.
What are the Middleback Mountains Made Of?
The rocks in the Middleback Range are very, very old. They are part of a much larger ancient rock area called the Gawler Craton. The iron ore found here comes from special rocks that formed a long, long time ago. These rocks contain lots of iron, which is why they are so valuable for mining.
How is Iron Mined Here?
All the mines in the Middleback Range are open pit mines. This means miners dig large, open holes in the ground to get the iron ore. They dig up two main types of iron ore: magnetite and hematite.
Magnetite ore is sent to the Whyalla Steelworks, where it is processed to make steel. Hematite ore is usually shipped overseas to other countries.
A special railway line, called the BHP Whyalla Tramway, carries the iron ore from the mines to Whyalla. From there, it goes to the port or directly to the steelworks. As of 2016, some of the active mines in the Middleback Range include:
- Iron Duchess
- Iron Knight
- Iron Duke
- Iron Magnet
- Iron Baron
- Iron Chieftain
Other important iron ore mines that have operated in the Middleback Range are:
- Iron Knob
- Iron Monarch
- Iron Prince
- Iron Princess
- Iron Queen
- Iron Cavalier
