Tallawang

The exploration licence, that culminated in the founding of the Tallawang magnetite underground mine by Unimin Australia, was lodged in 2008. It led to the mine and magnetite processing plant being established at Gulong, north of the New South Wales Central Region town of Mudgee. It is the only mine producing magnetite in the state of New South Wales.

All Tallawang Magnetite is Used in Australia for Coal Beneficiation
The Tallawang Mine magnetite concentrate production of between 40,000
and 50,000 tonnes a year is wholly used by the New South Wales coal mining industry when carrying out coal beneficiation. For magnetite to be used for coal beneficiation, it has to be finely milled, so that the magnetite remains in suspension in water for it to produce a dense enough medium that is able to separate impurities from the coal being processed. The magnetite is recovered with the use of a magnetic field. Other uses of small amounts of Tallawang magnetite is in the shielding of radiation X-rays produced in certain equipment used in hospitals.

Tallawang Mine Owner Unimin Joins the International Sibelco Group
The Tallawang magnetite mine is owned by Unimin Australia which is part of the international Sibelco Group. Other companies in the group include; Unimin South America, Grupo Materias Primas, Sibelco Asia,WBB Minerals and Sibelco Europe. The Sibelco Group operates more than 250 plants and mines in 41 countries on five continents throughout the world. The group employs over 10,000 personnel worldwide.

Magnetite From the Tallawang Mine Gains Value When Concentrated
Magnetite ore has little value in its natural state but once concentrated it has substantial benefits that includes its contribution to coal beneficiation as well as premium iron and steel manufacturing. Magnetite ore is required to be transformed into magnetite concentrate so that the iron content is at least 60 percent on a dry weight basis and a minimum of 80 percent when the particle size is less than 75 microns as occurs with Tallawang magnetite concentrate.

Tallawang Owner Sibelco Founded in Belgium in 1872
Sibelco was founded in 1872 in Belgium. It is now one of the largest industrial mineral companies in the world. Sibelco Australia and New Zealand both processes and supplies raw materials to the Asian, New Zealand and Australian markets.

Many Tallawang Mine Workers Live in Mudgee
The company's Tallawang magnetite mine is in the Western Hunter Valley about 40 kilometres from Mudgee. Mudgee is renown for its grape growing and wine making and the city itself offers great amenities to be enjoyed by Tallawang workers and their families. Sibelco is an equal opportunity employer.

History of Tallawang
Tullawang experienced a minor gold rush in the 1860's until a bigger strike was discovered at nearby Gulgong. The stock route that once passed through Tallawang has now become the Castlereagh Highway and at one time an Inn existed on this route where the Tullawang gold prospectors gathered. It is now looked on as being an historical area because of past mining activity that included an earlier magnetite mine that closed in the 1980's. The name Tallawang is a local Aboriginal word meaning 'apple gum.' Although it was once settled by Aboriginals, in the 1830's European settlers moved in to raise sheep on the rich pastures along the Tallawang Creek.
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