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Since the early 1900's, the Darling Ranges in Western Australia had been thought to contain considerable deposits of bauxite. However it was not until 1957, following exploration by Western Mining Corporation (now WMC Resources Limited) that these deposits were confirmed, prompting the formation of a joint-venture company to develop an integrated alumina industry. The Aluminium Company of America (now Alcoa Inc.) became a partner, and in 1961 the new venture was granted a 12,619 sq km bauxite mining lease in the Darling Ranges.
Alcoa's first mine, at Jarrahdale, began operations in 1963 and for 35 years, until its closure in 1998, was the only source of supply for Alcoa's alumina refinery at Kwinana. During that long partnership, the Jarrahdale mine provided 168 million tonnes of bauxite from which 44.6 million tonnes of alumina were produced.
Today, Alcoa has two bauxite mines in Western Australia, at Huntly and Willowdale. The Huntly mine, established in the early 1970's to supply the Pinjarra refinery, now also supplies the ore for Kwinana. This expanded capacity makes Huntly the biggest bauxite mine in the world.
The Willowdale mine was established in 1984 and supplies Alcoa's Wagerup refinery.
Restoring the forests
For more than two decades, Alcoa has conducted an innovative and highly effective program to restore the bonatical richness of the jarrah forest after mining. The success of this program is demonstrated by the success Alcoa has achieved in the rehabilitation of the original Jarrahdale mining ares, which provides the Western Australian community with an attractive recreational area - Langford Park.
In 2002, Alcoa was again recognised through the WA State Government's Golden Gecko Award for environmental excellence - Alcoa won its third Golden Gecko Award for its ongoing rehabilitation program and achieving the goal of restoring 100% species richness to rehabilitated areas at the Huntly and Willowdale mines. To achieve this goal, we have worked with local universities, the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority and the Department of Conservation and Land Management to develop innivative techniques for soil handling and cultivation, seed collection and treatment and plant propogation. The excellence of this work has won worldwide recognition also through the United Nations Environment Programme.
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