Pilbara
Topic: Primary Activities: Gathering, Pastoralism, Agriculture and Mining · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Pilbara is the main iron-ore region of Western Australia. Huge deposits of iron ore lie close to the surface, so they are mined cheaply from open pits. Railways carry the ore to the coast, and from there most of it is shipped to China's steel mills. The Pilbara makes Australia the world's largest producer of iron ore (verify current).
Example
Mount Tom Price and Mount Whaleback are major open-pit iron-ore mines in the Pilbara. Their ore is shipped from the ports of Port Hedland and Dampier on the north-west coast of Australia.
Don't confuse with
- Carajás: Brazil's great iron-ore region in the Amazon, which makes Brazil the second-largest producer. The Pilbara is in dry north-western Australia.
Related concepts
- Chilean copper belt
- Lithium Triangle
- Bayan Obo
- China's dominance in critical minerals
- Shale gas
- Deep-sea mining
- International Seabed Authority