MCF Mining Approvals IndexData as at 18 October 2026 · from Western Australian Government registers and open data
Western Australian mining lease
M 47/459 · Hamersley Iron Rail / Rio Tinto - Robe River
M 47/459 is a Western Australian mining lease held by CAPE LAMBERT IRON ASSOCIATES; MITSUI IRON ORE DEVELOPMENT PTY LTD; NORTH MINING LIMITED; PANNAWONICA IRON ASSOCIATES; ROBE RIVER MINING CO. PTY. LTD. (Rio Tinto group). Granted 9 June 2000, expires 8 June 2042. 843 ha in the West Pilbara Mineral Field. Commodities: Iron. Part of the Hamersley Iron Rail / Rio Tinto - Robe River project (operating).
- Type
- Mining lease
- Status
- Granted
- Holders
- CAPE LAMBERT IRON ASSOCIATES
MITSUI IRON ORE DEVELOPMENT PTY LTD
NORTH MINING LIMITED
PANNAWONICA IRON ASSOCIATES
ROBE RIVER MINING CO. PTY. LTD. - Parent group
- Rio Tinto (a joint venture)
- MINEDEX project
- Hamersley Iron Rail / Rio Tinto - Robe River J03943 · OperatingOwners: Rio Tinto Ltd 100%; Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd; Pilbara Iron Company (Services) Pty Ltd
- Lodged
- 29 October 1998
- Granted
- 9 June 2000
- Expires
- 8 June 2042
- Area
- 842.80 hectares (8.4 km²)
- Mineral field
- West Pilbara Mineral Field
- Commodities
- Iron
- Rehabilitation liability
- Its rehabilitation liability is in the MCF Mining Index (subscribers): the Mining Rehabilitation Fund estimate, its trend since 2014, company provisions and closure-plan costs
- Environmental registrations
- 2 mining proposal and closure plan registrations (MINEDEX)
- EPA referred proposals
- BHP Pilbara Expansion Strategic Proposal Approved (Ministerial Statement), MS 1105; overlaps 843 ha
- WAMEX data
- 1 open-file drill holes, 13 exploration reports on this ground
- Location
- -22.4209, 117.868 (centre)
Mining proposals and mine closure plans
| Date | Registration | Title | Status | Document (GeoDocs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2025 | Mining Proposal | Strategic Rail Mining Proposal V2.1 - 27 Aug 2025 | Approved | MP_128521.pdf |
| 23 May 2023 | Mining Proposal | Strategic Rail Mining Proposal | Approved | MP_113115.pdf |
Registrations from MINEDEX (DMPE); the documents are the operators' own, linked on GeoDocs and not copied.