Mary Kathleen Mine (Abandoned Open Cut Pit) - QLD

The Mary Kathleen uranium mine was commissioned in 1956. The first commercial shipment of concentrates was produced in 1963, when the contract for 4,082 tonnes of uranium oxide to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority was fulfilled.The mine closed in 1963, only to reopen in 1974 when another 4,805 tonnes of uranium oxide was mined from the pit. The mine was considered 'mined out' after the second campaign which ceased in 1982. The site then entered rehabilitation.The mine, processing plant, tailing storage facilities, evaporation ponds and the township were all decommissioned between 1982 and 1985 by the operator at a cost of $19 million. The mining leases were relinquished in late 1980s.The site consists of an open cut pit, waste rock dumps, tailing storage facilities, evaporation ponds, remnants of the processing plant and township remnants.Accessible via a dirt track to the east of the old township & camping area. 4WD required in the final 1km - not suitable for caravans due to a creek bed and deep pot holes. Note that swimming is not permitted here. The flooded mine is still radioactive. Take heed of warning signs.