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Radium Hill
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Radium Hill was the site of Australia's first uranium mine when a shaft was opened to gain radium and uranium in 1906. This ceased working in 1914 and it was 1923 when operations resumed until 1932. In the 1950s with demand rising for weapons grade Uranium the Australian government signed a contract to supply uranium to the UK and USA. The site was proclaimed a "Uranium mining reserve" and a new mine was officially opened on 10th November 1954. A small town developed in this remote location and in 1961 this included 145 houses and a population of 867. The ore was initially treated on site and then taken by rail to Port Pirie for processing. The total output was 970,000 tonnes of 0.09 - 0.013% ore which was concentrated to about 150,000 tonnes of yellowcake that was processed at Port Pirie. This produced about 860 tons of Triuranium octoxide (U3O8) and having fulfilled the contract the site was closed down in December 1961. Nearly everything has been removed apart from the remains of the storage bunkers adjacent to the shafts which have been filled. The site has a strong association of former residents who have developed a campsite and interpreted a lot of the remains through a leaflet and also plaques amongst the former building plots.
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