Editing Groote Eylandt (section)

=== Manganese mining ===
[[File:Manganese_refinery_at_Groote_Eylandt.tif|thumb|Manganese refinery at Groote Eylandt, date unknown]]

==== Groote Eylandt Mining Company ====
The majority of Australia's [[manganese]] reserves are located on the western side of Groote Eylandt and the deposits there comprise oolitic and pisolitic sedimentary manganese and sit within the [[Cretaceous Carpentaria Basin]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Langkamp|first=Peter John|title=Studies on the rehabilitation of mined areas on Groote Eylandt (Northern Territory)|publisher=University of Melbourne|year=1978}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Government |first=Northern Territory |date=2024-03-26 |title=Manganese |url=https://resourcingtheterritory.nt.gov.au/minerals/mineral-commodities/manganese |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Resourcing the Territory |language=en}}</ref> Special mining leases were granted to the [[GEMCO|Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO)]] and it has been in operation since 25 July 1964 near the community of [[Angurugu]] and, as a part of its establishment, the town of [[Alyangula, Northern Territory|Alyangula]] was built as a residence for mine workers in the late 1960s.<ref name=":0" />  GEMCO it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of [[BHP]] but has become a part of [[South32]] since 18 May 2015.<ref>[https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20150518/pdf/42ymhg22fspcls.pdf Admission to Official List] [[Australian Securities Exchange]] 18 May 2015</ref><ref name=":2" /> 

The mine produces more than {{convert|3.8|e6t|e9lb|abbr=off}} annually{{snd}}about a quarter of the world's total and, {{as of |2023|06|lc=y}}, it has produced more than {{convert|147|e6t|e9lb|abbr=off}} of manganese ore and concentrate.{{sfn|McCulloch|2016}}<ref name=":2" />

Concerns have been raised by many community members that this mining, and the resulting dust, posed a significant risk to their health and monitoring has been in place since 2017; South32 does not dispute these readings or provide its own monitoring data.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2023-02-14 |title=This Australian island is constantly covered in a fine layer of dust. Now locals want answers |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-15/groote-eylandt-manganese-mine-dust-fears/101969728 |access-date=2024-06-04 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> The [[World Health Organization]] advised that breathing even low levels of manganese can damage brain functions relating to dexterity and also damage respiratory and reproductive systems.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-12-06 |title=Concerning levels of heavy metals found in Indigenous people living beside world's biggest manganese-producing mine |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-07/manganese-mine-indigenous-community/100676998 |access-date=2024-06-04 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> To investigate the possible impacts on humans studies are being undertaken at the [[University of Queensland]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=How is exposure to manganese on Groote Eylandt associated with motor control and cognitive function in school-aged children? - UQ Researchers |url=https://researchers.uq.edu.au/research-project/31736 |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=researchers.uq.edu.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=How does naturally occurring manganese affect the physiology, genetics and health of organisms on Groote Eylandt - UQ Researchers |url=https://researchers.uq.edu.au/research-project/15145 |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=researchers.uq.edu.au}}</ref>

Sylvia Tkac, an Anindilyakwa woman,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wikitongues {{!}} Sylvia Tkac |url=https://wikitongues.org/fellows/sylvia-tkac |access-date=2024-06-04 |language=en-US}}</ref> who used to work at the mine said of it:<ref name=":1" />

{{Blockquote|text=We are worried about the future of our children, so we'd like them to do more testing and we'd like to know what positive programs they can put in place to stop this dust.|author=Sylvia Tkac|title=as quoted in ABC News article in 2023}}

Studies have also taken place looking at the impacts on the ecosystem; this includes specific studies looking at the impact of [[Northern quoll|northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus)]] living in the area.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Amir Abdul Nasir |first=Ami Fadhillah |last2=Cameron |first2=Skye F. |last3=von Hippel |first3=Frank A. |last4=Postlethwait |first4=John |last5=Niehaus |first5=Amanda C. |last6=Blomberg |first6=Simon |last7=Wilson |first7=Robbie S. |date=2018-02-01 |title=Manganese accumulates in the brain of northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) living near an active mine |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117304025 |journal=Environmental Pollution |volume=233 |pages=377–386 |doi=10.1016/j.envpol.2017.10.088 |issn=0269-7491}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Amir Abdul Nasir |first=Ami F. |last2=Niehaus |first2=Amanda C. |last3=Cameron |first3=Skye F. |last4=Ujvari |first4=Beata |last5=Madsen |first5=Thomas |last6=von Hippel |first6=Frank A. |last7=Gao |first7=Sisi |last8=Dillon |first8=Danielle M. |last9=Buck |first9=C. Loren |last10=Charters |first10=Jordan |last11=Heiniger |first11=Jaime |last12=Blomberg |first12=Simone |last13=Wilson |first13=Robbie S. |date=January 2024 |title=Manganese Exacerbates Seasonal Health Declines in a Suicidally Breeding Mammal |url=https://setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.5753 |journal=Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry |language=en |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=74–86 |doi=10.1002/etc.5753 |issn=0730-7268|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Amir Abdul Nasir |first=Ami Fadhillah |last2=Cameron |first2=Skye F. |last3=Niehaus |first3=Amanda C. |last4=Clemente |first4=Christofer J. |last5=von Hippel |first5=Frank A. |last6=Wilson |first6=Robbie S. |date=2018-10-01 |title=Manganese contamination affects the motor performance of wild northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117345839 |journal=Environmental Pollution |volume=241 |pages=55–62 |doi=10.1016/j.envpol.2018.03.087 |issn=0269-7491}}</ref>

Mining rights are renewed every 21 years, with operations expected to continue until at least 2027.{{sfn|McCulloch|2016}}

In March 2024 a carrier of the manganese ore, MV Anikitos, caused significant damage to the mines port during [[Cyclone Megan]]; this did not lead to a fuel leak but did, temporarily, halt production.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-03-19 |title=Bulk carrier smashes into remote port during cyclone |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-19/bulk-carrier-crashes-into-south32-manganese-wharf-groote-eylandt/103604700 |access-date=2024-06-06 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

==== Winchelsea Mining ====
In 2019 Wichelsea Mining was granted an exploration license covering part of Winchelsea Island (Akwamburrkba), which is off the northwestern coast of Groote Eylandt. This company is a joint venture between the Anindilyakwa Advancement Aboriginal Corporation (AAAC) and AUS China International Mining and, in December 2020, they applied for a stage open cut mine plan and in 2024 they completed works on accommodation at the site.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Winchelsea Mining |url=https://wmining.com.au/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Winchelsea Mining |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Government |first=Northern Territory |date=2024-04-23 |title=Winchelsea Island Manganese Mine Project |url=https://ntepa.nt.gov.au/your-business/public-registers/environmental-impact-assessments-register/assessments-in-progress-register/winchelsea-island-manganese-mine-project |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=ntepa.nt.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>

This mine is part of a strategy to make the residents of Groote Eylandt economically independent and [[Anindilyakwa Land Council]] chair, Tony Wurramarrba, says of it:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-28 |title=The Story of Winchelsea and Its People |url=https://wmining.com.au/the-story-of-winchelsea-and-its-people/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Winchelsea Mining |language=en-AU}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=Nobody would have thought it possible for Traditional Owners to mine their own land in an environmentally, well-managed way. But that’s what we’re going to do. It will create the wealth for us to be able to stand on our own feet.|author=Tony Wurramarrba|title=The Story of Winchelsea and Its People|source=Winchelsea Mining}}