Today's flight was from one mine to another, overflying several others along the way and traversing miles of outback in-between. The almost straight line flight path began at Broken Hill, a mining town that in its day had arguably been the single richest silver and zinc deposit on the planet.
Mining in Australia is a significant industry and contributor to the Australian economy. Olympic Dam was spotted a bit over an hour after leaving Broken Hill. This mine is a major oxide copper gold deposit producing copper, uranium, gold and silver. It's is the biggest uranium producer in Australia. A major airport development supports the mine that hosts an integrated metallurgical processing plant.
An enormous pile of black overburden associated with the open cut Prospect Hill mine was visible miles ahead as were other lessor mining developments.
Historically, mining booms have also encouraged immigration to Australia and Bazflyers destination, the opal mining centre of Coober Pedy with its Greek population, is a typical example. A town where people live overground and underground.
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