The mine site is on the Gibb River Road and about 200 K's from Derby. I fly in and fly out of the mine on a 16 days on and 12 days off roster. The 16 days are split between day and night shift. 12 hours a day.
Map of Ellendale (see arrow)
It's not too bad a job when I am driving the trucks, but that is rarely. When not driving I am driving loaders and bobcats around the plant cleaning up mess. It's not a place I'd make a career out of. One of my objectives this year was to drive dump trucks at a mine and I guess I've achieved that.
The Plant at KDC Ellendale
My job in the truck is to ferry ore from big piles on the ROM (Run Of Mine) into a crusher using Moxies, CAT 740 dump trucks. The term "Moxie" refers to a sort of dump truck that is articulated, mine is a 30 tone truck that can carry and additional 40 tone. I get loaded by large articulated loaders CAT 988's and reverse onto a bridge that the crusher is under and tip the load. Sounds pretty boring but I like it, when we get to do it. :-)
Picture of a Moxie
It's frustrating when the the trucks are not running as I work in the plant cleaning up. The plant is a large mud pile, not too nice to work in. Still, the money is good and will do for the next few months.
