Galería de Minerales FMF

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AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF THE EL SHERANA MINE

Shown is an aerial photograph of the current status of the El Sherana mine. Visible is the camp containing a few derelict buildings. The main open cut is still intact but some areas of the open cut appear to be filled in by natural erosion of the surrounding terrain. Though the area was said to have been ‘rehabilitated’ sometime in the late 80’s or early 90’s the aerial photograph indicates that this was either not done or the work was sub-standard.

The El Sherana west open cut is still visible, but not as well-defined as seen in a photograph taken in 1963 by UUNL. The area is now overgrown with new and abundant vegetation, which I think, might have a fondness for Uranium. It is also likely that the area may have succumbed to subsidence or natural erosion of the benches. There are no records indicating that UUNL filled in the west open cut after the mine was put on care and maintenance in 1964. Photographs taken by BHP in the late 80’s show that the open cut was heavily overgrown with new flora native to the South Alligator River valley region. According to BHP staff (private communication) the open cuts provided many good homes for the abundant native fauna. Crocodiles you ask, most likely, but who knows?

The site of the Uranium Processing plant some 2 kilometres SE of the main camp (not shown in the above aerial photograph) was covered in soil in the late 80’s or early 90’s. The buildings on the site were demolished and the remains buried. This attempt to ‘rehabilitate’ can be seen in aerial photographs but it would appear that even here the mine is fighting back.

Height above sea level for some locations is given in metres.

Main open Cut Digital GPS location: -13.50932, 132.52067 (Author: silvia)