I recall that years ago somebody posted that Karara was a harsh...

I recall that years ago somebody posted that Karara was a harsh mining environment because things like tyres and other things did not last long. Actually, that is no reason to avoid contracting there, provided the wear-and-tear is factored into the service charge.

We repeatedly read about NWH electing to focus on lithium as a strategic focus, but I can only recall once reading that magnetite was another such target. As Karara is still unprofitable, new entrants to magnetite mining in Australia are staying away.

The hardness of the ore varies by geography, and WA's magnetite rock is harder than what one finds elsewhere. I understand that the ore in South Australia is softer. In some places in the world magnetite is found as "black sand". Consequently, mining magnetite in other geographies has been profitable. I have no idea how the Iron Bridge mine is performing financially, and if FMG will expand into near-by potential sites.