Ann: Babel Drilling Produces Its Best Result, page-72

it takes on average 15-18 years before a mine comes into production from drilling to production in today's environment. So to pass judgement on Distance and length of time since original discovery remember BHP wanted volume not quality when they bought in.

distance isn't the worry either... on any given day roadtrains leave Perth to destinations as far as Cairns with 10k-15k of fruit n veges on board. more than three times the distance by road!