Iron Baron Research Articles

Petrographic and geochronological constraints on the granitic basement to the Middleback Ranges, South Australia

The Middleback Ranges is a 60 km-long BIF-endowed iron ore belt located in the southeastern Gawler Craton and is the largest exploited iron resource in South Australia. The belt is hosted within an Archean- to Paleoproterozoic-aged granitic-gneissic basement terrane. Petrographic and geochronological constraints are given for a suite of granites associated with deposits throughout the Middleback Ranges and compared with other regional granites. Granites from the Middleback Ranges show complex mineralogical and geochemical features indicating multiple overprinting events. Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe U-Pb zircon ages from all granites across the Middleback Ranges yield Archean ages, suggesting the existence and a more extensive distribution of Mesoarchean crust than previously recognized beneath the entire Middleback Ranges BIF sequence. Grey and pink granites from the central Middleback Ranges (Sultan prospect) produced the oldest 207Pb/206Pb weighted mean ages within the sample suite (3241 ± 6 and 3238 ± 9 Ma, respectively). Zircon in the latter granite also features overgrowths dated at ∼2.6 Ga and interpreted to be metamorphic. A second group of younger granites from the Iron Monarch deposit and a sample of Cooyerdoo Granite (northern Middleback Ranges) have a minimum crystallization age of 3165 ± 8 Ma and a 207Pb/206Pb weighted mean magmatic age of 3134 ± 18 Ma, respectively. The youngest granites analyzed here derive from the Iron Baron deposit in the central part of the belt, which display strong deformation and have a minimum crystallization age of 3089 ± 9 Ma, and from the Iron Magnet deposit in the southern part of the belt (207Pb/206Pb weighted mean age of 3023 ± 33 Ma). Petrographic and geochemical features observed within the sample suite indicate that post-Archean overprinting events led to alteration of the granitic basement and may infer that fluid-rock interaction and granite leaching were important for BIF upgrading processes and iron-oxide formation.

Some Surface Characteristics of Six Hematite Ores from the Middleback Range Area, South Australia

Surface chemical techniques were used in an attempt to characterise eight samples of hematite. The hematites studied were six samples from the Middleback Ranges (Iron Knob (2 samples), Iron Monarch, Iron Prince, Iron Princess and Iron Baron) and two high purity, synthetic sa mples. The isoelectric points of the hematite samples showed a wide variation in value (from <2 to 8) whereas the zero points of charge were in the range 5.5 to 7.5. Using a simple mathematical calculation it was possible to estimate the surface charge characteristics of these hematite samples which gave a much better picture of the true surface properties of these samples in an aqueous environment. It was hoped that this study would contribute to a better understanding of the interaction between different hematite samples and water, a mechanism that is important in many industrial applications e.g. slurry pumping, agglomeration and granulation.

Firms' Disclosure Reactions to Major Social Incidents: Australian Evidence

This study examines the reaction of Australian firms, in terms of annual report disclosure, to five major social incidents. These incidents had significant implications for either the environment, or the safety of both employees and community members. The incidents reviewed are the Exxon Valdez and Bhopal disasters; the Moura Mine disaster in Queens‐land; an oil spill, caused by the Iron Baron, off the coast of Tasmania; and the Kirki oil spill, off the coast of Western Australia.Studies of this nature have previously been restricted to the examination of US company disclosure (e.g. Patten 1992; Blacconiere and Patten 1994), or the stock market reaction to such events in the US (e.g. Blacconiere and Patten 1994). The results of this study indicate that, following four of the incidents, sample firms operating in the affected industries provided more social information in their annual reports than they did prior to the incidents occurrence. These results support a view that organizations utilize their annual report as a means of influencing society's perception of their operations, and as a means of legitimizing their ongoing existence. The strategic nature of voluntary annual report disclosures is emphasized.

Impact of the Iron Baron Oil Spill on Subtidal Reef Assemblages in Tasmania

The biological impact of the grounding of the bulk carrier Iron Baron on Hebe Reef in northern Tasmania, with release of approximately 350 tonnes of Bunker C fuel oil, was assessed using quantitative underwater censuses at numerous reef sites before and after the spill. Physical abrasion from the ship's hull during grounding caused the complete destruction of the subtidal reef community within a localized area of ≈170 m by ≈20 m on Hebe Reef. However, the release of fuel oil did not appear to have substantially affected populations of subtidal reef-associated organisms in the near vicinity. Analyses of changes over time outside the hull impact area at oiled sites before and after the spill, and comparisons with undisturbed reference sites, indicated no significant change in number of species on reefs or in densities of the most abundant animal and plant species. Post-impact monitoring of the grounding zone and adjacent reference sites on Hebe Reef indicated that the fish assemblage associated with the hull scar recovered rapidly in terms of species composition and species richness within one year, whereas plant and invertebrate assemblages had not reached inferred pre-disturbance levels after two years. Wave disturbance appeared to be hindering re-establishment of large macroalgae over part of the abrasion zone where the reef substrata had been converted to unstable gravels.

Effects of the Iron Baron oil spill on little penguins (Eudyptula minor). I. Estimates of mortality

The bulk ore carrier Iron Baron ran aground on Hebe Reef at the mouth of the Tamar River in northern Tasmania, Australia, on 10 July 1995. It released an estimated 325 tonnes of bunker fuel oil. Of the wildlife species affected, the most readily detected was the little penguin (Eudyptula minor); 1894 were collected and treated for oiling. This study estimates the impact of the oil spill on populations of little penguins. At Ninth Island (approximately 40 km from Hebe Reef), one of the most affected little penguin colonies, pre-oil-spill population estimates were available. Extensive regular trapping and mark–recapture of birds at this site during the course of the oil spill provided longitudinal data on oiling rates from a known population size. Using these data, we estimate that 19.6% of birds from Ninth Island were oiled and survived to come ashore. This represents about 526 (1932–3108, 95% CL) adult birds, or up to 5566 (4197–6917) birds in total (adults and juveniles). For estimates of the impact on little penguin populations in the region, we provide three scenarios of the possible numbers of penguins oiled. After considering the biases of each risk assessment, we believe that between 10 000 and 20 000 penguins were killed as a result of the oil spill. The study indicates that, despite the relatively small amount of oil spilt by the Iron Baron, the impact on penguin populations was extensive. This study also highlights the difficulties and requirements in assessing the impact of oil spills on wildlife populations.

Effects of the Iron Baron oil spill on little penguins (Eudyptula minor). II. Post-release survival of rehabilitated oiled birds

The post-release survival of rehabilitated oiled little penguins (Eudyptula minor) was monitored over 20 months following the Iron Baron oil spill (10 July 1995) in northern Tasmania, Australia. During rehabilitation, over 1800 little penguins were individually banded and detailed records kept of factors including their degree of oiling, sex, capture and release mass and capture and release condition. Post-release survival of rehabilitated oiled little penguins was assessed through regular trapping of birds over two breeding sites (Ninth Island and Low Head). The minimum estimate of post-release survival was 59% for penguins from Ninth Island and 44% for penguins from Low Head. Rehabilitated oiled little penguins had significantly lower survival than non-oiled birds at both sites. The main factor affecting post-release survival was the extent of oiling, which itself had a significant influence on the capture mass and condition of birds. Combined, these factors had the greatest power to predict post-release survival. Other factors that significantly affected post-release survival included release mass and condition, and the sex of the bird. The duration of rehabilitation and whether birds were translocated (200–410 km) from their capture site prior to release did not significantly affect survival. The results of this study indicate how aspects of oiling, the condition of birds and rehabilitation affect post-release survival. As such, they will help improve the success of wildlife rehabilitation in future spills, and highlight the importance of individually marking rehabilitated oiled wildlife and post-release monitoring in assessing the success of rehabilitation programs.

Effects of the Iron Baron oil spill on little penguins (Eudyptula minor). III. Breeding success of rehabilitated oiled birds

The long-term effects of oiling on the breeding success of rehabilitated oiled little penguins (Eudyptula minor) were examined over two consecutive breeding seasons following the Iron Baron oil spill in 1995. The commencement of egg laying was delayed among rehabilitated oiled penguins compared with non-oiled birds during the 1995/96 breeding season. During that season, hatching success (number of eggs hatched from those laid) was no different in nests containing rehabilitated oiled penguins than in those containing non-oiled birds, but overall egg success (number of pre-fledging chicks from the number of eggs laid) was significantly lower among rehabilitated oiled birds. This effect was predominant in nests containing a rehabilitated oiled female, where the probability of successfully fledging any chicks was 22% lower than in nests containing a non-oiled female. During the 1996/97 breeding season, there was no significant difference between either the hatching or egg success of rehabilitated oiled penguins and non-oiled birds. In both seasons, the pre-fledging masses of chicks from rehabilitated oiled penguins were significantly lower than those from non-oiled birds. The chicks of rehabilitated oiled penguins were therefore expected to have lower survival than chicks raised by non-oiled parents. Results indicate that oiling not only reduced the number of chicks raised by rehabilitated oiled penguins in the short term, but also decreased the quality of young produced for at least two seasons following the spill.

Providing Successful Scat Data Management Support During Spill Response

ABSTRACT Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Teams (SCAT) are now used worldwide to assess oiled shorelines as part of response cleanup activities. The amount of SCAT information gathered during surveys can be very large, with the possibility of overwhelming decision makers. New tools are now available to automate the processing of SCAT information. For example, dedicated computerized SCAT data management systems have been used during the Iron Baron (Tasmania) and Kure (California) incidents. More recently, a prototype system was developed by the State of Florida to electronically support all the steps involved in the cleanup phase of an oil spill response. Given this, when should computerized SCAT data management be used and at what level? An analysis of the work performed during recent spills involving SCAT activity provided answers to these questions. Some of the main findings include the following: (1) computerized systems can decrease the time necessary to gather data and increase the accuracy of the captured data; (2) computerized systems decrease the data turnover time and speed up the decision-making cycle; (3) an all-electronic computerized system can become essential in cases where the length of oiled shoreline is very large with respect to the number of SCAT survey teams; (4) for large spills, the increased cost of an all-electronic system may outweigh the cost of not being prepared.

The efficacy of translocating little penguins Eudyptula minor during an oil spill

As a consequence of the ship The Iron Baron running aground at Low Head in northern Tasmania, Australia, an unknown number of little penguins Eudyptula minor were contaminated with bunker fuel oil. Of these, 1894 were brought into captivity and cleaned of oil. The area was still contaminated with oil when the penguins were ready for release and, rather than prolong captivity with its associated risk of disease and stress at a time when breeding was imminent, a translocation strategy was trialled, the results of which are reported here. Twenty-five penguins equipped with VHF transmitters were translocated 360 km to the east coast of Tasmania, and their movements tracked from the air. Two birds returned to the capture site in 3 days, insufficient time for clean-up to be completed, prompting a new release site 120 km further south. A further six penguins were tracked at nearby Ninth Island to monitor foraging behaviour. Fifty-six per cent of the birds released at the translocation sites returned to Low Head in 4 months. This is a conservative estimate, and subsequent monitoring found no differences in the survival rate of translocated and control birds. It was concluded that the translocation strategy was appropriate under the circumstances, and the translocation of a further 863 penguins was prompted. While translocation was effective in this situation, it should be trialled before being implemented in different circumstances or on other species.

A first interpretation of crustal structure in the Adelaide Geosyncline in South Australia using quarry blasts

Abstract Explosions at two large open cut mines (Leigh Creek and Iron Baron) were used as sources of seismic energy to record along two linear profiles, parallel and approximately transverse to the axis of the Adelaide geosyncline in South Australia. Records at approximately 120 sites were obtained out to distances of the order of 350 km with Kinemetrics PS‐1A portable seismographs, using smoked paper and a recording speed of 4 mm/s. Times of blasting were determined from records at some of the permanent stations of the University of Adelaide seismograph network. Station spacing was normally 5 km, but at large distances from the source this increased to the order of 10 km. The simplest model of the crust consistent with the observed travel times comprises two essentially homogeneous layers overlying the mantle. The average P wave velocities in the upper and lower crustal layers are 5.94 km/s and 6.46 km/s, with the boundary between the layers at approximately 18 km and possibly 8 km below Eyre Peninsula. ...

Ingham, John N. The Iron Barons: A Social Analysis of an American Urban Elite, 1874-1965

"Ingham, John N. The Iron Barons: A Social Analysis of an American Urban Elite, 1874-1965." Urban History Review, 10(2), pp. 58–59

The Iron Barons: A Social Analysis of an American Urban Elite, 1874-1965

The Iron Barons: A Social Analysis of an American Urban Elite, 1874-1965

The Iron Barons: A Social Analysis of an American Urban Elite, 1874-1965 by John N. Ingham

<i>The Iron Barons: A Social Analysis of an American Urban Elite, 1874-1965</i> by John N. Ingham

The Iron Barons: A Social Analysis of an American Urban Elite, 1874-1901

The Iron Barons: A Social Analysis of an American Urban Elite, 1874-1901

The Iron Barons: A Social Analysis of an American Urban Elite, 1874-1965

Tracing the rise of hundreds of men and families to positions of wealth and power in the rapidly expanding iron and steel industry of the late 19th century, Ingham examines the manner in which these families consolidated and improved their social positions during the 20th century, even though the original source of their wealth and power had slipped from their grasp.

The Iron Barons: A Social Analysis of an American Urban Elite

The Iron Barons: A Social Analysis of an American Urban Elite