Big scale smelting

[Norbrat]

I live about 150 miles south of the biggest lead smelter in the southern hemisphere at Port Pirie.

The smelter has been in operation for over 120 years.

According to their website, in 2010 they produced about 179,000 tons of lead and about 32,000 tons of zinc.

The ore comes mainly from Broken Hill, a mining town about 250 mile north east of Port Pirie.

So even the biggest smelters in this group have nothin' on these guys! :bigsmyl2:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/109144f45bee77e7dd.jpg

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/109144f45bee7b64d1.jpg

[bumpo628]

:holysheep

[a.squibload]

Dang!

Now the big question:
Can you get us a discount?;-)

[klutz347]

dang, that second pic brought a tear to my eye.

[clodhopper]

Nice pictures.
My smelter is paid for.
All the workers do exactly what I want, when I want them to.

[sundog]

Really big paper weights. Mostly for use in typhoons.

[letsmeltlead2693]

I wish I had just a quarter of what they had. Nice to have 50,000 pounds of heavy lead to sit in your garage and bust the floor clean to china.

[mold maker]

Those are brick for an above ground nuclear fallout shelter.
While I have that many, mine are all 1/2, and 1 lb. I could only build a dog house.
Oh Well. I'm still trying.

[RayinNH]

I sense a group buy :smile:...Ray

[KohlerK91]

179,000 tons

thats 358,000,000 lbs or

2,506,000,000,000,000grs or

12,530,000,000 45 cal 200gr SWC


I think my math is right, those zeros are blinding.

[Philngruvy]

179,000 tons

thats 358,000,000 lbs or

2,506,000,000,000,000grs or

12,530,000,000 45 cal 200gr SWC


I think my math is right, those zeros are blinding.

I think it is wrong. It would be 2,506,000,000,000 grains. however, you came up with the right amount of 200 gr. boolits.

[SlowSmokeN]

179,000 tons

thats 358,000,000 lbs or

2,506,000,000,000,000grs or

12,530,000,000 45 cal 200gr SWC


I think my math is right, those zeros are blinding.

You cast em and will help you out by shooting them:bigsmyl2:

[Norbrat]

Dang!

Now the big question:
Can you get us a discount?;-)

Umm, probably not! :-)

The smelter is part of the Nyrstar group http://www.nyrstar.com/Pages/default.aspx and the pics above were shamelessly stolen from their website.

They run tours of the facility, but only on Wednesdays, which is no good for us workin' folk.

Speaking of work, the engineering company I work for does the occasional project for the smelter and here is half of an anode mould I modelled for machining and assembly from castings and flat bar.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/109144f46f93f6fd9c.jpg

This thing is about 4ft high and 3 ft wide, and casts a "curtain" of lead about 3/8" thick. Total weight of lead is 132 lbs per anode!

You'd need a serious mould oven for this thing and it would empty even the biggest pot we use real quick! [smilie=l: