The roasting of iron pyrite was the principal source of sulphur for
sulphuric acid in the production of superphosphate here in Western
Australia, the pyrite being sourced from the WA goldfields. One of the
major plants was at a riverside location near my home. The deposition of
the discarded iron on site, together with its heavy metal contaminants, was
a major pollution problem left by the plant's operators after the operation
closed. Remediated by the taxpayers, of course.
Gerard MacGill
52 Harvest Road, North Fremantle WA 6159
(08) 9335 7471; Facs (08) 9335 8241
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