Log One Hundred and Forty Three – From BIF to BYD

23 July 2026

We have completed the Fe cycle. The cycle includes the Banded Iron Formations (BIF), through to the mines, the processing, the railways, harbours and finally export to China to build EVs and commonly BYDs.

The banded iron formations were laid down about 3.5 billion years ago and the BYDs last week. The iron leaves Australia in bulk carriers and returns as completed motor vehicles in car carrier ships.

After our time in Tom Price exploring the mines and Karijini National Park to see the banded iron, we decided to see how the ore is shipped overseas and hence a trip to Port Hedland.

In our travels we discovered that the mining companies do not share. Naturally they have their own mines. They also own and operate their own railway lines and trains. The ore is delivered to their own wharves where it is shipped on their ships and managed out of the harbour using their own tugs. I think this is called vertical integration! As you drive across this empty country you come across an FMG railway crossing, followed by a BHP crossing and then a Hancock railway crossing.

Port Hedland and Karratha operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Wherever you are there is a quiet hum of railways operating in the background. Karratha is also home to the LNG export hub and Dampier exports iron ore and salt. Port Hedland is the biggest iron exporting port in the world. It’s big.

Right next door to the LNG plants are indigenous petroglyphs that are estimated to be about 47,000 years old. A curious juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern. Lots of extremes up here.

As you stare into a huge pile of rocks you are caught up in a ‘Where’s Wally’ scenario. Up there in amongst these rocks are hundreds of petroglyphs, you just have to find them.

The Karratha locals tell me there is a Bunnings hardware store under construction. In medieval times a cathedral defined a city, now it’s a Bunnings. It seems this part of WA is developing as a major centre. Our last Bunnings town was 6 weeks ago and I have a list of stuff I need. I fear I must wait until I return home.

We continue on our southerly path and more coastal adventures ahead.