Ranger ore bodies discovered by joint venturers Electrolytic Zinc Company of Australasia Ltd (EZ) and Peko-Wallsend Operations Limited (Peko).
1974
The Commonwealth Government takes half the ownership of the ore bodies.
1975
The Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry (Fox Inquiry) was established.
1977
Presentation of final report finds that uranium mining can proceed.
An agreement covering mining is signed with the Northern Land Council (NLC), representing the interests of the Aboriginal owners of the area.
1979
Construction at the Ranger site commences.
1980
ERA is established as a public company. At the time it was the largest public float in Australian history.
Using open cut methods, mining of Ranger Pit #1 orebody commences in May 1980.
1981
The first drum of uranium oxide is produced on 13 August 1981.
1994
Mining of Ranger Pit #1 orebody is completed in December 1994.
A total of 19.78 million tonnes of ore was mined at an average grade of 0.321%.
1996
Final approval to mine Ranger Pit #3 orebody is received from the Northern Territory Government in May.
1997
Open cut mining of this orebody commences in July 1997, with mining expected to continue until at least 2009.
2006
In October 2006, ERA announces and increase in Ranger mine’s reserves, adding six years to the predicted operational life of Ranger, which now extends to 2020.