in the dump overheated and ignited. The rock was misclassified in its Environmental Impact Statement as 12 per cent reactive potentially acid-forming rock and the rest non-acid-forming. Workers were allegedly told to cover up details of the extent of the fire and now claim to be suffering from respiratory conditions as a result of breathing toxic smoke from the fire. After claiming the fire had been brought under control, photos of smoke coming from the mine emerged again in March 2015, sparking an investigation by the Environment Protection Authority. Sightings of smoke again in July 2016, turned out to be dust from the dump, causing the immediate closure of the site and an investigation into why dust mitigation measures were not being complied with. Rehabilitation Rehabilitation of the site is estimated to cost up to $1 billion. In 2015, the Northern Territory Government threatened to close McArthur River Mine unless it improved its environmental practices and agreed to increase the size of the financial bond for the site's final remediation. Local Indigenous people and environmental groups continue to call for the mine's immediate closure and rehabilitation of the site. See also McArthur River Mine Airport Ore genesis Sedimentary exhalative deposits References External links McArthur River Mining Official Website Lead mines in the Northern Territory Mines in the Northern Territory Open-pit mines Silver mines in the Northern Territory Surface mines in Australia Underground mines in Australia Xstrata Zinc mines in the Northern Territory