<P> Rio Tinto's iron ore operations in the Pilbara began in 1966, with the Mount Tom Price mine opened that year, becoming the company's first mine to open in the Pilbara . </P> <P> In 2008 - 09, expenditure for exploration in iron ore in Western Australia increased by 33 percent compared to the previous financial year, 2007 - 08 . The A $560 million spend on iron ore exploration accounted for 45 percent of all mineral exploration expenditure in the state . </P> <P> The bulk of iron ore production in Western Australia comes from the Pilbara region of the state . A number of mines however are also located in the Mid West and Kimberley regions as well as in the Wheatbelt . </P> <P> The big two producers, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton accounted for 90 percent of all iron ore production in the state in 2008 - 09, with the third - biggest producer being the Fortescue Metals Group . </P>

Where does australia's main iron ore production take place