People/prospector, magnate

Lang Hancock

Lang Hancock (1909–1992), prospector, magnate, from Australia. Linked to iron ore.

The lucky break

In 1952 he spotted a black outcrop of iron ore while flying over the Hamersley Range.1,2

Legacy

In 1963 Hancock and partner Peter Wright signed a deal with Rio Tinto's Hamersley Iron for royalties of 2.5 per cent of the value of all ore mined, in perpetuity. His daughter Gina Rinehart chairs Hancock Prospecting.1,2

Story cards

Timeline

  1. 1952Lang Hancock spots iron ore in the Hamersley Range3
  2. 1960Iron ore export embargo lifted3
Drag to turn the globe

Where next

People

Partner ofPeter Wright (Pilbara)Two partners signed a 2.5 per cent royalty deal that outlived both.1FamilyGina RinehartHis daughter now chairs the company he founded.1

Events

DiscoveredLang Hancock spots iron ore in the Hamersley RangeLang Hancock is part of this story: Lang Hancock spots iron ore in the Hamersley Range.3LedIron ore export embargo liftedLang Hancock is part of this story: Iron ore export embargo lifted.3

Sources

  1. Lang Hancock (Mining and Energy Western Australia exhibition) State Library of Western Australia
  2. Lang Hancock Wikidata
  3. Lang Hancock (Mining and Energy Western Australia exhibition) State Library of Western Australia

Pictures on this page: Gina Rinehart June 2015.jpg, Minister for Trade and Investment The Hon Andrew Robb AO MP (CC BY 4.0).

From the Prospector Trails mining history dataset: each fact links to the source it was checked against. Figures are as the source gives them, in the money of their day. Not investment advice.

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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: Autonomous trucks by RobSimmons223311, CC BY-SA 4.0; Conveyors, rail and ports by Kabelleger / David Gubler, CC BY-SA 4.0. Pictures: Kirunavaara gruva, Kiruna., Fotograf okänd, / Europeana (Public Domain Mark 1.0).