Burrup Peninsula Rock Art & Industry

This assignment delves into the complex issue of balancing industrial development with cultural heritage protection on the Burrup Peninsula in Australia. Students are tasked with researching the ancient rock art found there, examining the potential impacts of industry activities like mining and gas processing on this irreplaceable artwork, and analyzing the ongoing debates and conservation efforts surrounding its preservation.

Word Count: 1039
Science as a Human Endeavour Task – Industry on the Burrup Peninsula (Part B)
How has discovery of historical artefacts on an existing industry chemical area
influenced how chemical industries must be mindful of their processes to the local
surroundings?
Introduction
Peninsula is a land that is surrounded by some water, and there are many chemical
industries which are placed in the area. It is a unique ecological area as it has the
collection of petroglyphs and standing stones (Pollution destroying heritage-listed art,
2017). The chemical industries convert raw materials like oil, water, air & metals into
various products. Cultural identity is an important aspect of a community. Therefore,
it is important to keep the site of any discovered artefacts to retain the knowledge.
Additionally, chemical industries present environmental concerns such as waste
disposal and harmful emissions, so it is important for these industries to be mindful
and have policies and rules in place to manage and maintain the surrounding
environment.
Significance of engravings and the peninsula, history, culture
Burrup Peninsula is the oldest art sites in the world, and it is situated near the north-
east of Western Australia. Some yaburarra or inhabitants of the area and they left a
rich heritage culture for the Burrup as this has the prehistoric rock art (Debate over
industry impact on WA rock art, 2017). The culture which is adopted by peninsula is
represented by their aboriginal community. The art which is incorporated by the
people is represented in the form of a human face.
Engraving is a practice which are performed to print a design on the hard or flat
surface. It is a historical method that is used to produce some images for
mapmaking, print making and commercial reproductions (Where art meets industry:
protecting the spectacular rock art of the Burrup Peninsula, 2017).

Australian Geographic. 2017.
Current Industries based at the peninsula
There are two chemical firms situated at the peninsula, being Yara Pilbara, Pluto
LNG Park which produces the chemical by using the raw material. There are some
harmful gases which is produced by current chemical industries like carbon
monoxide, chlorine, nitrogen dioxide, phosgene. These can affect the health of an
individual.
The acid emission can highly affect the rocks at Burrup Peninsula as due to this the
texture and crystal gets changed and it gets turned into metaphoric rocks just like
marble. So, arts cannot be made effective by the artists.
Chemical concepts, background information and chemistry involved in these
plants

Two chemical industries Yara International and Australia’s Orica Ltd which
performed a joint venture and they produced an ammonium nitrate. The plant uses a
technique where they convert natural gas into ammonia, and after that, it gets
converted into ammonium nitrate. This is the main component which are used in the
iron ore mining industry (Water Corporation of WA, 2017). This added some value
into the natural resources and iron industry will also be able to get their vital
component.
Some new technologies like computational molecular science and process modelling
has been developed by the industry on Burrup Peninsula. For this, some new
models and theories developed which will help the chemical industry to make
ammonium nitrate in an effective way (Chemical plant to make explosives opens on
WA's Burrup Peninsula, 2017). The plan which is producing chemical is designed as
per the new standards more ammonium nitrate will be produced at low prices.
The chemical
process for producing
ammonium
nitrate is outlined
below.

Source 1: Production of organic acid and ammonium nitrate. 2017
From the above-producing process, it can be explained that by using the different
natural resources ammonium nitrate can be converted. For this, different processes
have to be used by industry like in the first air is getting converted into nitrogen and
natural gas is getting converted into hydrogen. After this, the industry can use
Ostwald process so that Ammonium nitrate and sulphate can be produced.
The environmental impact of this process are like air pollution is get enhanced
due to the emission of some harmful gases. Along with this, it can also affect the
water bodies. When environment is get influenced then through this health of people
can be affected in negative manner.
The current equation will explain the process of converting the natural gases
into ammonium nitrate.
N2 + 3H2 2NH3
(Ostwald process)
4 NH3+ 5 O2 4No + 6 H2O
4NO + O2 + 2 H2O 4 HNO3
HNO3 + NH3 NH4 NO3
Explanation of the impact or significance of the focus
In the Burrup Peninsula, different teams and organizations performed their
operations so that they will be able to develop new technologies (Western Australia -
Australia's Resource State, 2017). Communication should be established between
industries at a global level so that scientific investigation can be performed
effectively. In order to communicate with each other, group members can use an
appropriate media like mobile, mails and so on. Along with this, they can also
exchange their ideas and thoughts with each other. The current issues which are
faced by industries like manpower, capital, environmental concerns and social
needs. After overcoming these, future developments can be taken place in a more
effective manner.
Along with these, industries have to take care of their ethical as well as social
considerations so that their overall operations can be accomplished in a smooth
manner (Greens concern for emission levels on Burrup Peninsula, 2016). Ethical

considerations can be related to the code of practices which can help a business to
attain their goals in right direction. Apart from this, social needs are related to the
needs, demands, wants, and a requirement of society. Some of these issues and
considerations are as follows:
Along with this, International federation of rock art conducts some campaign at the
place to prevent such rock art or design (World heritage hopes pinned on an
archaeological dig in Burrup Peninsula industrial heartland, 2017).

Environmental concerns: This is the responsibility of industries to take care of the
environment. For example, if a plant is getting established at Peninsula then this will
harm the environment through their harmful gases. For this, some appropriate steps
should be taken by the firm so that environment can be protected. This can be an
issue for implementing the plant in an area.
Innovative technologies to minimize environmental impacts: Organizations can use
some innovative technologies so that they will be able to minimize overall
environmental impact (Burrup Peninsula: Cultural Landscape and Industrial Hub, a
21st Century Conundrum, 2017). Ecological technology also plays an important role
to remove overall impacts. The distribution and manufacturing process should be
made eco-efficient so that goals can be achieved.
Monitoring engravings: The state government has to monitor the engravings which
are designed on the rocks or any hard surface (Burrup Rock Art Monitoring
Management Committee | Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, 2017). By monitoring
such images, it can be evaluated that how communication and collaboration can be
established and new techniques can be implemented.
Managing the site laws: Industries should follow all laws which are made by the state
government as through this they can ensure smooth functioning at the workplace
(Rock Art - Australia’s Threatened Heritage, 2017). Some of the laws are related to
health and safety as by following this the safety of workers can be ensured.
Conclusion
From the above carried out analysis, it can be evaluated that communication and
collaboration is an important aspect of science as a human endeavor. There are
some people, teams and organizations who collectively develop some new
innovative technologies so that ammonium nitrate can be produced effectively. For
this, industries should have to focus on some environmental and ethical
considerations.

References
 2017. . [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01426397.2015.1057804?
src=recsys&journalCode=clar20&. [Accessed 18 August 2017].
 . 2017. . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.chemlink.com.au/wachem.htm. [Accessed 18
August 2017].
 ABC News. 2017. World heritage hopes pinned on archaeological dig in Burrup
Peninsula industrial heartland - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
[ONLINE] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-19/burrup-peninsula-
archaeological-dig-world-heritage-hopes/6631322?pfmredir=sm>.. [Accessed 18 August
2017].
 ABC Rural. 2017. Chemical plant to make explosives opens on WA's Burrup Peninsula -
ABC Rural - ABC News. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2016-
08-26/yara-nitrates-plant-opening-burrup-peninsula/7787726. [Accessed 11 August
2017].
 Arts Law. 2017. Arts Law : Article : Rock Art - Australia’s Threatened Heritage. [ONLINE]
Available at: https://www.artslaw.com.au/articles/entry/rock-art-australias-threatened-
heritage/. [Accessed 12 August 2017].
 Australian Geographic. 2017. Burrup Peninsula rock art among oldest in world -
Australian Geographic. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2013/04/burrup-peninsula-rock-art-
among-worlds-oldest/. [Accessed 20 August 2017].
 Burrup Rock Art Monitoring Management Committee | Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation.
2017. Burrup Rock Art Monitoring Management Committee | Murujuga Aboriginal
Corporation. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.murujuga.org.au/history/the-burrup/burrup-rock-art-monitoring-management-
committee/. [Accessed 11 August 2017].
 David Twomey. 2017. Greens concern for emission levels on Burrup Peninsula | Eco
News. [ONLINE] Available at: http://econews.com.au/16295/greens-concern-for-
emission-levels-on-burrup-peninsula/. [Accessed 18 August 2017].
 Debate over industry impact on WA rock art › Analysis (ABC Science). 2017. Debate
over industry impact on WA rock art › Analysis (ABC Science). [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/07/08/2947012.htm. [Accessed 11 August
2017].
 Google Books. 2017. Patent US20060222585 - Production of organic acid and
ammonium nitrate - Google Patents. [ONLINE] Available at:
http://www.google.com/patents/US20060222585. [Accessed 18 August 2017].
 Jo McDonald. 2017. Where art meets industry: protecting the spectacular rock art of the
Burrup Peninsula. [ONLINE] Available at: http://theconversation.com/where-art-meets-
industry-protecting-the-spectacular-rock-art-of-the-burrup-peninsula-72964. [Accessed
11 August 2017].
 Jo McDonald. 2017. Pollution destroying heritage-listed art | ArtsHub Australia .
[ONLINE] Available at: http://www.artshub.com.au/news-article/features/public-policy/jo-
mcdonald/pollution-destroying-heritage-listed-art-253207. [Accessed 12 August 2017].
 Water Corporation of WA. 2017. Water Corporation of WA - $80 Million Burrup
Peninsula Seawater and Desalination . [ONLINE] Available at:
https://www.watercorporation.com.au/about-us/news/media-statements/media-release/
80-million-burrup-peninsula-seawater-and-desalination. [Accessed 11 August 2017].