ABSTRACT
Kidston Gold Mines are located in North Queensland, Australia, approximately 280 km south west of Cairns (Kidston Gold Mines Limited, 2000a). The elevation of the site is about 540 m AHD, with up to 50 m natural relief. The climatic setting of Kidston Gold Mines is semi-arid, sub-tropical, with pronounced wet and dry seasons. An average 82% of annual rainfall falls between November and April, with high intensity storms being common. The annual rainfall averages about 700 mm, but it can be almost twice this amount. The average annual pan evaporation is about 2,800 mm, four times the average annual rainfall.
