Iluka Resources Ltd is to go ahead with the $39 million development of its Waroona mineral sands mining operation in the South West of Western Australia.
Iluka Resources Ltd is to go ahead with the $39 million development of its Waroona mineral sands mining operation in the South West of Western Australia.
The Waroona project is one of a number of new mineral sands projects planned in WA to provide feedstock into existing production facilities so as to provide sales volumes, especially of ilmenite and synthetic rutile, to global customers.
The $39 million capital expenditure for Waroona comprises stripping of overburden, a significant proportion for the upgrading and relocation of a wet concentrator plant (which will be used subsequently in other mine developments), infrastructure and project management costs.
Waroona contains a proven reserve of 8.4 million tonnes of ore at a heavy mineral (HM) grade of 10.2%
It is principally an ilmenite deposit, with a proportion suitable as feedstock to synthetic rutile (SR) kilns and the remainder suitable for sale as ilmenite.
The Waroona ore body is located near the township of Waroona, approximately 80 kilometres from Iluka's North Capel Operations, south of Perth.
Waroona will supply feedstock into the Capel operations and is expected to commence production in the first quarter of 2007, subject to government environmental approvals.
Over its estimated three year life, Waroona is forecast to produce approximately 32k tonnes of zircon, 25k tonnes of HyTi, 190k tonnes of sulphate ilmenite and 215K tonnes of synthetic rutile.
Below is the unedited announcement:
Iluka Resources Limited today announced capital approval by its Board for the
development of the Waroona mineral sands mining operation in the South West of
Western Australia. The Waroona project is one of a number of new mineral sands
projects planned in Western Australia to provide feedstock into existing production
facilities so as to provide sales volumes, especially of ilmenite and synthetic rutile, to
global customers.
Capital expenditure for Waroona is A$39 million. This amount comprises stripping of
overburden, a significant proportion for the upgrading and relocation of a wet
concentrator plant (which will be used subsequently in other mine developments),
infrastructure and project management costs.
Waroona contains a proven reserve of 8.4 million tonnes of ore at a heavy mineral
(HM) grade of 10.2%. It is principally an ilmenite deposit, with a proportion suitable
as feedstock to synthetic rutile (SR) kilns and the remainder suitable for sale as
ilmenite. The development of Waroona forms part of Iluka's overall production and
mine sequencing planning for both its Western Australian and total Australian
production base.
The Waroona ore body is located near the township of Waroona, approximately 80
kilometres from Iluka's North Capel Operations, south of Perth. Waroona will supply
feedstock into the Capel operations. The Morgan wet concentrator plant, currently
being used at Yoganup Extended mine, will be modified and relocated to Waroona
for commissioning at the end of 2006.
Waroona is expected to commence production in the first quarter of 2007, subject to
government environmental approvals. Over its estimated three year life, Waroona is
forecast to produce approximately 32k tonnes of zircon, 25k tonnes of HyTi, 190k
tonnes of sulphate ilmenite and 215K tonnes of synthetic rutile.
