Tantalum find

Tuesday, 27 November, 2001 - 21:00
THE discovery of a major pegmatite-hosted tantalum deposit in the eastern Goldfields could make Tantalum Australia Pty Ltd one of the largest holders of tantalum resources in the world outside the Wodgina and Greenbushes deposits.

Drilling at the Mt Deans project indicated a total resource containing between five and 10 million pounds of tantalum pentoxide at an average grade of 220 grams per tonne.

At current prices of between $US75-80, the in-ground value of metal would be between $400 million and $800 million.