The next commissioning cycle of the downstream Mineral Separation Plant (MSP) has begun, and the company, Strandline Resources Limited (ASX: STA), is pleased to inform that it has completed its seventh shipment of Heavy Mineral Concentrate (HMC).
Zircon, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), and a zircon in concentrate product (ZIC) containing monazite rare earths are all valuable essential minerals that may be extracted from the HMC using the MSP.
The campaign will be a significant milestone in the commissioning phase at Coburn, coming on the heels of June 2023’s successful adjustments to the MSP dust extraction system and several other circuits.
As a result of the enhancements, mineral separation efficiency have increased, paving the way for the downstream circuits to be commissioned. Now that stable production and storage of chloride ilmenite product have been achieved, attention may shift to the production of premium zircon and rutile.
The total quantity of the most recent HMC shipment was 7,800 metric tonnes, and its CIF value was A$9.1 million. The shipping company had planned to deliver this package in June, however they were delayed due to circumstances beyond Strandline’s control.
As of the 18th of November 2022, when commercial production began, the company has exported a total of 65,000 tonnes of HMC. The A$69 million in revenue earned from these shipments will be used to fund the Company’s activities as it commissions and ramps up production at Coburn.
As part of the mine’s backfill and rehabilitation process, sand waste (tailings) was deposited into the East Pit A hole in June as mining operations shifted to the newly created East Pit B.
According to the company’s monthly report, production rates were low throughout the month primarily owing to a lack of available Dozer Mining Units and mining plant and equipment. Plans to address these availability concerns have been coordinated with the relevant contracting parties.
The main priorities during the production ramp up process at the MSP are to increase mineral recoveries in the end product streams, improve equipment and plant availability, and optimise mine and tails deposition planning.
Strandline Resources said, “We expect to continue shipping HMC or ZIC product at approximately one shipment per month (pending ship charter availability) while the commissioning of the MSP progresses.”
Strandline plans to start including information about these shipments in its quarterly reports beginning in FY24, as was previously communicated.
