Project opportunities
Mineral or minerals processing projects
| Mineral or minerals processing project | Estimated project value $million |
Stage | Location Qld region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Molybdenum open-cut: new project. Sources: CQ Development Projects and www.zamia.com.au. | 200 | Scoping study | Mackay |
| Barbara Copper Project: potential underground mine. Source: www.syndicatedmetals.com.au. | Not available | Under study | North West |
| Black Star Deeps Open Cut expansion: Global mining giant Xstrata Zinc plans to upgrade its Black Star Open Cut zinc mine. See www.xstratazinc.com. | 133 | Board Approved | North West |
| Boyne - Smelter Expansion: Two new projects: construction of a new baking furnace (CBF4) and upgrade of crane runway which will include replacement of overhead crane. Work commenced June 2008 and is expected to continue over a 3 year period. Reduction lines to be completed Dec 2011 and CBF4 in March 2012. Reduction Lines 92% complete; CBF4 53% complete. Source: Gladstone Economic and Industry Development Board. | 685 | Construction | Fitzroy |
| Cannington Life Extension Project: The proposed expansion Project involves converting all or part of the current underground operation to an open cut mining operation. Additional changes to the current operation will include increased water and power usage, relocation of some surface infrastructure facilities, Waste Rock Storage Facilities (WRSF), an open pit void, expanded TSF, and probable diversion of surrounding watercourses. The Yurbi railhead loading facility will also require expanding or an additional shed constructed. Source: EIS. | >100 | Response to EIS submissions | North West |
| Cloncurry Copper Project (Exco): Ore will be extracted from the Project site via open cut mining methods, employing dozers and excavators to extract both the ore and waste rock. Open cut mining will occur on a continuous basis 24 hours per day, 7 days per, week, 52 weeks per year, The Project currently consists of five open cut pits. The ore will be mined with diesel powered earthmoving equipment, using conventional open cut, drill, and blast/load and haul methods. A copper sulphide processing plant will be constructed at Mt Margaret. The processing plant will have capacity to treat up to 3mtpa of ore to produce copper concentrate. The processing facility will consist of a conventional concentrator with crushing, grinding, flotation, dewatering, concentrate handling and reagent makeup circuits. Magnetite and pyrite byproducts will be recovered through magnetic separation and flotation. The Project will employ approximately 250 staff. A permanent accommodation camp has been proposed on a site adjacent to the existing. Ernest Henry camp. Definitive Feasibility Study expected by late 2010 ahead of development decision. Construction expected to commence Q1 2011 aim to be in production by 2012. Sold to Xstrata 30 June 2011. Xstrata now working to finalise the necessary government approvals for the projects and expect initial production from the E1 and Monakoff copper projects to commence in the second half of 2012. See www.excoresources.com.au and www.ivanhoeaustralia.com and www.xstrata.com. | 209 | EIS Complete Definitive feasibility study |
North West |
| Dugald River Zinc, Lead and Silver Project: Bought by Minmetals (MMG). Pre-feasibility study was scheduled for completion October 2010. The major elements of the construction phase are: | 500 | EIS for public comment | North West |
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| Sources: www.mmgroupltd.com and EIS. | |||
| East End No.5 Mine Project: Extension of the existing mining operations to the south east across the common lease boundary with open cut mining methods; Clay overburden will then be removed by hydraulic excavator/front end loader to haul trucks and transported to the primary crusher or adjacent surge pile. No mineral processing will be carried out within the proposed lease area. Source: EIS. | Not Available | EIS in preparation | Fitzroy |
| Einasleigh Copper and Zinc Project: a treatment facility adjacent to the open pit Kaiser Bill mine 6 km to the west of Einasleigh, which would produce a precious metal-rich copper concentrate. Feasibility completed. The company is completing base line environmental studies with the intention of obtaining a mining lease in 2011. In process of selling project to Kagara Limited. Sources: www.copperstrike.com.au and EIS. | 122 | EIS in preparation | Far North |
| Ernest Henry Mine Life Extension: Xstrata announced it will spend half a billion dollars to extend the mine life of its Ernest Henry Mine in Cloncurry, in the north west of Queensland. The extension will involve development of an underground mine. The company will also build a magnetite extraction plant on-site. Approx 13.5km of underground development completed project to date (25% of that required). Hoisting shaft collar foundation construction underway. Underground fixed plant and infrastructure – 50% engineering complete. Ausenco EPCM). First production in late 2011 and full-scale operation from early 2013. Source: www.xstratacopper.com. | 589 | Construction | North West |
| George Fisher Mine Expansion: The project involves the development of a second hoisting shaft and associated infrastructure to service the northern area of the mine using large diameter raise boring technology. It will also include the installation of an underground crushing and ore handling facility and upgrades to power and air ventilation services. An existing shaft servicing the northern end of the mine will be lined and extended by 420 metres to a depth of 1,140 metres for start-up 2013. Source: www.xstrata.com. | 274 | Construction | North West |
| Kalman South: copper-molybdenum-rhenium-gold deposit. Scoping Study under way - metallurgical testwork and mine planning along with environmental baseline studies, are being undertaken by Kings with the focus being on the higher value molybdenum-rhenium domain of this large deposit. In discussions on options to progress the project. Source: www.syndicatedmetals.com.au. | Not Available | Under Study | North West |
| Lady Loretta Zinc, Lead and Silver Project: Construction commenced July 2011 to develop the decline and underground services and surface infrastructure. Planned to be operational by the end of 2013. Source: www.xstratazinc.com. | 246 | Construction | North West |
| Lucky Break Nickel, Cobalt Project: Definitive Feasibility Study on the revised project complete. Proposed nickel production is expected to be in the order of 700-1,200 tonnes per annum. Once the approriate funding structure is in place a relatively short design, construction and commissioning timetable is anticipated. Source: www.metallicaminerals.com.au. | 12.4 | Under Study | Northern |
| Merlin molybdenum-rhenium project: Project expected to include underground mining, processing (inc. roaster and TSF), and site infrastructure. Infrastructure includes village accommodation and facilities, communication facilities, buildings including administration, warehouse laboratory and medical and security buildings and for upgrade of the existing airstrip. Merlin Pre-Feasibility Study expected to be completed in early Q4 2011. Target for project approval Q1 2012 and production Q1 2014. Source: www.ivanhoeaustralia.com. | 337 | Pre-feasibility | North West |
| Mount Cannindah Copper-Gold project: New open cut mine. The resource estimate is appropriate for an open pit mining scenario with processing for flotation (possibly with an upfront gravity circuit for gold recovery) with a conventional rougher-cleaner circuit. Expected start-up 2012. Drummond is committed to spending $750,000 by September 2011 to assess the potential of Mount Cannindah. Drill program commenced in April 2011. Source: www.planetmetals.com.au. | 80 | Under study | Fitzroy |
| Mount Carlton Copper-Gold-Silver: New open cut mine. Optimisation and feasibility studies have confirmed that the Mt Carlton deposit is mineable as two separate open pits. Ore is planned to be processed by conventional crush-grind-float processing to produce a polymetallic concentrate which will be shipped to China. Development proceeding based on crushing, grinding and bulk sulphide flotation to produce a concentrate. First production mid-2012. Source: www.conquestmining.com.au. | 126.9 | Board approved Dec 10 | Mackay |
| Mount Kroombit Copper-Zinc open-cut: Proposed new open cut project with expected start up 2013. Recently acquired by Argonaut Resources which is in the process of testing surface mineralization, previous explorers generated drill intersections. Scooping study complete. Pre-feasibility under way. Power, road, rail and port facilities are all located within easy reach of the Kroombit deposit. Source: www.argonautresources.com. | 87 | On hold | Fitzroy |
| Mount Morgan Gold Tailings Re-treatment: A feasibility study has been completed which confirms the technical and economic viability of the project. Stage 1 of the Mount Morgan Mine Project involving production of gold from tailings re-treatment is ready to proceed to development. Stage 1: Relocate and reassemble the Kundana plant on site with minimal re-engineering but allowing for subsequent optimisation and expansion. Stage 2: Add extraction, cleaning and drying circuits to produce pyrite and copper. Mining will be by conventional truck and loader. Services and infrastructure for the site are largely in place. Processed tailings will be stored in a new Sandstone Gully tailings dam. Norton has appointed an experienced project manager and secured services of three companies with significant experience in process plant construction and refurbishment. A core operations team has been formed and is involved with project design and set-up. The Kundana Plant, a Paddington asset, has been refurbished and will be relocated to Mount Morgan to support the project. The aim is to begin production within 12 months of project go-ahead. Finalising the mine plan & flow sheet . Source: www.nortongoldfields.com.au. | 40 | Planning | Fitzroy |
| Mount Oxide Copper Project: Project infrastructure expected to include: Open cut mine utilising standard truck and excavator mining methods; Processing plant and mine infrastructure area; Waste rock dumps; Water storage facility; Tailings storage facility; Upgrade of existing accommodation, roads, associated infrastructure and airstrip; and power supply. Project construction is anticipated to commencement in 2012. Feasibility underway. Sources: www.perilya.com.au and EIS. | 80 | EIS in preparation | North West |
| Moranbah Ammonium Nitrate Complex: construction of an ammonium nitrate (AN) manufacturing complex at Moranbah, in Central Queensland. The project, scheduled for beneficial operation in the first quarter of Calendar 2012. The project involves the construction of a 330,000 tonnes-a-year fully-integrated back-to-gas AN complex comprising ammonia, nitric acid and ammonium nitrate plants as well as utilities, power generation and other infrastructure to support the permanent workforce. Construction 55% complete at 15 November 2010. Source: www.incitecpivot.com. | 935 | Construction | Fitzroy |
| NORNICO Nickel Project: The proposed Project will involve shallow pit mining from five pits, at a rate of approximately 1.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of run of mine (ROM) ore. In 2011, Metallica changed its NORNICO development strategy to High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) processing from heated Atmospheric Acid Leach (AAL) processing. Infrastructure also includes workshops and offices, haul roads and a water pipeline from the Herbert River. The vision is for a project life of 20 years. Metallica is targeting maiden production of nickel, cobalt and scandium in late 2014. Source: www.metallicaminerals.com.au. | 350 | EIS | Far North |
| Paradise South Phosphate Mine: The project comprises: open cut phosphate mine; ROM feed Beneficiation Plant; access road/haul road from the mine site to the Paradise North haul road; a 45 km long water pipeline from the Thorntonia Borefield to the Beneficiation Plant; an approximately 20 km long transmission line from the Mica Creek; an approximately 142 km long slurry pipeline from the project beneficiation plant to Mount Isa and a 142 km long return water pipeline; a slurry dewatering and rail load out facility in Mount Isa; accommodation facilities at existing mine camps or at a purpose built accommodation facility near the mine. Development finance currently being sought. Bankable feasibility completed late 2010. Mining lease application lodged. Expected start up 2017. Sources: www.lgdi.net/qld/ and EIS. | 900 | EIS in preparation | North West |
| Pisolite Hills: development of a greenfield bauxite mine producing eight to twelve million tonnes of run of mine bauxite ore per year for export through a loading facilty in Port Musgrave with construction of a beneficiation plant and tailings dam on the site together with a camp, haul road, barge loading facility and associated infrastructure. A bankable feasibility study is planned to be completed in late 2010. Subject to a positive feasibility study and successful financing, construction is expected to be carried out between 2011 and 2012 and bauxite production is planned to commence in 2012/13 at the rate of 7 million tones per annum of bauxite product. Cape Alumina is now reviewing the future direction of the business in relation to the wild rivers decision however EIS will proceed with the submission date for the Pisolite Hills EIS is now 26 September 2011.. See www.capealumina.com.au and EIS. | Not Available | EIS in preparation | Far North |
| Rocklands Copper Project: new open-cut copper mine with options to process ore on-site, crush and screen the ROM ore on-site and/or transport the ore by conveyor, truck or rail to a third party for processing, or crush and grind the ROM ore and transport the ore as a slurry via a pipeline to a third party for processing. Final documents for native title clearance over the Cudeco Rocklands Group Copper Project completed 9 September 2009. Construction (inc. 200 person accommodation) 2010-11 and Operating phase (mining and mineral processing) Q1 2012. Site access from Cloncurry; 17km via existing roads, earmarked to be bitumen sealed in 2010. Cudeco have already procured 2 Hitachi EX1800-3 Excavators and a D10 dozer. 15 dump trucks also recently purchased are at Rocklands. Construction planned for Q1 2012. Basic Engineering Design for the Rocklands Group Copper Project has been signed between CuDeco Ltd and Sinosteel Equipment and Engineering Co Ltd. Detailed engineering Q4 2011. Procurement from Q3 2011. Construction expected Q1 2012. Source: www.cudeco.com.au. | Not Available | Procurement | North West |
| Roseby Copper Project: Mining will initially focus on the Little Eva sulphide deposit and the Blackard and Scanlon oxide deposits. It is understood that the mill will be designed to treat 8 Mt/a of soft stratabound ore but only 5 Mt/a of hard sulphide ore if not blended. A definitive feasibility study (DFS) of a 5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) mine, concentrator and associated infrastructure was completed in October 2009. Accommodation for employees and contractors in a village to be supplied by a third party on a build, own and operate basis. Mining is to be undertaken by contractor. Includes concentrator, support plant, water storage and site buildings. All government approvals required for the project to proceed are granted. Altona aims to complete the DFS by the end of the first quarter of 2012. See www.altonamining.com. | 217.3 | On hold until mid-2013 | North West |
| South of the Embley Bauxite Project: development of a new bauxite operation south of the existing mine and port. Mining involves clearing vegetation with bulldozers, salvage of topsoil with scrapers, stripping of overburden with loaders, conventional bench mining of the bauxite with excavators, loaders and haul trucks. Topsoil is replaced after mining and the area revegetated. A second beneficiation plant would be constructed south of Norman Creek when the reserves in the Norman Creek area are mined. Ancillary infrastructure – diesel-fuelled power station, workshops, warehouse, administration facilities, vehicle wash-down facilities, tyre bay, package sewerage treatment plan, general waste disposal, diesel storage (generally located in the vicinity of the beneficiation plants). Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which will be available for public review and comment early in 2011. Expected construction Q4 2011. See www.riotintoalcan.com and Coordinator-General. | 1,450 | EIS and submissions being assessed | Far North |
| Urquhart Point Mineral Sands Project: The final plan and design of mine infrastructure is still to be completed, although it is expected the mine would consist of: | Not Available | EIS | Far North |
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| Source: EIS. | |||
| Wateranga Industrial Minerals Project: Potentially a world class resource of feldspar and ilmenite The project will mine and process approximately 3.75 million tonnes of ore per annum. It is proposed that the Central MLA will host the processing plant, tailings dams and other infrastructure necessary for processing ore from the entire operation. Ore will initially be processed through a gravity water separation plant to extract the mineral concentrate, which will then pass through a magnetic separation process to separate the ilmenite and other magnetic minerals from the reject material. Sources: www.qim.com.au and EIS. | 85 | EIS in preparation | Wide Bay-Burnett |
| Watershed tungsten project: EIS approval. Mining lease applications lodged. Funding for additional exploration and the Bankable Feasibility Study secured. Source: www.vitalmetals.com.au. | 70 | Planning | Far North |
| Woolgar Gold Project: heap leach style development of the deposit. Expanded drilling program and detailed surveys of the existing drilling and associated outcrops commenced August, 2011. Source: www.stratmin.com.au. | Not Available | Under Study | North West |
| Yarwun Alumina Refinery Stage 2: Work commenced in third quarter 2007. First shipments second half 2012. Yarwun 2 focus is on the construction of the five alumina process areas: tube digestion, precipitation, filtration, clarification and calcination. Major and minor facilities utilised in these process areas will be replicated. The expansion of the Yarwun site (Yarwun 2) will more than double annual production, increasing alumina output by two million tonnes to 3.4 million tonnes by second half 2012. A sequential rather than parallel construction process is being utilised. Due for completion this year are cogeneration plant, wharf and ship unloader. Project is 75% complete. Source: Gladstone Economic and Industry Development Board. | 2,100 | Construction | Fitzroy |
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