australia's identified mineral resources 2004 - Geoscience Australia

AUSTRALIA’S IDENTIFIED MINERAL RESOURCES 2004
Mining Area C iron ore project, Pilbara Region of Western Australia.
(BHP Billition Iron Ore)
The $20.3 million expansion project commenced in late 2003 and involves the development of
mining areas at Windarling and Mount Jackson. Ore will be trucked to the existing processing
plant for blending to extend the life of the operation and increase production. First ore is scheduled
to be delivered to Koolyanobbing in March 2004.
From August to November, development drilling was undertaken that lead to the finalisation
of a mine optimisation study in December 2003. In early 2004 Portman announced that the
Koolyanobbing project had a life of 13 years at a production rate of 5 Mtpa. Portman plan to spend
$5 million on an exploration program aimed at increasing the long term production level.
At Cockatoo Island there were difficulties associated with mine dewatering and construction of the
Stage 2 seawall and construction was suspended in mid-2003. Dewatering and geotechnical studies
were undertaken and construction of the Stage 2 seawall was due to recommence in early 2004.
The current reserves of 3.1 Mt will support production for three years.
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Mount Gibson Iron Ltd: The $20 million Tallering Peak mine commenced in October 2003 at a
rate of 1.6 Mtpa over 10 years. Road, rail and port infrastructure was completed in late 2003 and
railing of iron ore to Geraldton is planned to commence in early 2004. Infrastructure developments
included a $100 million dredging of Geraldton harbour to accommodate 60 kt Panamax vessels and
the construction of a 150 kt capacity storage shed.
The company plans to spend $10 million to develop a mine at the Mount Gibson deposit during
2005. Planned production is at a rate of 1.5 Mtpa over 10 years. Other proposals include supplying
magnetite concentrates to China from Tallering Peak, Mount Gibson or Koolanooka South.
Aztec Resources Ltd: The Koolan Island deposits are located in Yampi Sound about 130 km NW
of Derby in Western Australia. BHP mined 67 Mt of high grade ore between 1965 and 1993. In 2003
Aztec announced 25 million tonnes of ore grading 67% iron in the Main orebody. Aztec plans to
complete a feasibility study during 2004 with a $50 million redevelopment proposed to commence