Sand Times

Employees recognised for service
The annual Sibelco Australia 20 Year Club luncheon was held on Saturday
6 August 2011.
The 20 Year Club, a tradition from CRL which continues to be supported by
Sibelco Australia, recognises those who have been employed by the company for
20 years or more. The group comes together once each year for a luncheon.
Today 20 Year Club members include many still employed by the company as well
as others who have retired or moved on to other employment.
The luncheon for 85 included 40 employees and guests from North Stradbroke
Island (NSI) who were transported to the mainland for the luncheon held at the
Shangri-La Gardens. The luncheon provides a chance for old workmates and friends
to catch up and reminisce about their shared experiences.
This year the event also included Sibelco Australia presentations for 30 and 25 years
of continuous service made to current employees. In total 26 Sibelco Australia
employees based at our Pinkenba and NSI operations were recognised this year for
25 years or more service with the company. The majority of these employees are
residents of NSI.
In acknowledging all of the employees receiving service awards this year Paul Smith,
Sustainability Manager – Development said, “There would be few companies today
that could celebrate such long-term dedication with their staff.
“We are proud of our staff and look forward to continuing to offer them challenging
and rewarding work in the years ahead,” he said.
9
Ilmenite - The third of the
heavy minerals of NSI
The Sand Times September 2011
Ilmenite is the third of the heavy minerals mined at Sibelco’s
North Stradbroke Island operations.
It makes up the largest proportion of minerals mined on the Island. It is named after
the Ilmenski Mountains located in the Southern Urals in Russia, the area where the
mineral was first discovered.
Iron-black in colour, ilmenite sands are derived from igneous and metamorphic
rocks. Ilmenite is slightly magnetic, which means that magnets can be used to
separate it from other minerals in mineral sands. On board the concentrator
ilmenite is separated from rutile and zircon when it is passed over wet high
intensity magnetic separators (WHIMS).
In the dry mill at Pinkenba, magnets are again used to further refine mineral products.
Australia supplies about 40 per cent of the world’s ilmenite. Other suppliers include
South Africa, Canada, China and Norway.
Ilmenite is able to withstand extreme temperatures and is used in the steel industry
to line blast furnaces. Ilmenite’s hardness also makes it useful as an abrasive making
ilmenite sand useful in sandblasting.
Zircon Rutile Ilmenite