Updated plans for Kvanefjeld project in Greenland, milling starts at Zgounder, and much, much more

The latest issue of International Mining Project News, out today, has reports on 26 prefeasibility studies, seven feasibility studies, 16 projects in development,  six new mines that have gone into production, five existing mines that are expanding, six merger and acquisition announcements and many new appointments to new positions. The report covers 23 gold projects, 10 silver, and copper, five iron ore projects, four rare earth, and three bauxite, nickel,  zinc, uranium, two phosphate, diamond, and coal projects, and one antimony, magnesium, alumina, platinum, palladium, vanadium, grapheme, graphite, and manganese projects. This report, released every two weeks, keeps you up to date on worldwide mine developments and contains many sales leads. For more information contact [email protected] .

Greenland Minerals and Energy Ltd has updated development plans for the Kvanefjeld project in Greenland as key milestones approach. Greenland Minerals and Energy appointed Tetra Tech Proteus to complete detailed engineering design aspects of the Feasibility Study on the process facilities and related infrastructure for the Kvanefjeld project.

The study will consist of Tetra Tech building upon the process design already completed by the GMEL in‐house technical team. Civil, electrical, mechanical and structural design of the process facilities will be completed. This will produce a comprehensive package of design information which will be provided to China Non‐Ferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction for cost estimation.

Milling operations have started at Maya Gold & Silver’s flagship Zgounder silver mine in Morocco. Ore grading an average of 245 g/t Ag is now being processed. The ore being run through the mill is being sourced from the 35,000 t of mineralised rocks that were transferred to storage areas adjoining the plant from the existing 66,000 t of “ancient stockpiles”. The size of this stockpile can sustain over six months of production at the initial rate of approximately 200 t/d. Silver recovery is expected to be in the range of 92%. The company is not basing its production decision on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability

Lundin Mining Corp has announced an update on the final stages of construction and mine operations commencement of the high grade Eagle nickel-copper project. The project reached a key milestone through the delivery of the first ore from mine to mill for plant commissioning.  With this achievement the project remains well on schedule for first concentrate production in early Q4/2014.

Paul Conibear, President and CEO commented, “Through the hard work of the entire team at the Eagle Mine, along with great community support, we are very excited to be in a position to deliver the project on time and on budget.  The company’s focus remains on ensuring that all remaining development activities continue to meet or exceed targets as we look forward to the Eagle Mine becoming a  significant cash flow generator for the company and a tangible contributor to the economy of the region prior to year end.”

Atlas Iron has announced the official opening of its Mt Webber mine in WA’s Pilbara region. The official opening follows the start of mining activity in December 2013 andcrushing and screening operations from 1 June 2014, with haulage operations set to commence on 18 July 2014.Production at the project is commencing at a nominal rate of 3Mt/y and isexpected to ramp up to 6Mt/y following the commissioning of the second phaseexpansion by the end of the December 2014 Quarter.

EuroChem has announced the launch of phosphate ore production at the Kok-Jon phosphate rock deposit in the Jambyl region, Kazakhstan. The project in Kazakhstan has already produced around 20,000 t of phosphate ore, which has been shipped to the adjacent storage facility. Total production is expected to amount to over 150,000 t of phosphate ore by the end of the year.

The company plans to reach a steady production level of up to 650,000 t/y in 2016 following the full commissioning of the Phase I. EuroChem also plans to further ramp up the project to 1.5 Mt/y as it aims to construct a fertiliser complex in the region. The company has already invested around $75 million in the project.