The latest issue of International Mining Project News, out today, has reports on 13 prefeasibility studies, four feasibility studies, and 20 projects in development, two new mines that have gone into production, six existing operations that are expanding and three merger and acquisition announcements, and many new appointments to new positions. The report covers 18 gold projects, 12 copper projects, three coal, silver and palladium projects, two lead, iron ore, tin, and one antimony, andalusite, iron oxide, iodine, graphite, rare earths, titanium dioxide, vanadium, bauxite, chrome, tungsten, potash, ilmenite, zircon, and oil sand. This fortnightly project watch is a great way of keeping up to date with your peers – other mining companies, other consultants or other engineering companies. These issues build into a global mine project overview. If you are a supplier – it is full of potential sales leads.
Blackthorn Resources has announced the maiden underground ore reserve for the Kitumba deposit, located within the Mumbwa project area in Zambia. Blackthorn Resources holds a 100% interest in the Mumbwa iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) project. Managing Director, Scott Lowe said: “We are very pleased at being able to announce a maiden Ore Reserve at Kitumba of over 500,000 t of copper in Probable ore reserves on the back of our positive PFS. We look forward to updating both the mineral resource estimate and ore reserves towards the end of the year to include our recent stellar results from the phase 7 infill drilling. We are also looking forward to updating the recently released PFS for Kitumba with a view to optimising the economic outcomes.”
Ariana Resources has announced a JORC resource estimate for the Kizilcukur and Ivrindi projects which are 100% held by the company outside of the Red Rabbit JV in Western Turkey. The resource estimate includes an additional 27,600 oz Au equivalent JORC Inferred to the two satellite prospects, Kizilcukur and Ivrindi, located in the vicinity of the Red Rabbit gold project. The focus of future drilling program will be on open-pittable resources capable of being trucked to the planned Kiziltepe plant site.
Global metallurgical coal group Cokal Ltd has announced an upgrade of the coal resources for the Eastern portion of the Bumi Barito Mineral (BBM) coal project, comprising of 10.5 Mt Measured, 13.5 Mt Indicated and 240 Mt Inferred coal resources in accordance with the JORC code. The project covers an area of 15,000 ha and is immediately adjacent to BHPBilliton’s Juloi tenement, straddling the Barito River, Indonesia. The low ash coking coal will be produced from shallow opencut mining extraction using trucks and shovels. The coal will travel some 700 km down the Barito River using river barging techniques tried and proven on similar rivers in many countries including the USA and Brazil.
Tara Minerals has announced the delivery of Ponderosa project gold bulk sample to the local mill and that the milling process has begun. Francis Biscan Jr., President of Tara Minerals, stated, “Tara had an objective of achieving revenue in 2013. We optioned the Ponderosa gold project in March. Our strengthened technical team has taken it from evaluation to shipping ore for processing in seven months. I am proud of our team, and we will now begin assessing the underground potential of the priority mineralised veins.”
EuroChem, one of the world’s largest fertiliser companies, has commenced drilling and blasting operations at its phosphate rock development project in Kazakhstan. The large-scale development of the phosphate rock deposit is carried out by Kazakhstan-based EuroChem-Fertilizers LLP. Initial production will amount to approximately 640,000 t/y of phosphate ore, with first production expected to come on stream in 2014. The initial phase of the project represents investments of some $120 million.