australia's identified mineral resources 2005 - Geoscience Australia

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AUSTRALIA’S IDENTIFIED MINERAL RESOURCES 2005 Australia accounted for 4% of world production in 2003. USGS data show that China (33%) and Turkey (17%) were the world’s largest producers, followed by North Korea and Russia (both 9%), and Austria (6%). Industry Developments After initial investigations of the feasibility of establishing a magnesium smelter project in Queensland, Magnesium International decided on a site in Egypt. Manganese Ore Manganese is the twelfth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and in nature occurs most commonly as the minerals pyrolusite (MnO 2 ) and rhodochrosite (MnCO 3 ). It is the fourth most used metal after iron, aluminium and copper. Over 90% of the world’s production of manganese is utilised in the desulphurisation and strengthening of steel. Manganese is also used in the manufacture of dry batteries, as a colorant, and as an ingredient in plant fertilisers and animal feed. In Australia there are two operating manganese mines, Groote Eylandt (NT) and Woodie Woodie (WA). A third is under construction at Bootu Creek (NT). Manganese ore is processed in plants at Bell Bay (Tas) and Newcastle (NSW). Resources In 2004 Australia’s EDR of manganese ore increased by 7.6% to 133 Mt mainly due to the addition of Bootu Creek resources and an increase in resources at Woodie Woodie. Paramarginal demonstrated resources increased 22% to 28 Mt through the addition of Bootu Creek low grade resources. Subeconomic demonstrated resources remained unchanged at 167 Mt. Inferred resources decreased by 32% to 135 Mt, mainly as result of a revised orebody model and volume conversion factor (ore specific gravity) applying at Groote Eylandt. Accessible EDR All manganese ore EDR (133 Mt) is accessible. The resource life is about 20 years on current rates of production of beneficiated manganese ore. JORC Reserves Manganese ore JORC reserves are 95 Mt (71% of accessible EDR). All JORC ore reserves are in the Groote Eylandt deposit, where resource life based on these reserves is about 14 years at the current rate of production of beneficiated manganese ore. Exploration Expenditure Data relating to exploration expenditure for manganese are not published by ABS on either a state or national basis. Consolidated Minerals budget $6 million per annum on manganese exploration. 46 Production In 2004 production of manganese ore at Groote Eylandt totalled 2.73 Mt and at Woodie Woodie 0.65 Mt. ABARE report that Australia produced 3.38 Mt of beneficiated manganese ore (2.5 Mt 2003). Exports for 2004 totalled 2.82 Mt (2.1 Mt 2003) valued at $402 million ($312 million 2003). World Ranking Australia has 11% of the world’s EDR of manganese ore and is ranked fourth behind Ukraine (35%), India (21%) and China (17%). In terms of contained manganese, Australia has 15% of the world’s EDR and is ranked third behind Ukraine (33%) and India (21%). USGS shows India’s EDR increased significantly from 15 to 93 Mt of contained manganese metal. Australia produces 13% of the world’s manganese ore and is ranked third behind China (16%) and South Africa (16%).
AUSTRALIA’S IDENTIFIED MINERAL RESOURCES 2005 Road train transportation of manganese ore from Woodie Woodie mine, Western Australia (Consolidated Minerals Ltd). Industry Developments On Groote Eylandt, GEMCO extracts ore by open-pit mining, which is closely followed by rehabilitation. The ore is trucked to a central processing plant, which produces a lump and fine product. Lump and fines are shipped from Milner Bay to markets in Australia and overseas. Woodie Woodie, located 400 km southeast of Port Hedland, was re-opened in the late 1990s and since then 8 Mt of additional resource has been defined. In 2004, $6.5 million was expended to increase production from 600 to 800 ktpa by constructing an additional heavy media separation plant, modifying existing crushing plant and increasing site accommodation. Consolidated Minerals is looking to increase production a further 200 ktpa to 1 000 ktpa by mid-2005. In October 2004, construction of a $24 million open-pit mine commenced at Bootu Creek, 110 km north of Tennant Creek. The project is scheduled to produce 415 ktpa of lump and 130 ktpa of fine products from mid-2005. The products are to be trucked about 60 km to the Darwin railway and from there transported some 900 km to a bulk handling facility at Darwin’s East Arm Port. The project has a five year mine life with a possible further 10 years based on additional resources. HiTec Energy Ltd is proposing to produce electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) at the Cawse nickel operation, 55 km north of Kalgoorlie. A feasibility study completed in 2004 concluded that a $57 million first stage could produce 14 ktpa of EMD. In late 2004, HiTech decided on initial production of 23 ktpa with the potential to produce 33 ktpa. Tailings from Woodie Woodie would be leached in the OMG Cawse Nickel Operation’s autoclave together with OMG’s nickel/cobalt/manganese ores and ores from other sources. After removal of iron, nickel and cobalt, the process liquors would be passed to HiTec for electrolytic removal of the manganese with the residual liquor passed back to OMG for water recovery and tailings separation. Hitec plan to commence the project in the second half of 2005 with a 12 month construction and commissioning period. 47
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