Iluka Resources opens new mine

Feb. 9, 2010
Iluka Resources has officially opened a $390 million mine on South Australia's west coast, a project the state government says will establish SA as a major world supplier of mineral sands.
The Jacinth-Ambrosia mine is capable of producing 300,000 tonnes of zircon a year, contained in heavy mineral concentrates.
It has combined resources of 9.5 million tonnes of heavy mineral sands with more than four million tonnes of zircon.
"It's significance is that this deposit's combination of size and high zircon quality makes it the richest known zircon deposit in the world," Premier Mike Rann said when opening the mine on Tuesday.
Mr Rann said the new mine would provide jobs and a major economic boost to the Eucla Basin, on SA's west coast.
"Iluka Resources has brought jobs and infrastructure to this part of the state, including jobs for the indigenous people of the region," he said.
"This multi-million dollar mining investment in the past three years has boosted local businesses and employment."
Iluka Resources employed 280 people during the construction phase and currently has a workforce of 75.