Jun 3, 2010 - Perth-based Matilda Zircon would send its first shipment of zircon concentrate from its Tiwi Island project, where mining activities started this week, to China in early August, the company said on Thursday.
Matilda said in a statement that it expected to produce around 40 000 t of high-grade zircon/rutile concentrate from the Tiwi Island project, in Northern Territory, in 2010.
Technical director Peter Gazzard said that the company had started stockpiling ore in preparation for processing and shipping.
The mineral sands developer has an offtake agreement with Tricoastal Minerals, which manages one of China's largest mineral separation capacities. Hong Kong-based Tricoastal has a "comprehensive" sales network throughout that country.
"Over the coming two months, we expect to ramp up mining, start processing through our improved processing circuit, and ship the first shipment of zircon to China," Gazzard said.
"The timing of the Tiwi start-up is excellent with a shortage of zircon on the world market leading to recent price increases," he added.
As part of its 2010 mine plan, Matilda introduced a number of enhanced mining and processing methods, which would double plant capacity and reduce operating costs. This includes the introduction of an in-pit mobile slurry unit and a preconcentrator facility to double capacity from 150 t/h to 300 t/h.
The preconcentrator facility is expected to arrive on site by mid-August and would allow Matilda to ramp up production in the second half of 2010.
