Australian tin producer, Metals X, has reported reduced production at its 50%-owned Renison mine in Tasmania of 1,578 tonnes of tin in Q1 2015, down 19% on final quarter of 2014.
Production fell due to lower throughput and head grades of 156,642 tonnes of ore at 1.43%Sn, from 166,065 tonnes at 1.68% Sn the previous quarter. This occurred due to delayed production from a higher grade, narrow vein area of the mine, for which a future bulk mining operation is being optimised. A scheduled 3 day shutdown of the mine also impacted upon tin production for the quarter.
However, process optimisation programmes have had positive results, with a record low tailings grade of 0.43% Sn achieved during the quarter, equivalent to a tin recovery of 70.4% at the processing plant. Although production and head grade fell relative to the previous quarter, both were up 2.9% compared to Q1 2014.
Production and development at Renison continues to meet expectations. A large stock of developed ore exists which is available for future production, and an infill drilling programme continues to further quantify known ore resources at the mine.
