Private explorer and developer, Australian Tin Resources, has reported progress on a proposal to build a pilot plant at its Ardlethan tin project in New South Wales for the reprocessing of historical tailings stockpiles at the site.
Inferred and Indicated resources of all tailings totals 10.73 Mt at 0.20% Sn, or 21,600 tonnes of contained tin. Bulk testing of the material was followed by a scoping study for implementation of a 15-30 tonnes per hour modular pilot plant utilising simple gravity processing methods, with potential to be scaled up to 120 tonnes per hour. A commercial contract for construction of the plant is currently under negotiation. Before the programme is implemented the company must prepare a Mine Operating Plan and submit a Development Application with the local council. Pending these approvals, tin mining operations are targeted to commence in 2017.
The project could potentially employ up to 30 local residents and has received backing from the local council. Protestors against an alternative scheme to use the mine as a rubbish disposal site have also welcomed the proposal, providing efforts are made to help rehabilitate the site.
The Company’s director, Peter Francis, stated, “We propose to build a pilot site and after six months we’ll know the process works and if it does we’re looking at extending the mine life by 15 years.“
ITRI View: Market conditions remain tough for tin project developers. There has been a trend towards multi-stage projects and pilot schemes, such as that proposed at Ardlethan and also by Aus Tin Mining at its Taronga tin project, also in New South Wales, as a way of fast-tracking production to generate some early cash flow and minimising capital expenditure and risk.
