Projects
FEKOLA EXPANSION LOOKS POSITIVE
Location: Mali
Phase: Expansion
Resource:
Gold
The preliminary economic assessment (PEA) of the expansion
study at B2Gold’s Fekola Mine in Mali has returned positive
results. The expansion project will increase Fekola’s processing
throughput by 1.5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 7.5Mtpa
from the current base rate of 6Mtpa.
According to B2Gold, the expansion study PEA was conducted to
evaluate the life-of-mine (LoM) options for expanded mining and
processing to maximise the value of the substantially increased
indicated and inferred mineral resource at Fekola Mine.
The results recommended an expansion of the existing plant to
process an additional 1.5Mtpa, resulting in a baseline capacity of
7.5Mtpa without requiring an additional ball mill or additional
power generation capacity.
Based on the new optimised mine plan, the mining rate at Fekola
will also be increased, along with additional mining equipment
to accelerate the supply of higher-grade ore to the expanded
processing facilities. As a result of the project and mineral resource
expansion, the Fekola Mine will produce more gold over a longer
life, with more robust economics and higher average annual gold
production, revenues, and cash flows than the previous LoM. b
B2Gold’s Fekola Mine is located in a mineral-rich region of West Africa.
MONTERO FILES RESOURCE ESTIMATE
Location: Namibia
Phase:
Preliminary drilling
Resource: Lithium
Montero Mining and Exploration has filed its maiden lithium
and tin resource estimate for the Uis tailings project in Namibia.
The project consists of large coarse sands and fine slimes tailings
waste deposits on surface. The tailings material represents the
waste processed material derived from the Uis pegmatite tin
mine, the largest tin mine in Africa, prior to its closure in 1990.
The independent estimate was prepared by Deloitte Technical
Mining Advisory. material, while Zones B to E and Zone A fines represents the fine
tailings material.
The mineral resource estimate is based on the preliminary drilling
programme of 63 air core drill holes on the waste material. The
quantity and grade of coarse and fine material for six tailings
deposits (Zones A to E) were estimated by ordinary kriging.
Two commodities were considered in the estimation of the
mineral resources, namely lithium (LiO 2 ) and tin (SnO 2 ). Zone A
represents the largest tailings deposit and contains coarse tailings According to Dr Tony Harwood, president and CEO of
Montero, further in-fill drilling and metallurgical test work
will be required to upgrade the inferred resource to an
indicated resource. “Montero is evaluating early production
scenarios with potential partners in order to meet expected
demand with the growth of electric vehicles and battery metals
requirements,” says Harwood. b
A total inferred mineral resource of 14.4 million tonnes at 0.37%
LiO 2 and 17.1 million tonnes at 0.05% SnO 2 is estimated.
Insufficient test work on lithium extraction has been completed on
the 2.71 million tonnes of fine tailings material (Zones A4, B, C, D,
and E) to include this lithium in the resource estimate at this time.
Montero is looking to re-mine the tailings dumps at the historical Uis tin mine in Namibia.
www.africanmining.co.za
MAY - JUNE 2019 AFRICAN MINING
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