Global projects and exploration
corridor. The corridor is interpreted to be an extension of the
structure that controls gold mineralisation in the Taunus pit.
“The ability to process the near surface material
intersected in hole 17COLDDH04 through the existing
heap leach pad and the absorption, desorption, and refining
(ADR) plant at La Trinidad bodes well for the potential
extension of mine life. Additionally, areas of altered gold-
bearing zones deeper at Colinas continue to indicate
the presence of a larger hydrothermal auriferous system
that is only beginning to be tested,” says Leisman.
Australia
Mapping doubles spodumene
Liontown Resources recently completed geological mapping
over its Buldania Lithium Project, about 600km east of
Perth in Western Australia. According to the company,
the mapping has defined pegmatites over a much larger
area than previously indicated by historical exploration.
A maiden 35-40-hole and a reverse circulation
(RC) drilling programme totaling 3 000–3 300m has
been designed to test the main targets. The drilling
programme is scheduled to commence in early 2018,
subject to the receipt of statutory clearances.
Spain
Proyecto Riotinto ups the ante
Atalaya Mining and its subsidiaries announced that it will
proceed with the 15 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa)
expansion plan at its Proyecto Riotinto Copper Project
in south-western Spain. The plan is designed to upgrade
processing facilities, with the ultimate goal of increasing
copper production to about 50 000–55 000 tonnes per year.
According to Alberto Lavandeira, CEO of Atalaya, the
plant expansion includes the installation of a new primary
crushing system, a new semi-autonomous grinding (SAG)
mill, additional flotation cells, concentrate handling
installations, as well as other site infrastructure.
Sweden
Beowulf keeps pushing for licence
Beowulf Mining continues pushing the case for the granting
of an exploitation licence at its Kallak North Iron Ore Project
in Sweden. Recent activities include the publishing of a study
by Copenhagen Economics titled Kallak – A Real Asset, and
a Real Opportunity to Transform Jokkmok, which highlighted
the job creation and the tax revenues that could be associated
with the mine, and the commissioning of SRK to complete
a scoping study on the project. This study is well underway
and scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2018.
Meanwhile, Beowulf reported encouraging metallurgical
results from its Aitolampi Graphite Project in Finland.
Superior metallurgical responses were recorded from all three
samples, compared with grab samples from outcrops analysed
earlier last year. The process flowsheet used was simple, yet
proved to be very efficient, with combined concentrate grades
ranging from 96.8% to 97.5% total carbon across the three
samples. All three samples responded similarly in terms of
concentrate grades of the various size fractions. The company’s
exploration team gathered in Stockholm on 27 November
2017, to review the work on the Åtvidaberg Polymetallic
Project this year and to make plans and budgets for 2018.
FEBRUARY 2018 MINING MIRROR
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