Print article
Emerging lithium producer, Galaxy Resources Limited is pleased to announce a new ore reserve statement for the Mt Cattlin Spodumene Project near Ravensthorpe, Western Australia. The total "Proved" and "Probable" estimate has increased to 11.4 million tonnes @ 1.05% Li2O which represents a 23% increase from the previous reserve estimation in September 2009 (9.3 million tonnes at 1.04% Li2O).
The new ore reserve estimate reported in compliance with the JORC Code is provided in Table 1 below.
Table 1 – Mt Cattlin – March 20101 Ore Reserve estimate
----------------------------------------
Reserve Tonnes Li2O % Ta2O5 ppm
----------------------------------------
Proved 2,683,000 1.08 135
Probable 8,684,000 1.04 151
----------------------------------------
TOTAL 11,367,000 1.05 147
----------------------------------------
Note: Li2O lower cut off grade >= 0.4% Li2O. Figures in the above table may not sum due to rounding.
Ore reserves are based on the January 2010 Mt Cattlin global resource estimate (Table 2). Reserves were estimated within an optimal Whittle pit shell and a final pit design developed by consultant Roselt Croeser.
Table 2 – Mt Cattlin Global Resource Estimate (Jan 2010)
----------------------------------------
Reserve Tonnes Li2O % Ta2O5 ppm
----------------------------------------
Measured 2,672,000 1.17 150
Indicated 9,629,000 1.09. 171
Inferred 3,575,000 1.00. 145
----------------------------------------
TOTAL 15,875,000 1.08 161
----------------------------------------
Note: Li2O cut off grade >= 0.4% Li2O. Figures in the above table may not sum due to rounding.
Reserve estimation has incorporated data from resource definition drilling, geological modelling/resource estimation, detailed surface topography surveys, metallurgical test work, process/plant design, capital/processing cost estimation and mine planning. The pit design incorporates geotechnical pit design parameters developed by consultants Dempers and Seymour. Figure 1 shows planned pit shells and contained resource blocks.
For reserve estimation, a mining and processing rate of 1 million tonnes per annum of ore has been assumed. Conventional open pit mining, crushing, heavy media separation and classification circuits comprising the following key process steps have been proposed:
- Open pit mining, assuming 95% mining recovery and 10% dilution
- Crushing and screening to -6mm
- Reflux Classifier to remove mica flakes
- Two stage heavy media separation (HMS) in two separate size streams
- Gravity concentration (spirals and wet tables) of tantalite minerals
- Contract dressing and packaging of tantalite concentrates (in Perth)
- Production of 137,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate @ 6.0% Li2O
- Shipment of bulk concentrate through Esperance to Zhangjiagang in China
- Downstream processing at Galaxy's planned lithium carbonate chemical facility in Jiangsu Province, producing 17,000 tpa of lithium carbonate.