PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Bauxite Resources Limited (BRL) on Wednesday reported that a scoping study into its Fortuna bauxite project, in Western Australia, had delivered positive results.

The scoping study indicated that the Fortuna project could be developed into a three-million-tonne-a-year direct shipping ore (DSO) operation, and would require capital expenditure of A$26-million.

Based on the total mineral resource of 40.2-million tonnes, containing about 5.6-million tonnes of bauxite, the project was estimated to have a 12-year mine life.

“While the study is at a scoping level, it does show that the project can support a production target of three-million tonnes a year. The study shows sound rail transport logistic options for the project, critical for a commodity such as bauxite,” said BRL CEO Peter Canterbury.

“We have secured additional land access which provides an opportunity to grow the resource further and potentially extend the forecast mine life, or increase production rates.”

Canterbury noted that mining would be conducted by conventional shallow opencut methods, adding that the Fortuna resource required no beneficiation.

“The study does identify further development work to be undertaken to ensure port access is achievable in a reasonable timeframe, materials handling at the port and associated capital requirements. The current preferred option is transshipping, with the company having started engaging with consultants to detail this option, which is expected to enable sea transport,” he added.

BRL would also work with its joint venture partner Bauxite Alumina Joint Ventures to start community engagement to develop both the Felicitas and Fortuna deposits, which bordered each other. Offtake discussions would also continue.

BRL was hoping to bring the Fortuna project into development within the next two or three years.