PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Bauxite Resources is looking at options to commercialise its product into international markets, following a 47% increase in resources at its Fortuna deposit, in Western Australia.
The company reported on Wednesday that the Fortuna resource now stood at some 39.5-million tonnes, grading 37.3% aluminium oxide and 5.2% silicon dioxide.
“The Fortuna bauxite resource offers the company a variety of opportunities for possible future development. The resource is predominantly gibbsitic in nature and displays low reactive silica, attractive attributes for alumina refining,” said Bauxite Resources CEO Peter Canterbury.
He noted that the project could, alternatively, realise higher available alumina with a higher temperature digest, which Bauxite Resources was currently investigating.
Canterbury noted that Bauxite Resources now had significant resource outside of its joint venture arrangements, supporting the commercialistion of bauxite into international markets.
He added that additional drilling was planned over the coming nine months at the Fortuna deposit, which would potentially grow the resource further. Canterbury also said that Bauxite Resources was now moving towards a development phase with the evaluation of approvals, logistics and the marketing of direct bauxite shipments.