PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Mineral sands miner Iluka Resources has reported an increase in production and sales for the three months and six months to June, as the mineral sands market improved.
ASX-listed Iluka on Monday reported that total zircon, rutile and synthetic rutile production for the June quarter increased to 334 400 t, compared with 900 t in the previous quarter, while ilmenite production increased from 123 400 t to 164 100 t in the same period.
Zircon, rutile and synthetic rutile production for the year to date was up 35% on the previous corresponding period, to 453 100 t, while ilmenite production was up 39%, to 228 100 t.
Zircon, rutile and synthetic rutile sales for the six months to June increased by 43.4% on the previous corresponding period, to 453 800 t, while ilmenite sales surged 437.3%, to 95 100 t.
The Tutunup South mine, in Western Australia, is Iluka’s only Australian mine in operation, with heavy mineral concentrate also drawn down from the Jacinth-Ambrosia mine, as well as the Woronack, Rownack and Pirro mines, where mining was previously completed.
The company’s two mineral separation plants in Western Australia and the Murry basin continued to operate as planned during the quarter under review.
Iluka recently revealed plans to restart mining and concentration activities at Jacinth-Ambrosia, with restart activities to cost some A$7-million. The project, which is Iluka’s primary source of zircon, is expected to produce around 300 000 t of zircon in 2018.