PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Mining operations at the Keysbrook mineral sands project, in Western Australia, are slated to start next week.
Owner MZI Resources reported on Tuesday that work on the project was tracking nearly one month ahead of the original schedule and that the project remained within budget.
“These are extremely exciting times, with MZI on the cusp of becoming the world’s biggest, and Western Australia’s first, primary producer of leucoxene, as well as a substantial producer of zircon,” said MZI MD Trevor Matthews.
“Keysbrook’s low forecast operating costs and high-value product mix also promise to make MZI one of the highest-margin suppliers of premium mineral sands products to the global market.”
MZI aims to produce more than 95 000 t/y of leucoxene and zircon from Keysbrook over its 5.5-year life span, which could be extended by a further 15 years based on mineral resources and pending further approvals and land arrangements.