PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Mining and crushing activities have started at the Tabba Tabba tantalum project, in Western Australia, with wet commissioning expected in early November.
Owner Pilbara Minerals reported on Thursday that full production was scheduled to begin on November 16.
Pilbara technical director John Young added that preparations for the start of commercial production at Tabba Tabba were progressing well, with all major items on track for the start of wet commissioning by early November.
“This is a busy time for the company as we move into an operational phase at Tabba Tabba, with the start of commercial production now imminent. At the same time, we have a three-rig resource drilling programme proceeding at full pace at the Pilgangoora spodumene-tantalite project, with more results expected in the coming weeks that will feed into our next resource upgrade and the feasibility study, which will be in full swing by early next year.”
The Tabba Tabba project was expected to produce about 365 000 lb of tantalum over a 19-month mine life.