PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed mineral sands developer Sheffield Resources has secured an access agreement for its Thunderbird product over the Derby wharf.
The agreement with the Shire of Derby-West Kimberley marked Sheffield as the preferred proponent at the wharf and provided the company with exclusive access to the bulk handling facility, which had previously been used to export up to 500 000 t/y of base metals concentrates.
“This binding agreement confirms Sheffield as the preferred proponent for the bulk handling facility at Derby wharf, allowing exclusive access during the definitive feasibility study to complete all work required to submit a development application and to complete terms of a sublease agreement by the end of June 2017,” said Sheffield MD Bruce McQuitty.
“Securing port capacity is a significant step towards development of the Thunderbird project. Efficient and unconstrained access to export infrastructure is essential to establishing a cost effective mine-to-port logistics chain for our product.”
An updated prefeasibility study estimated the Thunderbird project could produce an average of 100 000 t/y of zircon and 382 000 t/y of high-grade sulphate ilmenite over a 40-year mine life.
The products would be transported in bulk from a fleet of four road trains from the mine site to the Derby wharf for storage and export.