Name of the Project
Sulphur Springs zinc/copper project.

Location
Pilbara region, in the Shire of East Pilbara, in Australia.

Project Owner/s
Venturex Resources.

Project Description
The project aims to develop an openpit and underground operation to mine and process ore from a volcanogenic massive sulphide copper/zinc deposit. The project comprises Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant resources of 17.4-million tonnes grading 1.3% copper, 4.2% zinc and 17 g/t silver.

The project includes:

• the development of an openpit mine to mine the top portion of the orebody;

• the development of an underground mine, accessed through a portal external to the openpit, to mine the remainder of the orebody;

• the construction and operation of a conventional 1.5-million-tonne-a-year flotation processing plant to produce separate copper and zinc concentrates;

• the construction and operation of a 42 ha valley fill tailings storage facility upstream of the mine pit;

• the construction of two water storage/evaporation ponds, lined with high-density polyethylene (HDPE), to store surplus mine dewater;

• the construction of one permanent waste-rock dump;

• the construction of support infrastructure for stormwater management, internal mine and site access roads, topsoil and construction material stockpiles, a power station, an accommodation village, wastewater treatment plants, a mine water treatment plant, water storage ponds and mine support facilities;

• the taking of groundwater up to 0.94 Gℓ/y for dewatering and water supply; and

• the transportation of copper and zinc concentrates to Port Hedland for export.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
Not stated.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has approved the mining proposal for the Sulphur Springs copper/zinc project.

The mining proposal approval follows on the April environmental approval by the state’s Environmental Protection Authority, and Ministerial approval in May.

The approved mining proposal is required for the construction of the 7.6 km access road, water infrastructure, hardstand and stockpile areas, and facilitates preparatory ground works and plant construction at the ore processing area adjacent to the mine.

The approval of a separate mining proposal will be required for the development of the opencut mine and tailings storage facility, while other secondary approval applications also remain in process or in preparation.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Venturex Resources, tel +61 8 6389 7400.