Name and Location
Tabba Tabba tantulum project, Australia.

Client
Pilabara Minerals and Nagrom Metallurgical.

Project Description
A feasibility study completed on the advanced Tabba Tabba tantalum project, located 84 km by road from Port Hedland, in Western Australia, has demonstrated robust project viability through low capital and mining costs.

The project has a total Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant mineral reserve of 133 000 t at 1 290 ppm tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅).

The study has defined an initial mine life of 19 months, producing an estimated 365 000 lb of Ta₂O₅, within a minimum 5% Ta₂O₅ concentrate. Mining will consist of drill and blast, excavator and dump truck haulage, comprising one 90 t excavator for ore and waste, two 85 t dump trucks and one drill machine for drill and blast.

The feasibility study proposes mining and processing 118 000 t/y of ore from an opencut single pit at the Tabba Tabba project.

The process plant will be a conventional gravity circuit. The proposed flowsheet will incorporate the processing of ultrafines for further enhancement of overall Ta₂O₅ recoveries.

Value
The prestart-up capital cost is estimated at A$3.9 million, of which an estimated A$1.5 million has been spent to date.

Duration
First production is forecast for the third quarter of 2014 subject to project funding.

Latest Developments
Based on the results of the study, Pilbara Minerals and Nagrom intend to fast-track the development of the Tabba Tabba project, subject to the completion of project financing.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Pilbara Minerals, tel +61 2 8252 9223 or fax +61 2 9475 5435.
Nagrom Metallurgical, tel +61 8 9399 3934 or fax +61 8 9497 1415.