PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Mineral Resources has reported a record quarter for iron-ore production, while its Mt Marion lithium project also reported a record quarter.
Iron-ore production for the quarter ended June was up by 22% on the previous quarter, to 4.2-million tonnes, with shipments for the quarter up by 53% on the previous quarter to 4.4-million tonnes.
For the full year ended June, iron-ore shipments were up by 33% on the previous financial year, to 14.1-million tonnes.
The Koolyanobbing project ramped up to ship 2.6-million tonnes of iron-ore in the fourth quarter, with full year shipments reaching 7.4-million tonnes from the operation, while the Iron Valley project shipped 1.8-million tonnes in the quarter and 6.7-million tonnes in the full year.
Mineral Resources on Friday also reported that its Mt Marion lithium project achieved a record production of 146 000 t of spodumene concentrate during the quarter, shipping 114 000 t. This was up from the 111 000 t of spodumene concentrate produced in the previous quarter, and the 99 000 t shipped.
During the quarter under review, the Mt Marion operation continued in line with the optimised mine plan, Mineral Resources said, which included lower processing throughput to achieve higher yields.
Mt Marion is a 50:50 joint venture between Mineral Resources and lithium producer Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Company.
The Wodgina joint venture with Albemarle Corporation remained on care-and-maintenance during the period under review, on the back of the challenging global lithium market.