Xstrata Copper completed construction of
the magnetite base plant at its Ernest Henry
mine in Queensland in early February
2011. The plant is a key component of an
A$589-million project to transform Ernest
Henry into a major underground copper-gold
operation. The plant will produce magnetite
concentrate as an important byproduct of
the copper-gold concentrating process. At
full capacity, production will total about 1.2
million mt/y of magnetite concentrate.
Exports of the concentrate from Townsville,
Queensland, to Asian customers are expected
to begin during the first half of 2011.
Magnetite processing is an important
part of the ongoing Ernest Henry extension
project, which will extend the life of the
Ernest Henry operation to at least 2024.
The transformation of open-pit mining
operations to a major shaft underground
mine is on schedule for commissioning
during the first quarter of 2013.
As featured in Womp 2011 Vol 02 - www.womp-int.com