Australian iron ore company BC Iron Limited (ASX: BCI; “BCI”) is pleased to announce the
commencement of trial mining at the Company’s Nullagine Iron Ore Project, located in the
Pilbara Region of Western Australia.
The 120,000 tonne test pit marks another key step towards the planned commencement of
commercial mining at Nullagine in 2010 under BC Iron’s Joint Venture with Fortescue Metals
Group (FMG).
Trial mining was a key recommendation of the Nullagine Project Feasibility Study (see ASX
release of July 2, 2009). The trial is intended to assess the performance of the continuous miners
that will be used for commercial mining operations; test grade control techniques and
reconciliation; and collect geological information.
The Nullagine Iron Ore Project comprises a Probable Mining Reserve of 36Mt @ 56.9% Fe (64.6% CaFe) within a Channel Iron Deposit Mineral Resource of 80Mt @ 54% Fe (61% CaFe).
Mining is currently taking place over the east end of the Outcamp Deposit. Three costeans or
trenches will be excavated to remove approximately 100,000 tonnes of ore and 20,000 tonnes of waste material. The ore will be crushed and screened to produce a ‘fines’ ore product. This
material will be stockpiled and incorporated into the first parcel of ore to be exported when the
mine is commissioned in early 2010.
Surface mining is being conducted by UAE using the Vermeer 1255TL Terrain Leveller and by WA Surface Mining using the Wirtgen 2500SM Surface Miner. Rapid Crushing and Screening are
providing the crushing and screening services as well as logistical support and earthmoving.
Mining will take approximately three weeks and crushing and screening a further seven weeks.
“The start of trial mining comes less than three weeks after we formalised the Joint Venture with FMG, reflecting our determination to fast track the Nullagine Project towards commercial
production as rapidly as possible,” said BC Iron’s Managing Director, Mike Young.
commencement of trial mining at the Company’s Nullagine Iron Ore Project, located in the
Pilbara Region of Western Australia.
The 120,000 tonne test pit marks another key step towards the planned commencement of
commercial mining at Nullagine in 2010 under BC Iron’s Joint Venture with Fortescue Metals
Group (FMG).
Trial mining was a key recommendation of the Nullagine Project Feasibility Study (see ASX
release of July 2, 2009). The trial is intended to assess the performance of the continuous miners
that will be used for commercial mining operations; test grade control techniques and
reconciliation; and collect geological information.
The Nullagine Iron Ore Project comprises a Probable Mining Reserve of 36Mt @ 56.9% Fe (64.6% CaFe) within a Channel Iron Deposit Mineral Resource of 80Mt @ 54% Fe (61% CaFe).
Mining is currently taking place over the east end of the Outcamp Deposit. Three costeans or
trenches will be excavated to remove approximately 100,000 tonnes of ore and 20,000 tonnes of waste material. The ore will be crushed and screened to produce a ‘fines’ ore product. This
material will be stockpiled and incorporated into the first parcel of ore to be exported when the
mine is commissioned in early 2010.
Surface mining is being conducted by UAE using the Vermeer 1255TL Terrain Leveller and by WA Surface Mining using the Wirtgen 2500SM Surface Miner. Rapid Crushing and Screening are
providing the crushing and screening services as well as logistical support and earthmoving.
Mining will take approximately three weeks and crushing and screening a further seven weeks.
“The start of trial mining comes less than three weeks after we formalised the Joint Venture with FMG, reflecting our determination to fast track the Nullagine Project towards commercial
production as rapidly as possible,” said BC Iron’s Managing Director, Mike Young.
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