Mining Intelligence and News
Australia

Burra (Platina Scandium) Project

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Categories

Summary

Mine TypeOpen Pit
Study CompletedFeasibility
Study in ProgressFeasibility Update
StagePermitting
Commodities
  • Scandium
  • Nickel
  • Cobalt
  • Platinum
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
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SnapshotThe Burra (Platina Scandium) Project is one of the world’s highest-grade scandium deposits and has potential to be Australia’s first scandium producer with platinum, cobalt and nickel credits.

It will be a small, shallow, open-cut operation with a minimum footprint, and no tailings dam, blasting or extensive water use. This will allow Rio Tinto to consider a full electric operation with renewables.

Rio Tinto is currently undertaking a review and update of plans done by the asset’s previous owner. This includes updating the feasibility study.

Rio Tinto will continue to work collaboratively with the Wiradjuri People and local community to undertake heritage assessments, develop technical and environmental studies, and secure necessary permits and approvals.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Rio Tinto plc 100 % Indirect
In 2023, Platina Resources Limited closed the sale of the Platina Scandium Project to a wholly owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto Ltd, Rio Tinto EN21 Op Co Pty Limited.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • Laterite

Summary:

The mineralisation at the Red Heart mine site comprises a laterite profile developed over a Devonian age Alaskan-style intrusive complex that can be divided into a mafic-felsic series (monzonite) and an ultramafic series. The ultramafic series comprises dunite-wehrlite, olivine-pyroxenites and olivine-clinopyroxenite rocks. The relative abundance of nickel, cobalt, scandium and platinum in these ultramafic rocks has been enriched to higher grades in the laterite profile due to either a residual or supergene enrichment processes. The variations in element abundance in the original ultramafic basement rock affect the enriched concentrations in the laterite along with the development of the laterite and any erosion of the laterite profile. The types of laterite-hosted mineralisation identified thus far show strong correlations with certain lithologies, including platinum-copper mineralisation overlying dunite-wehrlite rocks with variable cobalt, nickel and gold content; cobalt-nickel mineralisation with platinum credits associated with the underlying olivine pyroxenites; and elevated chrome and scandium has been noted where dunite-wehrlite lithologies predominate but mainly occur with clinopyroxenite lithologies. The lateralisation process developed in the past over a long period of leaching which removed some elements and concentrated others by residual processes. Movement of water can also result in dissolution and precipitation of some elements by supergene processes. The Red Heart area is relatively flat and supergene enrichment appears to only result in vertical enrichment within the profile as there is no evidence of significant lateral movement or enrichment. Much of the Mineral Resource is covered by alluvial or fill material comprised of quartz gravel, sands and other transported material. Mineralogical analysis performed on various in-situ samples across the mineralisation footprint have verified that scandium ore is hosted within a goethite (15-42%) and hematite (15-40%) matrix. The mineralisation within the laterite profile typically extends down to 30 metres depth from the surface with limited overburden removal required. Mineralisation within the deposit remains open in all directions.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Required Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Commodity Production

CommodityUnitsAvg. Annual
Scandium t 40
All production numbers are expressed as oxide.

Operational metrics

Metrics
Annual ore mining rate 46,600 t *
Annual processing rate 46,600 t *
Stripping ratio 1.9 *
Ore tonnes mined, LOM 2.4 Mt *
* According to 2018 study.

Production Costs

CommodityUnitsAverage
Cash costs Sc2O3 USD 525 / kg *  
Total cash costs Sc2O3 USD 592 / kg *  
All-in sustaining costs (AISC) Sc2O3 USD 634 / kg *  
Assumed price Sc2O3 USD 1,550 / kg *  
* According to 2018 study / presentation.

Project Costs

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Initial CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Expansion CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Sustaining CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
Total CapEx $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax NPV @ 8% $M USD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe
After-tax payback period, years  ......  Subscribe

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Mar 31, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 13, 2018

Workforce

EmployeesTotal WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required 2018
...... Subscription required 2018

Aerial view:

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