Source:
p. 33
The Mt Marion Lithium Project is operated by Mineral Resources Ltd. under a life-of-mine Mining Services contract and is a joint project between the Group (50%) and one of the world’s largest lithium producers, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. (Ganfeng) (50%).
Summary:
The Mt Marion lithium mineralisation is hosted within a number of sub-parallel, northeast to northwest trending pegmatite intrusive bodies which dip at between 10° and 30° to the west. Individual pegmatites vary in strike length from approximately 300 m to 1,500 m and average 15 m to 20 m in thickness, but vary locally from less than 2 m to up to 35 m thick. The pegmatites intrude the mafic volcanic host rocks of the surrounding greenstone belt.
To the southwest of Area 2W, large intervals of spodumene-bearing pegmatite intersected during the 2016 drilling are interpreted to be part of a sub-vertical, northeast striking feeder zone. The feeder zone is interpreted to be around 40 m to 80 m wide, extending approximately 400 m along strike and down to over 500 m below surface, and is open at depth.
The lithium occurs as 5 cm to 30 cm long greywhite spodumene crystals within medium grained pegmatites comprising primarily of quartz, feldspar, spodumene and muscovite. The spodumene crystals are broadly oriented orthogonal to the pegmatite contacts. Some zoning of the pegmatites parallel to the contacts is observed, with higher concentrations of spodumene occurring close to the upper contact.
Lithium mineralisation occurs as spodumene crystals which are hosted within quartz-feldspar-muscovite pegmatites.
The spodumene-bearing pegmatites were interpreted and wireframed in section based largely on the geological logging of pegmatite intersections, along with geochemistry (e.g. Li2O, Fe and MgO content).
Summary:
Mining of the deposit is via conventional drill and blast open cut mining methods, with on-site processing and road train haulage of the spodumene concentrate.
Mining waste is considered to be non-acid forming (“NAF”) and formed waste dumps will conform to WA standards. Waste will be formed as dumps. In the case of fibre mitigation, MRL uses industry standard procedures.
Processing
- Flotation
- Dense media separation
Source:
Summary:
Ore is processed on site to produce spodumene concentrates.
The Mt Marion Upgrade Project involves the design and construction of a new plant circuit that will convert the current 4% coarse product stream into a 6% flotation product.
April 6, 2022 - MRL and its 50/50 joint venture partner Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium (Ganfeng) agreed to upgrade the Mt Marion procession facilities, given the positive metallurgical test work results and the completion of project studies at the mine.
This is expected to result in the immediate increase in Mt Marion’s spodumene concentrate of production capacity from 450,000 to 600,000 tonnes per annum of mixed grade product by April 2022.
A further expansion comprising of a dense media separation (DMS) plant upgrade, a new crushing circuit and an upgrade to the mine camp should increase installed plant capacity to a run rate of 900,000 tonnes per annum mixed grade by the end of 2022.
Reserves at October 31, 2018:
Mineral Resource reported above a cut-off grade of 0.5% Li2O.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
Indicated
|
22.7 Mt
|
Li2O
|
1.34 %
|
Indicated
|
22.7 Mt
|
Iron
|
1.07 %
|
Inferred
|
48.7 Mt
|
Li2O
|
1.38 %
|
Inferred
|
48.7 Mt
|
Iron
|
1.09 %
|
Total Resource
|
71.3 Mt
|
Li2O
|
1.37 %
|
Total Resource
|
71.3 Mt
|
Iron
|
1.09 %
|
Financials:
| Units | 2021 |
Revenue
|
M AUD
| ......  |
EBITDA
|
M AUD
| ......  |
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Heavy Mobile Equipment as of October 1, 2018:
HME Type | Model | Quantity |
Backhoe
|
.......................
|
.......................
|
- Subscription is required.
Aerial view:
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