Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Production Start | ...  |
Mine Life | 2041 |
The expansion of the Mt Marion processing plant was completed in June 2023.
MinRes announced encouraging exploration results at Mt Marion which confirm significant opportunity for open pit extensions and underground potential.
The cooperation agreement to convert Mt Marion spodumene concentrate into lithium battery chemicals with Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd (Ganfeng) was mutually terminated. |
Latest News | MinRes drops $46 million at Mount Marion December 1, 2023 |
Source:
p. 48
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%).
Contractors
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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 intersec ........

Summary:
Mining method is open pit. Dilution from blast movement and during digging is expected.
A minimum mining width of 35m has been used in the pit designs.
Ore is extracted via conventional truck and shovel method with preliminary drilling and blasting operations. Mining fleet includes 12 drill rigs, 5 excavators and 22 houl trucks. Final pit is designed of 310m depth with strip ratio of 10.8:1.
Mt Marion is producing lithium spodumene concentrate which is transported 350km to Port of Esperance by road trains.
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.
Flow Sheet:
Summary:

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Reserves at June 30, 2023:
The Mt Marion Ore Reserve, using a 0.75% Li2O cut-off.
The Mineral Resources estimate is reported above a cut-off grade of 0.5% Li2O.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
Proven
|
0.3 Mt
|
Li2O
|
1.27 %
|
Probable
|
35.4 Mt
|
Li2O
|
1.42 %
|
Proven & Probable
|
35.7 Mt
|
Li2O
|
1.42 %
|
Indicated
|
42.4 Mt
|
Li2O
|
1.43 %
|
Inferred
|
22.4 Mt
|
Li2O
|
1.42 %
|
Total Resource
|
64.8 Mt
|
Li2O
|
1.42 %
|
Source:

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HME Type | Model | Quantity | Status | Ref. Date |
Backhoe
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.......................
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.......................
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Existing
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Oct 1, 2018
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.......................
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.......................
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Proposed
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Oct 10, 2022
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Drill (blasthole)
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|
.......................
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Existing
|
Oct 7, 2022
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Excavator
|
|
.......................
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Existing
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Oct 10, 2022
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Truck (haul)
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|
.......................
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Existing
|
Oct 10, 2022
|
.......................
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|
.......................
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Proposed
|
Oct 10, 2022
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