Mining Intelligence and News
Australia

Thunderbird Mine

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Australia

Thunderbird Mine

Location: 67 km W from Derby, Western Australia, Australia

Regional Office:

Level 2, 41 – 47 Colin Street West Perth
Perth
Western Australia, Australia
6005

Contacts:

Additional Resources for Suppliers & Investors

Categories

Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Zircon
  • Ilmenite
  • Heavy Minerals
  • Titanium dioxide
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotThe Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project, one of the world’s largest, undeveloped zircon-rich mineral sands deposits.

With Thunderbird construction now entering the commissioning phase, the project remains on track for first customer shipment in the March 2024 quarter, enabling the delivery of strong cashflows and benefits to all stakeholders across the mine life.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Sheffield Resources Ltd. 50 % Indirect
YGH Australia Investment Pty Ltd. 50 % Indirect
Kimberley Mineral Sands Joint Venture (KMSJV) is a 50/50 joint venture between Sheffield Resources Limited (Sheffield) and YGH Australia Investment Pty Ltd (Yansteel), formed to develop the Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project.

Contractors

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SourceSource

Deposit type

  • Mineral sands

Summary:

Thunderbird is the first significant mineral sand deposit to be discovered in the Phanerozoic Canning Basin, and is one of the largest and highest grade mineral sands deposits globally, including those currently in production. The Thunderbird deposit formed during an Early Cretaceous marine regression and is hosted by highly weathered Broome Sandstone.

Mineralisation occurs as a thick, broad sheet like body striking northwest, extending from surface to a maximum known depth of 155m over an area at least 11km by 7km. These extents have not been closed off with mineralisation remaining open to the north, south and west. The average depth to top of the main body of mineralisation is 24m and the average mineralised thickness 45m. The deposit is flatlying along the north-eastern flank, but with a dip steepening to 4°along the south-western flank.

Enclosed within the Thunderbird formation is a continuous, very-high grade heavy minerals (>7.5%) zone named the “GT Zone”. This zone is up to 43m thick (average 15m) over an area at least 9km by 7km, strikes approximately north-south, follows the dip of the Thunderbird formation and is open along strike to the south and north.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

Thunderbird will produce three mineral sand products:
1) An ilmenite rich magnetic concentrate;
2) A zircon rich non-magnetic concentrate; and
3) A paramagnetic concentrate containing high value titanium minerals and rare earths.
CommodityUnitsAvg. Annual (Projected)
Zircon kt 279
Ilmenite kt 994
Titanium dioxide kt 119
All production numbers are expressed as concentrate.

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Required Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

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